The Daily Campus

Issue date: 2/25/08 Section: Focus

Media Credit: Shaun Levy Ms. Black UConn Ronke Oyeniya (left) and Mr. Black UConn Moravia Latortue III flank AACC director Willena Kimpson Price after the pageant Saturday.

Students, parents, faculty and staff filled all seats of the Student Union Ballroom Saturday night to be impressed by the talents and intellect of seven contestants for the Mr. and Ms. UConn Black Pageant, and other remarkable acts. Moravia Latortue III, a 3rd-semester civil engineering major, and Ronke Oyeniya, a 4th-semester political science major, took the titles of King and Queen at the end of the night after a close competition.

This year's theme for the annual student-run pageant was "Dynamic Duos," which the participants could use to inspire their routines if desired. The Ballroom was adorned with all white and black decorations and the stage was set up in front of a panel of five judges comprised of faculty and staff members.

There were also presentations from a variety of entertainment groups interspersed throughout the evening including authentic African dancing by the African Students Association, step routines by the UConn All-Stars, and an original poem by Caresse Spencer about what "Dynamic Duos" really means.

The talents of the groups did not show up the contestants, however. Earl Stallings, an 8th-semester psychology major; Omar Felder, a 2nd-semester exploratory major; Latortue and Richard Tompkins, a 2nd-semester business major, were the four male contesters competing against each other with monologues, rap lyrics, piano performances, and original poem recitations.

Female competitors Nephthalee Edmond, a 6th-semester allied health major; Brittany Green, a 2nd-semester acting major and Oyeniya acted out scenes from plays, recited monologues and sang.

The stage was transformed into a runway during the "Casual Wear" and "Formal Wear" components of the pageant.

"It's a traditional pageant with the modeling, talent acts and Q-and-A … we just don't have the swimsuit element," said Willena Kimpson Price, director of the African American Cultural Center.

The contestants strutted down the runway, succeeding at getting hoots and howls from the engaged and supportive audience members.

Continued...

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