The crowd rushed into the pageant and when the lights dimmed, the curtain opened to 12 senior boys thrusting to Donna Summer’s “Hot Stuff.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZAK MOY Allentown High School seniors Tommy Baber of the Spanish Honor Society, Matt Dallas of the Robotics Club, Drew Muscente of the Student Council, Brendan Benedict of The Nutshell, and Drew McGovern of the wrestling team contend in “Mr. Allentown 2008,” the Student Council’s annual male pageant for charity on April 4. McGovern would later win the crown. Allentown High School was proud to present “Mr. Allentown 2008” in the auditorium on April 4. Annually sponsored by the Student Council, the all-male pageant boasts seniors representing the school’smajor clubs and sport teams strutting their stuff to benefit charity.
The competition was divided into rounds during which the students showed off their physique, talent and intellect. It began with each contestant donning a bathing suit for scores based on personal style and originality. Participants were then given an allotted time to impress the judges and entertain the crowd with a demonstration of their unique abilities. The pageant came to a close after a question and answer round focused on the students’ quick-thinking skills.
Five Allentown High School teachers judged the competition, while audiencemembers bid on their favorite contestants in hope of winning a dinner date with one at Luchento’s Country Italian Ristorante in Millstone Township.
The judges ultimately crowned DrewMcGovern, 18, of Upper Freehold, this year’sMr.Allentown. Drew’s outgoing display of brawniness and his impersonation of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the “Saturday Night Live” sketch “Pumping Up With Hans and Franz” evoked hilarity throughout the audience.
An active senior at Allentown High School, Drew is an honor roll student and varsity athlete on the wrestling and football teams.After graduation he plans to study physical therapy at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn.
Drew said he enjoyed the experience and the laughs shared with fellow seniors at practices.
“In the end, I amglad I had the chance to representAllentown High School,” he said.
All proceeds raised at the pageant went to benefit this year’s New JerseyAssociation of Student Councils charity, The Valerie Fund. The Valerie Fund annually cares for over 5,000 children suffering fromcancer- and blood-related disorders in New Jersey.
The fund donates over 80 cents of each dollar that it raises directly to the children.
Between ticket sales and the generous bidding of the audience, this year’s Mr. Allentown event raised over $5,000 for the cause.