The final question in the question and answer competition at last night's Greek Week Pageant 2008 was one that Kirsten Hosack said she knew was going to be asked.
Kimberly Carapucci, 2007 homecoming queen and host of the pageant, asked Hosack her ideas on "changing the negative views of greek life on Juicy Campus."
"It's definitely something greeks need to address, the posts by greeks and by people outside of the greek community," Hosack (senior-elementary education and journalism) said.
"We need to unify as a greek community and promise not to belittle any other chapters," she said. "As far as those outside the greek community, we need to address it as trying to get rid of stereotypes as a whole and work on promoting the positive things we do."
Hosack, of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, was named Ms. Greek Week 2008, and Michael Fontain, of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, was named Mr. Greek Week 2008 at the pageant, which was held in HUB Alumni Hall.
"The purpose of the pageant is just to showcase some of the people in the greek community who've done great things, have great talents and have given a lot to the greek community and non-greek community," Meaghan Cappelloni, overall chairwoman of the Greek Week 2008 committee, said.
Nine contestants, selected by the Greek Week programming committee, competed in the pageant, which included a contestant introduction and toga competition, talent competition and question and answer competition.
During the contestant introduction and toga competition, hosts Carapucci and 2007 Homecoming King Christopher Talley read contestant biographies as the contestants stood on stage wearing brightly-colored, Penn State or greek-themed togas.
The talent competition consisted of a performance by each contestant. One contestant read a poem she wrote about her "secret crush," the Nittany Lion. Five contestants performed dances, two sang and Hosack played the piano.
The final competition of the night was the question and answer competition, in which the six finalists -- three men and three women -- participated. Topics ranged from changes a contestant would make in the greek community to addressing greek stereotypes to strengthening the ties between the greek and non-greek communities at Penn State.
Members of Out of Hand Entertainment performed juggling and magic before the winners of the pageant were announced.
Judges for the night included Amina Gilyard, Ms. Greek Week 2007; Mike Hacke, Thon 2009 overall chairman; Ann Marie DiPietro, Panhellenic Council president; and Derrick Williams, Penn State football player.
Fontain (junior-telecommunications) said he was glad he was given the opportunity to participate in the pageant.
"I'm going to live up to the opportunity and do my best to represent the greek community," he said.
Hosack, who was also named Sorority Woman of the Year at Sunday's 2007 Hyperochos Awards, said being a member of the greek community at Penn State means a lot to her.
"It means having the amazing support of my sisters and my chapter, it's an amazing networking opportunity, and it provides so many growing opportunities," she said. "I would have never done something like this, but with the support of greek community, you get to try new things and get amazing opportunities."
