By John Clampitt
Communication '23
                              
                              The Theta Phi Alpha sorority raised $25,700.30 for the Vera Bradley Foundation for
                                 Breast Cancer at this year’s Big Man on Campus (BMOC) event.
                              
                              A lot of planning went into the BMOC event. Ordering shirts, planning the pageant
                                 show, working with Trine to reserve the T. Furth Center, and ordering decorations
                                 were just a few of the things Theta Phi Alpha had to do in order to prepare for the
                                 event.
                              
                              “This event is a marathon, not a race,” said Hannah Reding, the BMOC chair for Theta
                                 Phi Alpha. “Working with my sisters in Theta Phi to plan this event takes a lot of
                                 communication and hard work.”
                              
                              In all, there were 10 contestants for BMOC. Contestants were chosen from each of the
                                 eight fraternities, the Christian Campus House (CCH), and Student Government. Each
                                 organization has their own selection process in determining who will be their BMOC
                                 nominee.
                              
                              The contestants scored points through War Night results, the money they earned in
                                 Penny Wars, and the BMOC pageant that was held the night of Feb. 17 in the T. Furth
                                 Center for Performing Arts.
                              
                              CCH representative Parker Gillespie, a chemical engineering major from Solsberry,
                                 Indiana, was named the 2023 Big Man on Campus, making it the third straight year that
                                 a CCH representative was crowned BMOC. Alpha Sigma Phi representative Dane Chapman,
                                 a mechanical engineering major from Morden, Manitoba, Canada, was awarded Mr. Pink
                                 Ribbon, the contestant chosen by the other competitors for showing the most enthusiasm
                                 and sportsmanship during BMOC week.
                              
                              Since 2015, Theta Phi Alpha has raised $108,251.40 for the Vera Bradley Foundation
                                 for Breast Cancer.