February 20, 2024
By Ian Hoffman
Communication '26
The annual event, organized by the Trine University chapter of the Theta Phi Alpha sorority with all proceeds being donated to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer, raised $52,037.69, more than doubling the previous record of $25,700.30 set in 2023.
The fundraiser consists of multiple parts, including Pink Week in the fall; BMOC shirt sales the week leading up to the pageant; Penny Wars; War Night, where contestants play games to score points; and the pageant itself, held on Feb. 16.
The pageant had silent auction items, raffle prizes and general donations, as well as opportunities for the contestants to share why they chose to participate, flash their fashion sense, show off a talent and share about one of the heroes from their life who inspires them.
There were nine contestants, one each from seven of Trine’s fraternities, the Christian Campus House (CCH) and Trine Student Government.
BMOC chair Kennedy Outwater was incredibly happy about how the event turned out, saying, “The contestants contributed so much in raising $52,000. Their donation pages alone raised $28,000 of that and that has never happened before.”
Sigma Phi Epsilon representative Joe Keefe, a criminal justice major and Trine football player, was named the 2024 Big Man on Campus. While he had been a spectator for BMOC in previous years, he didn’t realize the scale of the event.
“I wasn’t aware of how much of an impact this has on not only Trine but the community. So, once we started and things went along it became very clear to be that this event is bigger than all of us,” he said. “It’s an amazing thing to be a part of something so special.”
He said, “BMOC was a great way to help others who are in need while having fun in the process. To give back to my supporters for surpassing my personal fundraising goal, I donated 11 inches of my hair to Children with Hair Loss in Rockwood, Michigan.”
Since 2000, Theta Phi Alpha has raised over $200,000 for the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer.
Trine University’s first Associate of Science and Master of Science in nursing graduates, along with physician assistant and surgical technology graduates, received a welcome to the healthcare field from the leader of Cameron Health, herself a longtime nurse, during the university’s fall Commencement on Dec. 12.
Trine University’s Thunder Therapy Clinic, which provides pro-bono rehabilitation services to those in the Fort Wayne area with limited means, will offer occupational therapy beginning in January.
Six Trine University civil engineering seniors and two faculty members toured a cement plant and the Newburgh Lock and Dam, learned about the Ohio River Crossing project and traveled to bridge construction sites during a senior trip in November.