Community Corner

Mr. EHS: 24 Guys Battle Each Other in Contest (includes 7 videos)

A sold-out crowd at Eureka High School watched two dozen guys compete for an annual, coveted designation Tuesday evening. Several other student performers rounded out the night, with all proceeds benefiting Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Eureka community residents are lucky to have their own special version of American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and America's Got Talent all rolled into one:  It's called the Mr. EHS competition.  For one night at Eureka High School each year, it's the guys who compete in a pageant, and only one lucky contestant wears the king crown at the end.

Two dozen male students wove a sold-out crowd through a series of competitive components Tuesday evening, which included earning points in the four categories of club wear, talent, karaoke, and formal wear.  Based on points accumulated from five judges' scoring, six finalists were chosen for the last round of competition, which consisted of various interview questions.

The reigning Miss Missouri, Erika Hebron, served as the event's emcee and crowned Mr. EHS 2011.

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"Tonight's Mr. EHS will be chosen based on presentation, performance and creativity," said Hebron. 

All proceeds from ticket and raffle sales at the event goes to charity. This year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation was chosen as the recipient of the $5,000 to $6,000 raised.  Make-A-Wish is a national organization that grants wishes to children with life-threatening medial illnesses.

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Jim Schulz, sponsor of the Eureka High School Student Council, which is the student group that organizes and hosts the event, said this was the 14th year of conducting it.  "It started as a way to support charities, and grew into a tradition," he said.

Schulz said more than $50,000 has been raised and donated to various charities since the event started nearly 15 years ago. 

"It's interesting to see the students step out of their comfort zone for this, which makes the event extremely popular," said Schulz.  Andy Gensler is the other Student Council sponsor and director of Mr. EHS.

Mr. EHS contestants this year, and the individual groups they represented, were:  Steven Gardner, Mr. Band; Nick Jacobs, Mr. Baseball; Jeremy Broadbooks, Mr. Cross Country; Alex Hepper, Mr. Diving; Graham Howatt, Mr. Eureka Theatre Company; Will Tyrell, Mr. Fellowship of Christian Athletes; Matt Miklas, Mr. Golf; Ted Jones, Mr. Hockey; Matt Ward, Mr. Lacrosse; Brock Scoville, Mr. National Honor Society; Austin Lewis, Mr. Onstage!; Ben Williams, Mr. Quizbowl; Braden Donaldson, Mr. Robotics; Parker Stanton, Mr.  Rugby; Ryan Gardner, Mr. Soccer; Brian Woodward, Mr. Student Council; Nolan Manning, Mr. Students with a Testimony (SWAT); Chris Ercoli, Mr. Swimming; Tevin Jordan, Mr. Track and Field; Drew Weber, Mr. Volleyball; Chris Fulton, Mr. Waterpolo; Larrye Minner, Mr. Weightlifting; Jordan Jinkerson, Mr. Wrestling; and Obadiah Booker, Mr. Yearbook.

"It's so much fun to see the guys let loose and do what they really want to do," said Student Council usher Brennen Pheil, a junior.  It was her first year to be involved with the event.  She said they have been working on it since Thanksgiving.

Katie Bauer, also a junior and usher, said it was her second year of supporting the event.  "The best thing about Mr. EHS is that the guys get super into it.  They love the stage, and will be talking about this still for the next couple of weeks," she said.

Sabby Reed was one of the many students working behind the scenes to assist the guys with the talent portion.  "I help them with ideas, then approve their choices.  It's great to see the talent part before everyone else.  They work really hard at it," she said.

"We've been practicing before and after a school for a week on it all. They are really on top of their stuff."

Other students, such as Meghan Puett and Christine Gooch, secured flowers for contestants to hand to their escorts during the formal wear portion of the contest.

One attendee, 10-year-old Dean Stanton who attends , said he wasn't really into the whole "guys competition thing," however he came to support his brother, Parker Stanton, by being his escort during the formal wear segment.

This year's competition was deemed "Battle of the Boys."  That it was.  Talent choices ranged from playing instruments, sing offs and skits to jumping rope, dancing and rapping.  One of the most creative pieces was a unique song written and played by Nolan Manning, called "He's a Pimp," which included surprise twists in the lyrics.

Topics for questions posed to the six finalists had to do with who they admired most; who they would want to wake up and be; most treasured memories; what they valued most in relationships; definitions of success; and what they would want to be happy about at the end of life.

Regarding results, here's an electronic drum roll...

Matt Ward was elected Mr. Congeniality by his fellow contestants. 

Austin Lewis was announced as the runner up, and Brock Scoville earned the right to sit in the Mr. EHS thrown and wear the crown when the judges' voting was done.

This year's Mr. EHS judges were Eureka graduates from the class of 2005:  Meaghan Larson, Maggie Viefhaus, Kendall Hickinbotham, Jennifer Lee and Samantha  Cofer.

The 'etc' (Eureka Theatre Company) technical crew working the event included:  Gabby Dudash, Megan Edmiston, Kasey Hancock, Graham Howatt, Robert Keough, Scout Martinelli, Courtney O'Neil, Alex Ranney, Dan Roesch, Madi Schmelig, Zach Shaw, Amy Snyder, Connor Tinen and Lauren Vogel.

The following companies donated items to the raffle:  Aberdeen Golf Course, Anna Marie's Ice Cream, B&B Theatres, Dierbergs Wildwood Town Center, Eureka High School Store, Great Clips of Wildwood, Jr Green Insurance Services, Inc., Lion's Choice of Eureka, Massage Envy of Wildwood, McDonald's of Eureka, Mulligans, Pizza Hut of Eureka, Unique Toy and Games of Ballwin, Walmart of Eureka, Wildwood YMCA and Yen Ching of Wildwood.

Raffle prizes included coupons, gift cards, vouchers and actual items.


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