On Nov. 20, Bucknall Theater was packed to capacity as students excitedly awaited the start of Delta Phi Epsilon’s 9th Annual Deepher Dude, a mock male beauty pageant held to raise donation for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, one of their two philanthropies.
Haley Ross and Kiley Pignataro reveal the final amount raised (Photo by Sam Reposa)
DPhiE raised $7,377.50 for CFF, an amount higher than they ever have before and more than $3,000 more than they raised last year, and Dylan Taylor was crowned this year’s Deepher Dude. The event was planned and coordinated by sisters Haley Ross and Kiley Pignataro.
The sorority’s crowdfunding page explained the event: “Our event will allow us, as a chapter, to educate and involve our community in helping the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation strive for a cure and provide hope to those affected by this disease. Cystic Fibrosis directly affects our organization because one of our sisters unfortunately lives with this condition.”
Hosted by DPhiE sisters Kayla Wallace and Brandyn Cesan, Deepher Dude featured four rounds: Formal, Creative, Talent and Question Rounds. In the first round, contestants were escorted out on stage in their formal wear by DPhiE escorts. The second round allowed contestants to show their creativity by dressing however they liked. Winner Taylor came out as a magician, while Jerome Ware dressed as Beyoncé and danced to Partition. The Talent Round had the audience laughing out loud as Derek Neville paid tribute to Mean Girls by dancing to “Jingle Bell Rock” with his fellow Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. The hosts quizzed contestants on facts about both the sorority and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Between rounds, the crowd enjoyed performances by Elite Step Team, 5, 6, 7, 8 Dance Team and the UNH Dance Team.