Omega Phi Alpha presents first pageant

Hayley Hilbert

Omega Phi Alpha sorority will present a Valentine’s Day-themed pageant at WKU this week — a first in the sorority’s history at WKU.

The Beauty and the Greek pageant will take place at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the DUC Auditorium. Admission will be $3.

Proceeds will go to the Hope Heart Institute, said Kelli Vittitow, OPA president and Boston, Ky., junior.

The Hope Heart Institute is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to cardiovascular research and education, according to its website.

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the sorority is focusing on the importance of the heart in February.

“We chose Hope Heart Institute because it isn’t a well-known charity, and we wanted to help spread the word,” Vittitow said. “Also, since they raise money for heart disease, we thought it tied into Valentine’s Day.”

Sororities and fraternities have been encouraged to nominate up to three couples to participate, according to the event’s Facebook page. Contestants will be judged on adherence to theme, stage presence, chemistry and overall presentation.

“Being judged on theme is letting the contestants get creative with their costumes,” Vittitow said. “It can be Beauty and the Greek-related or Valentine’s-related. We just wanted them to have fun.”

Bowling Green senior Kelsey Beach is representing Alpha XI Delta in the pageant.

“It’s such a cute way to get people involved, especially in the month of February,” Beach said. “The Hope Heart Institute is an amazing organization, and I am so excited and honored to be a part of raising awareness and money for this cause.”

Vittitow said that the sorority is hoping to raise close to $1,000.

Owensboro junior Amy Payne agrees that $1,000 is a great goal. 

“I think that $1,000 would be awesome because we’ve never done a pageant before,” Payne said.

Beach encourages everyone to come to the event.

“It will be a very fun and entertaining way to give back,” she said.