Pi Beta Phi hosts “Mr. Hillsdale” in Plaster Auditorium. Collegian | Jamie Parsons

Freshman Christopher Ambuul won Pi Beta Phi’s “Mr. Hillsdale” among nine bachelors who lined the stage of Plaster Auditorium Friday night.

Phi Beta Phi hosted its annual philanthropy event, “Mr. Hillsdale,” in an effort to raise money for Read Lead Achieve, an organization supporting children’s literacy. “Mr. Hillsdale” is a light- hearted competition broken into four portions: formal wear, interview, pick-up line and talent. The contestants, each representing a different men’s dorm and frat, run through each portion in hopes of gaining popularity amongst the judges.

During the pick-up line portion of the night, this year’s “Mr. Hillsdale” winner, Ambuul, called his mom while on stage to ask for her advice on how to ask a pretty girl out.

“Just say, ‘Hi, I am Chris,’” Ambuul’s mother said on the phone.

“Hi, I am Chris,” Ambuul said to his Pi Beta Phi escort as the audience roared with laughter.

This year, the event garnered over 500 students who brought the energy – the audience burst into song during the lulls of the talent portion. One of the songs the audience sang was “Please, Please, Please” by Sabrina Carpenter, which Jack Foley, from Sigma Chi fraternity, played with his electric guitar. The “Jeopardy!” theme song also erupted from the crowd.

Senior Vivian Turnbull said she thought the event had more students than years past. There were especially a lot of freshmen, which helped bring spirit to the crowd, according to Turnbull.

“The guy dorms really show up and cheer,” Turnbull said. “I think they help the audience because they are really hyped up and wear silly outfits.”

Besides the outbursts of impromptu singing from the crowd, the talent portion had a variety of performances from the contestants. Senior Micah Hart showcased his memorization and public speaking skills by reciting a segment of one of Nikki Haley’s presidential primary debates, and junior Aidan Christian sang a song while bench pressing a friend.

Many students said Hart’s talent act was their favorite part of the night.

For the few minutes he had on stage, Hart embodied Haley. He walked across the stage with his chest high and spoke with a loud voice as a video of Haley played in the background.

Although the title of “Mr. Hillsdale” does not entail anything more than just its name, the nine students seemed to want to put on a good show for their peers and have a good time, according to Turnbull.

“All the candidates were strong this year,” Turnbull said. “They all had a lot of character and were not afraid to laugh at each other.”

Sophomore Josh Underwood, the reigning champion, spoke about the duties of “Mr. Hillsdale” before crowning Ambuul at this year’s event. He said Ambuul fit the role perfectly.

“I knew the second I shook his hand that he was ‘Mr. Hillsdale’ material,” Underwood said.

Junior Elizabeth Paccassi said she was particularly keen on Ambuul. She said he was funny and had wanted him to win from the beginning. Given the applause from the audience, Paccassi said many of the other students in the room felt the same way as her.

“When he won the entire room erupted,” Paccassi said. “He also was the Simpson candidate so he had a big support system.”

Underwood said it was sad to let go of his title but he was happy to pass it down to the next winner. It helped give him an “ego boost” last year and he is glad another Simpson guy will experience the same thing.

“It was both a melancholy and proud moment for me,” Underwood said. “I’m no longer campus’ beacon of masculinity. That responsibility now falls to him. But passing on my crown to the next generation of silly guys on behalf of the women of Pi Phi was my honor.”