To cheers and applause, Kate Thorne beat out nine other students and was named the 32nd annual Miss Derby on May 5.
Competition was fierce as the women showed off their talents, withstood an evening gown session and a mystery event of musical chairs. In the end, the final two contestants went head-to-head in a game of dodgeball — the winner taking the crown.
“It feels good,” said Thorne, a junior finance major and member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. When asked what had prompted her to enter the pageant, she responded, “It seemed like fun and it was for a good cause.”
As the new Miss Derby, Kate will receive a $300 certificate to Urban Mattress, and, of course, bragging rights.
The annual Miss Derby Pageant is part of Sigma Chi’s Derby Days, a weeklong series of events that bring students together for some fun and to raise money for local charities.
Last year, Sigma Chi raised more than $8,000. This year, the goal is even higher: When all is said and done, they want to be able to present this year’s cause, Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) in Salt Lake City, with $10,000.
“The support has been amazing,” says senior Will Thompson, a mass communications major and Sigma Chi president. “There has been a great turnout from all the sororities and fraternities. I think it’s really amazing what we have been able to do.”
Derby Days wraps up this Friday, with Sigma Chi’s biggest event: a concert headlined by Milkman at the Gothic Theatre. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Transportation will be provided to and from the venue.