Photo by: Scott Casey

The Derby Darling Pageant highlighted Derby Days last week, Sigma Chi’s annual week-long philanthropy.

Though the pageant and Friday’s skit night are public events, others such as sidewalk painting, derby runs and sorority Olympics are limited to members of Sigma Chi and women from DU’s five sororities.

Derby Days was not held last year due to internal conflicts within the fraternity, however in the past, the average income of the week has been around $10,000 with all proceeds going to charity.

Despite technical difficulties and several acts that lasted a significantly long time, the pageant went off without a hitch. Twenty-two sorority women participated in the event.

As contestants paraded in front of the audience, Derby Daddies Brad Goodman, Eric Johnson, Kevin Fredrick, Adam Sullivan, Gene In, Zack Palmquist and Brian Pramov decided which contestant had the most poise, talent, and personality. Harry Bassett hosted the event.

The talents ranged from break dancing to a game of flip cup, to a very long game of Beirut. Elise Kruizenga of Alpha Gamma Delta and Sarah Gabriel of Delta Gamma both sang “All that Jazz.” Perhaps the most entertaining was tap-dancing contestant, with two Sigma Chis, Dave Bush and JG Vega trying to follow in her footsteps.

The evening wear part of the competition went successfully, except for a contestant being forgotten. In the end, all went well as Delta Gamma’s house mom Jane appeared on stage and issued Eric Johnson a kiss, at which point his brothers stood up and cheered.

The interview section was next. When asked which was her favorite video game, Pacman or Ms. Pacman, Kaitlin Erickson answered, “Ms. Pacman, unless Pacman was a Sigma Chi.”

Similarly, when forced to choose between Brad Pitt and Johnny Depp, Kelly Pellar chose Brad Pitt, because he too was a Sigma Chi.

First place and the title of Derby Darling went to Kelly Pellar of Gamma Phi Beta.

Olivia Johnson of Delta Gamma placed second with four stars. Johnson’s interview question had been “If you were a power tool, which would you be?”

“A hammer,” she said, “because then I would hammer out world peace.”

Third place went to Annie Dalton of Delta Delta Delta, who read “How Much I love Sigma Chi.”

“It is good to represent all my fellow sorority women and to be this year’s Sigma Chi Derby Queen,”said Pellar.

Derby Daddy Kevin Fredrick said, “It was great seeing all the sororities participate. Its all for the kids.”

“It was awesome,” added Adam Sullivan, a fellow judge.

All of proceeds from Derby Days go to benefit the Children’s Miracle Network.