Colorful beach balls, pineapples, palm trees and leis surrounded bachelors dressed in Hawaiian shorts as they answered the question, “What’s the cutest thing you have ever done for a girl?”
Tuesday evening, Gamma Phi Beta held its seventh annual bachelor auction to support the chapter’s international philanthropy, Camp Gamma Phi Beta in Vancouver, Canada. Half of the proceeds will also be donated to the American Red Cross.
Bachelor bids raised $1,065 for the charities.
Through tense moments followed by intense cheering, each bachelor was auctioned off one by one.
“It was an upbeat event, which made everyone want to donate more,” said Beth Erhart, philanthropy chairperson of Gamma Phi Beta and a physical science junior.
“Many of the guys were all nervous about it because they wanted to make a good impression on the girls. They were all good sports.”
Fifteen men were nominated for the event, and they each received a gift certificate donated by local restaurants to share with their date.
Finance pre-law junior Chris Angi of Sigma Phi Epsilon won the highest bid at $165. He said it was an honor to be nominated, because there were so many other “worthy” candidates.
Interior design freshman Heather Wagner won Angi’s company after he explained the cutest thing he ever did for a girl.
“The night before college, I gave my girlfriend a dozen roses, a teddy bear and card saying ‘no matter how far away I am, my feelings will still be the same,’” Angi said.
Finance junior Brian Grant of Sigma Phi Epsilon also told of the cutest thing he did for a girl to a large crowd of onlookers.
“When my high school girlfriend was sick, I stole her car keys and filled it with roses and chocolates,” he said.
Marketing sophomore Ashlee Nichols of Gamma Phi Beta bought a date with engineering arts junior Ryan Lewandowski for $55.
“I decided to bid because it was for a hot boy and charity,” Nichols said.
No-preference freshman Rachel Loebl of Gamma Phi Beta said she would have liked to bid on a guy if she had the money.
“I didn’t bring my checkbook, so I wouldn’t be tempted,” she said.
Advertising senior Stacy Danna of Kappa Alpha Theta said she came to the event as a study break.
“It’s amazing to me that girls will pay up to $110 for one date with a guy,” she said. “But it’s all for a good cause.”
