Black and Gold contestants compete

With sleek outfits and gleaning gowns, the sly pageant contestants of the 16th Annual Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant are striving for academic excellence and leading the community.

The event, which Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. is a host to, is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. Sunday in Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall.

“My goal for this year’s pageant was to put the IU community in the mind set of a high quality program,” said Ian Herron, pageant coordinator. “Sometimes, as an African-American organization, we are disenfranchised and have a lack of support for some of our programs. That’s something that I wanted to change.”

This year’s pageant contestants prepared three months for four categories: introductions, individual talent, group talent and evening gown.

“This is not meant to be a beauty pageant, as our girls also are required to have a 2.7 GPA and also a minimum number of community service hours,” Herron said.

Herron said Alpha Phi Alpha and the pageant contestants raised about $10,000 and have received many contributions and support from other campus organizations such as Faculty and Staff for Student Excellence, Groups Student Support Services, Interfraternity Council and former pageant contestants from previous years.

“Besides volunteer requirements for one of my classes, I decided to volunteer to help with the pageant because giving back is something that’s been instilled with me since I was younger,” said senior and Miss Gold 2006 runner-up Charlene Nortey. “Volunteerism has played a major role though out my life, and I wanted to give back to Bloomington community through that.”

Baker said the experience helped her grow in many ways, as it taught her time management, how to meet and great new people and the importance of giving back to the community.

“The pageant girls and I have built a really strong relationship,” said  Ashley Baker, sophomore and pageant contestant. “I know that we will still continue to be close friends after this is all over.”