Margaret Lipman (April 7, 2005) 

Seniors Chad O’Hara and Nora Hemphill were crowned Mr. and Ms. Mason for the 2004 – 2005 school year at the conclusion of last Friday’s popular annual competition. John Sullivan and Dan McDonald were the first and second runners-up in the Mr. Mason competition, respectively, as were Rachel Sweeney and Daisy Torla in the Ms. Mason competition. The heavily attended annual event, which was expanded this year to include the Ms. Mason competition, raised $707 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Mr. and Ms. Mason will also serve as King and Queen of the Memorial Day Parade next month.

The Mr. and Ms. Mason competition consisted of two semi-finals sections and two finals sections. In the semifinals, the contestants were judged equally on their talent presentations and on the creativity of their prepared biographies. In the finals, the remaining contestants were judged equally on their formal wear and overall poise and on their response to a short question posed by a judge of their choice. SCA President Alex Nette emceed the event which was held, perhaps appropriately, on April Fool’s Day. Four students, all class officers, and six faculty members served as the panel of judges.   The talent section of the competition started off with freshman Adam Gann performing two fun and unusual trumpet tricks. Next, freshman Daniel Thielman performed an impressive disco-themed juggling routine. Sophomore Will Stewart was the next contestant, singing a hilarious rendition Shania Twain’s hit "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" Junior Gregg Curtin followed with an Adam Sandler comedy sketch. Senior Dan Burkey took the stage next to sing, dance, and play a highly unique version of "Yes, We Have No Bananas!" on the piano. The next contestant was senior Alex Douglas, who performed a one-man version of the classic "Spanish Inquisition" skit form "Monty Python’s Flying Circus." Senior Dan McDonald took the stage next, in full Elvis attire, to sing "Don’t Be Cruel." Senior Chad O’Hara – who easily had the most unusual talent of the Mr. Mason contestants – then proceeded to rap Linkin Park’s "Numb" while making as many balloon animals as he could. Next came senior Andrew Roller demonstrating several tennis skills. Senior John Sullivan finished of the Mr. Mason talent competition with a country western dance (and a gigantic belt buckle!).

Chad O’Hara and Nora Hemphill earned the titles of Mr. and Ms. Mason last Friday night  on the strength of their original talents; O’Hara  constructed balloon animals while singing a rap  song and Hemphill performed magic tricks. The  well-atteded event raised $707 for the Cystic  Fibrosis Foundation. (Photo by Ashleigh Luthman)

After a brief intermission, the five Mr. Mason finalists (Daniel Thielman, Dan McDonald, Dan Burkey, Chad O’Hara, and John Sullivan) were announced. The first-ever Ms. Mason talent competition came next. The seniors vying for the title were started off by Claudia Daisley who performed an electric guitar medley. Nora Hemphill (a.k.a. "The Amazing Nora") followed, performing several crowd-awing magic tricks. Madiha Khan was the next contestant, dancing "The West Meets East Experience." Rachel Sweeney then re-enacted the popular "Numa Numa Dance" with an enormously favorable response from the audience, who were quite familiar with the Internet craze and sang along. Daisy Torla, the last Ms. Mason contestant, sang "The Worst Pies in London." Nora, Rachel, and Daisy were the three Ms. Mason finalists.

The Mr. and Ms. Mason finals consisted of the formal wear section and a brief interview. After making their entrances in evening attire accompanied by their escorts, the contestants answered such questions as "If you could be a fruit, which fruit would you be?" (John Sullivan chose a banana) and "If you could have dinner with one famous historical figure, who would it be and why?" (Daisy Torla chose Bach.)

The final scores were tabulated while sophomore Jessica Cartwright sang an original composition. Each Mr. and Ms. Mason contestant received a gift certificate to Stacy’s Coffee Shop and each judge received a free taco from Baja Fresh. The first runners-up (John Sullivan and Rachel Sweeney) received a gift basket, also from Stacy’s. Mr. Mason winner Chad O’Hara received a $50 gift certificate for Argia’s Italian Restaurant and Ms. Mason winner Nora Hemphill received a $40 gift certificate for brunch at Ireland’s Four Provinces.

"This was, by far, the highlight of my high school career," Mr. Mason winner Chad O’Hara joked. And while that might not be quite true, the event was certainly one of the year’s most fun and memorable!