Competing for the campus crown: Henry Silva is Mr. USU 2024
Last Tuesday, a new king of campus was crowned as the 2024 Mr. USU Pageant took place. Students filled the Daines Concert Hall, cheering on contestants from the colleges and several on-campus groups.
The pageant is a tradition of Homecoming week put on by the USUSA Traditions Committee. It consists of representatives participating in a group opening number, performing individual talents, doing an escorted walk and answering questions. The men practice their dances and talents in preparation for their big night.
The contestants participated for a variety of reasons, but all were excited for the night.
“Mr. USU has been one of my favorite events to come to as a student the past couple years,” said Noa Aguayo, who participated as Mr. CEHS. As a senior, he realized this would be his final opportunity to perform. “I was like, ‘This is the last chance I have, so I’ve got to do it.’ Honestly, if you ever thinking about doing Mr. USU, do it. I think it’s a great way to get yourself out there. And it’s an awesome experience.”
Dylan Elliott, also known as Mr. Business, said this was an opportunity to perform a few of his passions.
“It’s kind of like a Dylan Elliott playground,” Elliott said. “I love dancing. I do it at the basketball game super crazily. And then, I’ve always been a performer. I’ve done a bunch of musicals and stuff. And then, I love dressing up. I own probably 15 suits. So, you give me an event where you dance, and then you do a talent, and then you dress up, and it’s kind of perfect.”
Zach Bone, participating as Mr. CHaSS, said that he’s been wanting to do Mr. USU since he saw it last year, and he’s grateful the committee put this event on.
“This started at last year’s Mr. USU. That night, I knew I wanted to be on the stage this year, so here I am,” Bone said. “I think this is just me being able to put my heart and soul into something and see hard work pay off. It just shows that I had a fun time and put myself out there while in college.”
The representatives come from the colleges of CHaSS, CEHS, CAAS, art, business, science and engineering, along with contestants representing involvement, Greek life and athletes. This year brought two new titles, Mr. HURD and Mr. Graduate.
Ben Burdette, the very first Mr. HURD, shared what creating the title meant to him.
“I did not apply for Mr. HURD because it was not an option,” Burdette said. “So when they called me and asked me to be Mr. HURD, I was honestly stoked. The HURD is one of the main things I do up here, so I’m super excited that I get to integrate that into Mr. USU and hopefully start a new tradition of having Mr. HURD as one of the contestants.”
There were not just new titles onstage, however. Many contestants said their favorite aspect of being a part of Mr. USU was the newfound brotherhood.
“I’ve loved meeting all the guys,” Burdette said. “They’re so fun. They’re freaking dogs. All 12 of us went to B Dubs the other day. We’re just all close friends now.”
Aguayo agreed with Burdette.
“It’s just been awesome bonding with the other guys,” Aguayo said. “Honestly, practices haven’t really felt like a practice. It’s more so just, you know, hanging out with 11 really good friends.”
Elliott added that the guys probably wouldn’t have met without Mr. USU, so he’s grateful for the chance to compete in the pageant and meet them.
“It’s just 12 of us guys, most of whom I never would have met otherwise because they’re from different colleges or different organizations,” Elliott said, “We’re all at different dance levels, but we’re all there to just have a good time and do the best we can. So you get super close with these 12 individuals, and it’s super fun just to get to know them, and then just like sweat and work and be together with 12 people that are just as outgoing and fun as you.”
Attendees watch the opening performance for the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
When the night began, co-emcees Ashleigh Irvine and Po Yamakoshi welcomed the crowd. Irvine said she loved the experience of emceeing.
“It’s honestly been such a fun experience, just to kind of get to know the boys on a more personal level, getting to hang out with them a little more and just get to see them interact with each other has been my favorite part,” Irvine. “Being involved in this event has always been a dream of mine, so being able to actually be a part of it is truly a dream come true for me.”
They then introduced the judging panel, which had Matt Richey, USUSA president; Kennedy Thurgood, program coordinator for Academic Senate and Athletic and Campus Recreation adviser; Kerri Davidson, vice president for institutional affairs and chief of staff; Sylvan Neeham, a representative from S.E. Needham and Jake Russell, Mr. USU from 2023.
The participants in Mr. USU enter the stage at Daines Concert Hall and start their dance routine on Oct. 8.
Some of the judges shared what they were looking for in the next Mr. USU.
“I’m looking for someone who has undeniable passion and energy for all of the different events tonight,” Richey said. “You know, I think there will be someone. I think they’ll all bring something to the stage, but I think there’s someone that’s going to stand out, so I’m excited to see who it is.”
Thurgood added to that sentiment, saying she hopes the new Mr. USU will expand the role the way Russell did.
“It’s just like such a huge energy that comes from these guys, and it takes a lot of like courage and confidence to be able to come out here and shake and run on stage for the entire student body to see,” Thurgood said. “I hope the next Mr. USU follows the way Jake Russell has done this year and is proud of the title. Even though it doesn’t mean anything, he made it mean so much more than it’s ever been before. It just became this huge thing. Mr. USU is iconic.”
Russell, who has served as Mr. USU for the past year, said he’s ready to hand over the crown. However, he had to say one last goodbye to the role, which involved throwing himself a funeral, complete with a cardboard coffin.
Former Mr. USU, Jake Russell, performs his act from the previous year at the 2024 Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
“I think I’m ready,” Russell said. “I’ve had a good run, and I feel like I’ve done everything I could with it, and I’m ready to give to somebody else.”
Russell shared what he’s looking for in a successor and what advice he has for them.
“I’m looking for somebody who is as evolved as I was, you know, someone who puts their heart in it and really embraces it,” Russell said. “The only advice I could really give is just embrace it and enjoy it because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And make sure to always have a smile on your face. Be friendly to everybody because that’s how they see you, as Mr. USU. And Mr. USU is a friend to everybody.”
The co-emcees then introduced the group dance. Several contestants said that was the part of the night they were most excited about.
Participants in the Mr. USU Pageant perform their opening dance routine in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
“The thing I’m probably most excited for is the dance portion,” Elliott said. “The dance is the first thing of the night, and so the audience energy is at an all-time high. All of our nervous excitement is going to be there. So it’s this accumulation of this — all these wonderful things. And honestly, it’s the only time, besides the very end, that all 12 of us are on stage at the same time.”
They then entered the talent portion, which consisted of dances, songs, skits, Rubik’s cubes and slideshow presentations. The contestants expressed their excitement about seeing their new friends’ talents — they had talked about what they were going to do beforehand, but they hadn’t seen each other’s performances.
Henry Silva, who represented the Caine College of the Arts, used his talent time to showcase his musical abilities and celebrate his culture. Silva came to USU from Brazil and highlighted that with a samba dance. He also paid homage to some of his favorite American artists, like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears.
“I decided to do my routine in that way because I have multiple sides of me,” Silva said. “My performance tells a little bit of my journey through my life, creating music, having a really emotional and vulnerable side of me, but also a lover for American music, pop, and also exposing my roots from Brazil, where we have two kinds of music playing to display a little bit more about my culture.”
Mr. Art, Henry Silva, performs in front of the judges at the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
Elliott sang “It’s All Coming Back to Me Now” in a split duet. He sewed his own costume and shaved half his beard while switching sides and octaves to give the effect of being two people.
“I knew I wanted to sing in some regard, but I felt that there might be a lot of people singing,” Elliott said, “I was like, ‘How can I be the little step above? How can I make something a little extra?’ And I had seen forever ago someone do it on America’s Got Talent. It was a woman who did a man and woman split. And I thought, ‘Man, that would be kind of fun. I think I can do that.’”
Dylan Elliott sings two parts to the same song in the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
Aguayo danced a hip-hop routine with some friends and even involved a t-shirt toss in his performance.
“I’m going to be dancing,” Aguayo said. “I have a hip-hop routine. So I have four other close friends, all of them very experienced dancers. It’ll hopefully be a good show.”
Bone performed a skit about trying to discover a talent for Mr. USU.
“I’m just most excited to be on stage and hopefully give people a good laugh,” Bone said. “I love making people laugh. I hope they enjoy my talent, and they just, like I said, laugh a lot.”
Zach Bone performs his skit at the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
The guys then did their walks, showing off their fashion sense and answering an on-stage question. The energy was electric throughout the whole night.
“I’m excited to see all the people in the crowd,” Burdette said. “The energy is going to be crazy here, and I’m excited to be on — I guess you could say on the receiving end of it.”
Mr. Graduate, Jackson Smith walks out with his son and wife at the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.
At the end of the night, the winners were announced. Aguayo received People’s Choice, and Mr. Congeniality was Jackson Smith, also known as Mr. Grad. The second attendant was Zach Stewart, representing Greek life, and Elliott took the first attendant.
Silva was crowned as the 2024 Mr. USU. He said he was surprised by the win but was extremely grateful for the opportunity.
“I feel surprised,” Silva said. “I was not expecting that to happen with the technical problems, but I noticed that if you keep carrying on, if you don’t give up and you give your confidence, you’re going to get there. People recognize your fight, like your desire, your heart, and I’m really, extremely thankful.”
Henry Silva poses for picture after winning the Mr. USU Pageant in the Daines Concert Hall on Oct. 8.