Delta Gamma, Tau Kappa Epsilom and Delta Tau Delta perform “Walk” during the Songfest presented by the Inter-Greek Programming Board Saturday night at the Student Center Ballroom.

Credit: Beth Rankin

The Greek community was on a sugar high at Saturday night’s Songfest thanks to the upbeat performance by Alpha Phi, Sigma Chi and Delta Chi.

More than 1,000 people came to watch the annual event sponsored by the Inter-Greek Programming Board. Songfest chair Stephanie Hohman said the event raised $5,833 — $1,000 more than they raised last year.

Fraternities and sororities, grouped in six teams, sang and danced to raise money for Hattie Larlham, a center for children with severe and profound disabilities.

The teams had two weeks to prepare a performance with skits and song and dance numbers. Five judges, all employees at Hattie Larlham, judged the teams on originality, creativity, skits, props and costumes. In the weeks leading up to the event, teams participated in community service activities and sold raffle tickets to raise money for Hattie Larlham. The teams that did contribute were awarded extra points toward their total score.

The Inter-Greek Programming Board set the event’s theme, “One word says it all,” where each group chose three songs that all contained the same word.

This year’s winner, the team of Alpha Phi, Sigma Chi and Delta Chi chose the word “sugar,” performing to “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch” by The Temptations, “Sugar Sugar” by the Archies and “Pour Some Sugar on Me” by Def Leppard.

Each change in song was complimented by a change in costume reflecting the era of the song. Sorority women in poodle skirts, and fraternity men in white T-shirts and lettermen jackets represented the ’50s era, which complimented “Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch”. Tie-dye T-shirts followed to support the Archies hit, and band T-shirts and jean skirts added to the last song.

The team’s dedication and heart was what Karla Mandrier, a freshman Alpha Phi member, thought clinched their victory.

“It was so much fun working together and meeting new people,” Mandrier said. “We got along so well, and I think that showed.

“We just wanted to do well for each other and to help raise money for such a good cause,” Mandrier added.

The second place team of Alpha Xi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon got the crowd’s attention as they performed to songs with the word “rock,” including Justin Timberlake’s “Rock Your Body.” The team also added bonus points to their grand total because they raised more than $1,500 for Hattie Larlham prior to the event.

At least one team was disqualified because it failed to have enough fraternity men on the stage, but the Songfest chair would not comment.

Before the event, the audience had the opportunity to learn about Hattie Larlham when Hohman presented a video showing the facilities and patients.

“We want people to remember that it’s about more than the fun and performances,” Hohman said.

Contact Greek Life reporter Carrie Rupp at [email protected].