An OU fraternity stomped out the competition to win a cash prize during an annual event Saturday at Lloyd Noble Center.
The OU chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity won the Black Student Association and National Pan-Hellenic Council’s 28th annual Stompdown: The Ultimatum contest and received the grand prize of $2,500 and the “The Most Motivated” award.
The contest featured sorority and fraternity members performing choreographed dances, and students in attendance filled the arena with cheers and rocked the bleachers while dancing along to the music.
Male and female runners-up awards were presented to the Univeristy of North Texas chapter of Omega Psi Phi and OU chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, respectively.
“We have literally been practicing since January,” said Adryan Moorefield Phi Beta Sigma member and modern dance performance senior. “We wanted this so bad, and I think we were shocked [we won] because we knew anything could happen in this competition.”
The event had a healthy turnout, filling several sections of Lloyd Noble Center, said Lauren Whiteman, public relations junior and event executive co-chairwoman.
The event returned to Lloyd Noble Center after taking place in McCasland Field House last year, Whiteman said.
Alpha Kappa Alpha performers considered their involvement in Stompdown this year a comeback of sorts, nursing senior Christine Knighton said.
“I’m speechless. We have been working so hard, and we are so passionate about Stompdown,” Knighton said. “We haven’t had a chance to be in Stompdown for a while, and this is the first year we have had a large chapter and really come back into the scene.”
Knighton said she is proud of her organization’s growth as both a sorority and step team.
“Some of the girls on our team just started stepping a month ago.” Knighton said. “They are like my babies.”
Stompdown is one of the largest black student-led events at OU, said Jaren Collins, entrepreneurship senior and event co-chairman.
“Not only does it give us an opportunity to showcase the culture of African-American students, but it allows us to program on a large scale.” Collins said.
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