Watermelons came alive last night at the annual Watermelon Queen Pageant held at the Plaza Cafe. The winner of the pageant will get to drop the watermelon in this year’s annual Watermelon Drop, which will occur next Friday at Urey Hall.
Guardian
Three students vied for the opportunity to drop the watermelon off Urey Hall, but Revelle freshman Seth Raphael won.
“”I think it’s wonderful,”” Raphael said. “”It was a lot of fun.””
Raphael, who wore a skirt, and red face paint and a carved watermelon on his head, dazzled the judges with his watermelon magic, dancing and immense knowledge of watermelon trivia.
The other contestants, Britt Trozzi and Chalise Morgan, also dressed accordingly by wearing either multiple melons or red and green clothing.
Becoming the Watermelon Queen has been a goal for Trozzi.
“”It’s my senior year; I decided I had to try,”” Trozzi said. “”I’ve been telling everybody I’m going to be the Watermelon Queen.””
Although she did not win, she did score big points with the judges for karate chopping a watermelon.
“”My residents put me up to it,”” said Morgan, a Revelle resident adviser. “”It’s just for fun.””
The three contestants were judged on the quality of their skits, overall style, costume, knowledge of watermelon trivia, and audience interaction and appeal.
“”It’s to figure out who is going to toss the watermelon, who is going to represent Revelle in this tradition,”” said Samantha Floyd, a past winner and one of this year’s judges.
The Revelle Programming Board sponsored the unique event, which entertained the many diners at Plaza Cafe.
“”It’s a good, wholesome stress reliever for the end of the school year,”” said former Revelle student Rebecca Durham. “”It’s all part of the Revelle tradition.””
The pageant even attracted students who had graduated from Revelle.
“”I think it’s fun, I watch it every year,”” said Revelle graduate Jason Drogo. “”This year has a very eccentric set.””
Not all of those at the cafe found the event so exciting.
“”I like the spirit of it, but it doesn’t seem so popular among students,”” said student Helen Chee.
Revelle Dean Renee Barenette Terry, who was a judge, seemed pleased with the event.
“”I expected a large crowd, but nonetheless I think it was a very successful event, being an activity associated with tradition,”” she said.
Raphael was excited about getting to drop the watermelon.
“”I’ve always been a watermelon fan,”” said Raphael, who also won $100, which will be used to buy the watermelon and help pay tuition.
The tradition began in 1965 as a physics experiment by professor Bob Swanson who asked his students to determine the terminal velocity of a watermelon dropped form the seventh story of Urey Hall.
