Michael Dooley, Greyson Clum, Elias Wilson, Eric Garcia,
Austen Miller, Derek James McIntire. Photo by Kristine Thomas.
By Kristine Thomas
Cloaked in a James Bond theme, a fierce competition is about to take place where eight mild manner gentlemen dance, sing, act and do whatever school rules will permit to win the coveted title of Mr. SHS.
The eight senior Silverton High School contestants vying for the title agree there will be plenty of laughter. And while divided on who should win the crown, they agree on the goal: to raise $15,000 for Medical Teams International (MTI), a global health organization helping people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty by delivering medical and dental care, humanitarian aid, and development programs.
Part of their assignment is to encourage as many people as possible to attend the Mr. SHS show April 10, 7 p.m. at the Silverton High Theater, 1456 Pine St. Tickets are $10.
The contestants are Greyson Clum, Jonas Dahl, Michael Dooley, Eric Garcia, Braxton Kinsey, Derek James McIntire, Austin Miller and Elias Wilson.
“The entire Mr. SHS field is loaded with good looks, unique personalities and talent. So my biggest competition is going to be the seven studs alongside me on stage,” Dahl said. “I would describe our group of contestants as diverse. We all have big personalities. I’m not sure I have laughed so hard and so frequently than when I’m with my Mr. SHS group.”
Miller entered the competition because he feels it is an honor to be part of “such a wonderful school.”
“Each person is different in their own way but we all get along really well and can laugh and have a great time,” Miller said. “We all truly represent Silverton because we are all ambitious and fine young gentlemen. There are no better boys out there to represent Silverton and SHS.”
While each contestant participates in different activities at school and in the community, they have one thing in common, Dooley said. “We are a group of goofballs, constantly trying to say something funnier than the last guy. It escalates into a great time in a matter of seconds.”
In the fall, Wilson plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach to get a degree in Aerospace Engineering. He decided to compete for Mr. SHS because it is a “great opportunity for me to help people in need and, if I win, show up my friends.”
“To be Mr. SHS you have to have a large amount of confidence in yourself, so when you’re required to dismantle every amount of dignity you have, you will still be able to look people in the eyes and have normal conversations,” Wilson said. ”
The one thing tripping up these gentlemen on the way to fulfilling their mission is – dancing. Dooley described dance practices harder than SHS Football Coach John Mannion’s practices because “you’ve always got to pay attention to your queues, and you work up quite the sweat doing it.”
“I have found a new respect for dancers,” Dooley said. “I thought learning the choreography of our dance would be a breeze, but it was far from it.”
Clum said he is a terrible dancer. “But I also like making people laugh and stretching my comfort zone so I am excited to display all of our hard work.”
While the evening is about having fun, all the contestants know their main mission is to raise money for MTI.
Garcia said what drew him to enter the competition was its goal. ”In my visit at Medical Teams International, I saw the different forms of destruction that inflicts others: poverty, conflict and disaster,” he said. “The experience opened my eyes and heart to not only help but spread the word of the beauty of this organization.”
Clum encourages the junior class and the underclassmen to try out for Mr. SHS.
“It is tons of fun and a great way to end the senior year. Even if Mr. SHS isn’t for you, do something for the community, especially if it is outside your comfort zone,” he said.
