Stompfest 2013. Photo by: Hana Haden
After months of preparation Western Carolina Universities National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) Greeks were anxious to represent their organization and present to the audience of their classmates, family members and WCU alumni the routines they’ve worked vigorously to create.
The Organization of Ebony Students and WCU’s Intercultural Affairs hosted the 2013 Stompfest at the Bardo Fine and Performing Arts Center on Saturday, October 26. This annual event has been a part of homecoming weekend festivities for the past 20 years.
Stompfest is a step show, which is an elaborate, synchronization of foot stomping and hand clapping, traditionally performed in the African-American community. The step show is judged on precision, degree of difficulty, and originality. Each organization is allowed 15 minutes to showcase their hard work and talent to the audience and judges.
Sophomore Kasia Maatafale attended Stompfest last year and was excited for the show.
“I think its incredible that they(WCU) have these kinds of programs,” Maatafale said.
The MC for the evening was comedian Ronnie Jordan, who has been featured on a variety of television shows such as Def Comedy Jam and BET’s Comic View. The Western Carolina participants included Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. Stompfest also had special guests, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., from North Carolina A&T.
Each organization entertained the crowd with different routines which included skits, dancing, singing, and stepping. The ladies of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and the gentlemen of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. won this year’s bragging rights as they received the highest scores for their performances.
“Greek life is one big community. It’s always interesting to see what somebody as well as letting them see what you have to offer,” said senior Joseph Hill from North Carolina A&T’s Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc, the winner of this year Stopmfest.
Tyana Johnson contributed to the report.
