The annual Mr. Ithaca pageant pits some of Ithaca College’s best and brightest senior men against one another in a battle that tests their inner and outer beauty. And for the first time in the college’s history, a group of spunky senior women will also get the chance to compete for the brand-new title of Ms. Ithaca. Here, Online Media Editor Andy Swift and Accent Editor Kaydi Poirier introduce the students prepping to compete at 8 p.m. Sunday in Emerson Suites:

VIDEOS:
(Click on the images to view the videos in new windows).

Christian Conte        
Finance and Management

Inspired to run after attending last year’s Mr. Ithaca competition, Christian Conte is all business. Though he didn’t want to give too much away about his own plans for the competition — he did promise that his involvement in the swimsuit portion will be “nothing too risqué” — he said the overall production is “a big step up from last year.”

Agnes Kvasz        

Art History

Agnes Kvasz said she plans to bring her fun-loving personality to the competition and won’t be afraid to get a little silly with the other contestants as they celebrate the female addition to the competition. “My talent is pretty ridiculous,” Kvasz said.

Brad Geyer        
Creative Writing

A producer, writer and actor on ICTV, funnyman Brad Geyer is bringing a little attitude to the competition. According to Geyer, he already is Mr. Ithaca — he just needs the title. “I’ve cemented my place in IC history,” he said. “Now I think it’s about time [the college] gave back to me.”

Ally Litzman        
Communication Management and Design

Ally Litzman looks at the pageant as one more way to add to her list of campus activities, which includes IC After Dark. Not only does she hope to take home the first-ever Ms. Ithaca crown, but she also plans to show her peers a different side of her personality. “The people who do know me see me as sort of shy, reserved and a little conservative,” Litzman said. “But my performance is going to be quite a surprise.”

Joe Goodliffe      
Biochemistry

For Joe Goodliffe, winning the Mr. Ithaca crown represents more than just earning the respect of his peers — it’s about keeping a legacy alive. Goodliffe spent a semester in Australia two years ago, where he became good friends with last year’s Mr. Ithaca, Matt Karp ’08. “I’d like to be able to keep it in the Walkabout family,” Goodliffe said. If he wins, he plans to wear the sash at Commencement.

Talya Shulman      
Integrated Marketing Communications

As the senior class advertising chair and a member of the college’s chapter of the American Advertising Federation, Talya Shulman spends a lot of time on campus. But she said practicing for the pageant has been a stress-free experience. When the big night arrives, she plans to turn on the charm to take home the title. “I’m fabulous and so is Ithaca, so we are a perfect match,” she said.

Craig Reid       
Television-Radio

Wearing the Mr. Ithaca crown has been Craig Reid’s dream for a while now. If chosen, the host of ICTV’s “Fake Out” and “IC Match ’09” promises to make the college a better place. “Obama’s trying to bring change to America, and I think I could do the same thing here,” Reid said. “Spare change, loose change, all sorts of change.”

Tatiana Sy       
Culture and Communication

As the co-chair of senior week and creative director of SGA’s upcoming fashion show, Tatiana Sy has had plenty of experience organizing events. Being the one in the spotlight, however, will be a totally new experience. “I kind of owe it to everyone who I have ever made do anything on stage for me to finally get out there and give it a shot,” she said.

Mike Scianna        
Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

If Mike Scianna brings as much dedication to the pageant as he does to his extracurricular activities, the other contestants will need to step up their game. He’s seen every competition since his freshman year and would be honored to receive the title because of how much the college has become a part of his life. He promises to bring “the absolute best dance” to the competition.

Nicole Wright      
Music Performance Education

Nicole Wright is most looking forward to playing the viola for her talent segment and strutting her stuff in an evening gown and bathing suit. She said the inclusion of women in the pageant has been a long time coming. “Women should have always been a part of [the pageant],” she said. “I’m happy that it’s here now when I’m able to be a part of it.”

Dan Wald      
Biochemistry

“I’m very narcissistic” and “I look like Lord Farquaad [from ‘Shrek’]” are just two of the reasons Dan Wald gave for running in this year’s competition. Wald hopes his involvement with on-campus groups — among other things, he’s vice president of campus affairs for SGA and the first male executive board member of IC Feminists — will secure him the crown.