A hush fell over the darkened theater as Zeta Tau Alpha leadership walked across the stage envelope in hand. It was possibly the quietest the frenetic crowd had been that night, but it didn't last long. As Sven Nielson of Sigma Phi Epsilon was announced 2024's Big Man on Campus, the Koger Center erupted with cheers.
The male pageant, which culminated in Nielson’s win, raised over $90,000 for the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation and its partnerships with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the American Cancer Society and the NFL’s “A Crucial Catch” program.
Many chapters of ZTA host Big Man on Campus events across the country, including those at Clemson and Auburn. The national organization has been "thinking pink" since 1992, handing out small pink ribbons to promote breast cancer awareness and raising money. Big Man on Campus has developed as a tradition among ZTA chapters to further this mission. To those unfamiliar with the phenomenon, the event is a male beauty pageant including formalwear, interview and talent sections which raises money through ticket sales and virtual donations. It is one of the organization's most significant events of the year and makes up a large portion of its fundraising efforts, often to considerable success.
The money raised from this year's event will be used to fund ZTA scholarships and leadership development, as well as the advancement of breast cancer awareness and research. Additionally, the USC chapter Big Man on Campus event comes on the heels of a big announcement for the national organization. As ZTA revealed at its August convention, it has donated $1.25 million to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation—over double its 2022 donation.
Nielson, like many participants in the fundraiser, had a personal connection with the cause. During the interview portion of the pageant, he highlighted the death of his grandmother due to breast cancer as motivation for entering.
"I never had the chance to meet her, but I know she’s smiling down on me right now saying ‘Way to go, Sven’,” Nielson said.
In terms of the crown, he believes it represents more than a simple, individual win.
“It’s less of a personal accolade and more of a testimony to how collectively strong we can be,” Nielson said.
Izzy Silvis, ZTA vice president of philanthropy and fundraising, had been involved with Big Man on Campus for two years before leading the campaign. This year, she worked to expand this year’s donations by adding a virtual round of voting prior to the in-person event on November 4. This virtual round allowed contributors to donate in order to save their favorite contestants from elimination. This, as well as fundraising from 19 other on-campus organizations and a silent auction, made it possible to increase total donations from last year’s pageant. “This event truly set the bar for years to come,” Silvis said via email correspondence with Garnet & Black.
Silvis praised the experience as one which helped her develop both personally and professionally.
“[Big Man on Campus] has affected my leadership skills by being able to lead an incredible group of fifty plus women in our committee,” Silvis said. “All of whom have inspired me to keep reaching our shared goal of spreading awareness and fundraising for this amazing cause.”
Fellow ZTA sister Lauren Shaub, a member of the event’s Silent Auction Committee, was swept up in the emotion of so much planning finally coming to fruition.
“The boys and Izzy [have] been working super hard, countless hours every single day,” Shaub said. “I’m just extremely proud of everyone for everything they’ve done to make this event possible.”
Photos throughout the pageant
