"In an effort to raise money for Reach Out and Read, Kappa Psi hosted the annual Mr. Pharmacy pageantry. The overall experience took about weeks ahead for preparation before the night of April 12th. Representing CPFI in the pageant was a very humbling experience. Being someone who struggles with public speaking, Mr. Pharmacy allowed me to get out of my shell and boost my confidence. Our fraternity did an exceptional job of putting together the event as there were nine organizations participated in the search for the next king to be crowned as Mr. Pharmacy. The event showcased talents from each participants and gave everyone in the crowd a chance to enjoy fun yet humorous evening of entertainment and laughter.

I can still remember the booming of the crowd as we made our way in for introductions as we were met with cheers and applause. The adrenaline ran down my spine like Niagara Falls and the nerves kicked in simultaneously as the spotlight landed on me. The judges did a tremendous job interacting with each contestant and the MCs gave their share of the fun by getting the crowd involved. Each contestant was given a question by each judge to break the ice. I think it was safe to say that I answered mine somewhat rebellious but in a good spirit of fun. We had the privilege to embarrass ourselves with the self-introduction mini-movie. I may have gotten carried away with video production, but after the fact, I was given pats on the back and exciting feedback from the judges. These videos gave us an opportunity to show the audience we normally keep in our personal inner circle.

It was so heartwarming to see the support from my peers and faculty. My brothers in Kappa Psi did an awesome job ensuring we were safe, fed, and on schedule. A huge congratulations to my Kappa Psi brother, Tam Vu, for coming up victorious as Mr. Pharmacy 2023. My involvement in Mr. Pharmacy gave me confidence and showed me how to be more involved outside the classroom."

-Romafou Bates