June Mary Rubinstein, KJ Rubinstein and Kevin Rubinstein
What do you call a reverse Miss America contest? At Red Mountain High School, it’s referred to as the one-and-only Big Man on Campus competition.
This second-semester event, hosted by the school’s Interact Club, has grown in popularity, as well as financial advancements, since its creation. This year’s 22 contestants brought in a whopping $4,200 through entrance fees and ticket voting sales at a performance that drew over 700 spectators.
Each of three categories — Congeniality, Judge’s Vote and Audience Vote — claimed a winner. KJ Rubinstein was crowned Big Man on Campus as the judge’s favorite.
The Big Man on Campus event is a moneymaker that helps support programs within the school that need a financial boost. The event invites creative talent, school spirit and rolling laughter. Most importantly, it gets students involved!
Big Man’s contestant line-up is open to all male seniors at Red Mountain High School. Participation gives the guys a chance to show off a talent, be escorted across the gymnasium stage by one of their role models, and yes, even invites them to participate in a swimsuit competition!
All of the fun that this event brings comes with the reward of raising money and school spirit. In addition to supporting clubs and programs throughout Red Mountain High School, this year’s proceeds will be used to host a special-needs prom for Mesa Public Schools students later this spring.
KJ spent a great deal of preparation time prior to the Jan. 30 event. As a returning member of Interact Club, KJ had been anticipating becoming a contestant since his sophomore year.
In order to steal the title, KJ carefully designed his own Aqua Man costume with matching board for the swimsuit competition. He respectfully chose his 88-year-old grandmother as his role model stage escort. He spent numerous months and hours perfecting his piano playing skills and escalated his overall score with the judges when his fingers danced on the piano keys, as he played an original piece he had written called Dancing in the Rain.
KJ appreciates his dad, Kevin, who was his greatest inspiration for the musical performance. “As someone who has been around music all of his life, my dad was my greatest supporter. He knew what it meant to me to perform for such an audience,” said KJ, admitting that the largest audience he had ever played piano for previously was about 30 people.
“I have a lot more confidence now,” said KJ. “Performing for such a big crowd taught me to not worry about messing up or hitting the wrong note. It taught me to just be present with the music and let my fingers do their thing.”
KJ will carry the enthusiasm of his reigning performance with him into his future. “I really want to start performing for others at restaurants or maybe small local venues,” he added.
Without a doubt, winning a competition of this magnitude spreads enthusiasm beyond the gymnasium walls and monies raised. It invites new ideas and creative possibilities for the soon-to-be graduates who are just beginning to shape their futures.