This year’s Chant Rock fundraiser went all out to embrace the “waving goodbye to cancer” beach theme, as Coastal Carolina University sororities and fraternities performed choreographed routines.
As an annual component of the Relay for Life cancer awareness fundraiser, all event proceeds were donated directly to the American Cancer Society.
Students, staff, friends and family roared for their favorite talent show performance at CCU’s HTC Center on April 3. The judges voted to decide the first place and second place winners. Additionally, each guest received a voting ticket upon entry which they cast for the People’s Choice award.
Sigma Kappa and Sigma Pi were awarded the first-place trophy for their collaborative “Summer in the 60s” retro beach dance choreography. The judges were sold on Sigma Pi’s pastel polo shirts, Sigma Kappa’s ponytails and overall use of surfboard and beach ball props.
Active Sigma Pi member Matthew Gutierrez, a freshman finance major, participated in the event for the first time. Winning first place was an added bonus.
“It feels good that, you know, all the work we put in actually paid off. “I was just so proud of everyone,” Gutierrez said.
This is Sigma Kappa and Sigma Pi’s second year in a row to place first in the competition.
Active Sigma Kappa member Deanna Gould, a senior double majoring in forensic psychology and intelligence and security studies, explained why the event is important to her.
“I think Chant Rock is my favorite part of being in Greek life,” Gould said. “I love Relay as a whole, and Chant Rock because I was a dancer growing up, so Chant Rock really helps me kind of take my childhood and put it with my adulthood a little bit.”
The judges awarded Pi Kappa Phi and Gamma Phi Beta with the second-place title. Pi Kappa Phi hyped up the crowd while Gamma Phi Beta’s wavy beach curl hairdos bounced to “Mamma Mia.”
Nonetheless, Delta Chi and Alpha Xi Delta won over the crowd with their matching tropical shirts and floral lei necklaces. Delta Chi’s breakdancing solo, paired with clips from Ryan Gosling’s “Ken” and Greek life collages on the screen background truly spoke to the culture and interests of the room.
Active Alpha Xi Delta member Keira O’Connor, a sophomore criminal justice major, was excited by their win of the People’s Choice award.
“I’m really happy with People’s Choice, because at least we know that everyone loved it and it made them happy to watch us,” O’Connor said.
Disney’s “Teen Beach Movie” playlist queued between different performances throughout the night. The event closed with CCU announcing their appreciation to participants, faculty and supporters that made this year’s Chant Rock one to remember.
This year’s judge panel consisted of four honorable CCU staff members, Student Government Association President Gabrielle Ryder and notably Chinel Boateng, the senior development manager for American Cancer Society Incorporated.
