Meet Curry Cates: 2017 Big Man on Campus – The Auburn Plainsman

By Claire Tully | Campus Editor | 14 hours ago Image by Kae Henderson | Photographer | The Auburn Plainsman

Curry Cates, contestant and winner of the 22nd annual Big Man on Campus Pageant on Thursday, April. 13, 2017, in Auburn, Ala.

Zeta Tau Alpha's Gamma Rho chapter on campus hosts the Big Man on Campus event each spring to raise money for breast cancer research in the form of an all-male pageant.

Contestants performed in opening numbers, individual talents, dressed in formal wear and answered on stage questions at the event, in addition to collaborating with the sororities to raise funds prior to the pageant.

This year,Curry Cates, junior in health services administration , was crowned the winner after impressing judges with his performance of "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban.

"My entire family can sing," Cates said."My dad, sister, grandparents, so I grew up in church singing and sang in choir in high school."

Cates said singing has been a hobby of his for years, so it made sense he chose to perform a song during the pageant's talent segment.

"During high school I attended Alabama Allstate chorus all 4 years, and I started taking voice lessons," Cates said."I participated in NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition where I placed 1st in my category senior year. I have always enjoyed singing, and love being able to sing with family and friends."

As for the fundraising portion of the competition, Cates said he worked closely with Tri Delta.

"I partnered with my nominating sorority Tri Delta in raising the funds necessary to support The Zeta Foundation," Cates said.

Prior to competing, Cates participated in other organizations, which have kept him active on Auburn's campus.

"I am a prior CWE counselor and am the Director of Auburn Family for Dance Marathon for this year," Cates said.

Cates said one of the greatest things he's had the opportunity to do is donate stem cells. He said the connection to Auburn occurred when he entered the registry on the concourse one day.

"I would have to say getting the opportunity to donate stem cells to a patient with Acute Myeloginis Leukemia, which was set up through Be The Match, a national bone marrow registry," Cates said."I was able to go to D.C. over Christmas break and donate these potentially life saving stem cells to a patient in France who was around my age. Really great experience."

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Meet Curry Cates: 2017 Big Man on Campus - The Auburn Plainsman