The annual Mr. NDA competition affects the lives of all of the people involved.

Mr. NDA is considered to be one of the most privileged honors for a male junior or senior.  Only the top 15 selected by the student body will be able to run for the title of Mr. NDA.

Last year’s Mr. NDA XIV, Chris Refsguard, is now a freshman at St. Norbert College and recalls the experience well.

“It is hard to describe in words, but it was the best moment of my life,” Refsguard said.  He will return to the stage December 4 to crown the fifteenth winner.  

Refsguard is not shy about wanting to work as a guest judge this year, saying he is “fair” and would “give points to the people who worked the hardest and have the most talent.”

Mrs. Carolyn Brown, who coordinates the show with Mrs. Julie Campbell, said judges had not been selected or named for the upcoming show.

Selected by the student body to  compete in the contest are Ben Kolb, Cullen Blindauer, Mark Vandenberg, Bijan Ramirez, Scott Becker, Alexander Ribeiro, Dan Reigh, Thurgood Dennis, Hunter Yewman, Brad Ertl, Joe Weber, Riley Sweeney, Conner Doran, Lukas Compton and Mike Allard.

“I am incredibly honored to be chosen to compete in Mr. NDA, and I am really looking forward to working together with all of the guys, especially the ones I don’t talk to that much,” Bijan Ramirez said.

“Having a chance to be in a show that the school takes so much pride in and being able to perform in front of a sold-out audience is going to be awesome,” said Mark Vandenberg,

Four Mr. NDA contestants from last year-- Alexander Ribeiro ,Hunter Yewman, Scott Becker and Joe Weber--will be returning again for another shot at the title.

"Being voted into Mr. NDA for a second year must mean that I did a semi-decent job last year, so I am very honored and grateful to be voted into it again," Scott Becker said.  "I just go out there and have a blast."

Performing in front of a large, live audience could send shivers down the spine of anyone and it is easy to get nervous before walking into the spot light. Strategies such as breathing exercises and pilates were helpful to Refsguard, he said.

“I had butterflies in my stomach, so before I went on stage, I put on Party in the USA by my favorite artist, Miley Cyrus, and she made the butterflies fly away,” Refsguard explained.

Advice from last year’s king is to have fun and put everything into it.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable night,” Vandenberg said.