On May 26, Gorham High School (GHS) students, faculty, and family attended the much-awaited pageant, Mr. GHS. An annual event, Mr. GHS is a fundraiser organized by the senior class.
The pageant consists of multiple sections, starting with the candidates’ choice outfits. Attire ranged from a middle school basketball uniform, worn by runner up Thomas Nelson, to a tie-dye suit, worn by soon-to-be-named Mr. GHS Isaac Martel.
While presenting their outfits, the candidates were asked on-the-spot questions by emcees Caroline Dowdle and Olivia Paruk, such as “What would your slogan be if you owned a merch store?” and “Are you a cat person or a dog person?”
Next came the talent portion of the pageant. Leading off was Jove Bissonnette, who sang “Mr. Jones,” by Hootie and the Blowfish and played the guitar. Simon Roussel and Martel followed with a combined act, performing “Piano Man,” by Billy Joel. Roussel sang and Martel played piano and harmonica. Giuseppe Brown was up next, performing magic. He displayed his clever tricks on a projector screen so the whole audience could see what he was doing. Finally, another combined act from Ben Nault and Nelson, who performed a throwback to their eighth-grade viral video, “Got Buckets?” with trick shots accompanied by their friends. Altogether, the talent was very impressive.
Photo credit Mike NaultIsaac Martel was crowned Mr. GHS 2019 at the recent Mr. GHS pageant, a senior class fundraiser. He was joined by contestants (top row, left to right) Thomas Nelson, Ben Nault, Giuseppe Brown, Jove Bissonnette, and Simon Roussel.
Following a short intermission, the contestants walked in wearing formal wear, and were escorted by an important woman in their life, including mothers and younger sisters. Finally, they lined up on stage and Dowdle and Paruk asked a final question: “Why do you think you should be the next Mr. GHS?”
Bissonnette replied that he had gone through a lot of change in the past few years and winning this would represent a lot for him. When Paruk prompted Brown with the same question, he replied “Because I’m hot” while pulling a thermometer out of his pocket and sticking it in his mouth, a joke very well received by the audience.
After these concluding questions, voting was opened up to audience members. In the final tally, Martel was crowned as the new Mr. GHS.
“I’m a theater and art kid. I don’t really do what I do for glory or anything. I do it because it’s what I love,” said Martel. “The fact that I can be not only be recognized but honored for doing that says a lot about the Gorham community, and especially our high school.”
Event proceeds went towards senior class fundraising.