Each year at Pattonville, there is an annual all-male pageant called Mr. PHS, where every club or group can select a Junior or Senior boy to represent them. The boys compete in the pageant in a night of creativity, singing, sports, comedy, and all-around fun for all. Although it is a competition to win the title of Mr. PHS, the night is full of laughter and support and is never too serious. Some of the boys in the contest this year included Mr. Tennis, Mr. Thespian, and Mr. Robotics. One of the highlights of the night is always the talent portion. Some participants choose to sing, wrestle, dance, and present other skills in order to win the title.
A Lot of the competition is humorous. Last year Mr. PHS, Diego Halbeck, presented not only a song on the piano but also opted for a humor filled skit where he dressed as an eagle and skateboarded in circles while singing the national anthem. There’s also a Q & A portion where the contestants are asked random questions from a hat on the spot and provide an answer to the crowd. Some of the questions in this activity are more morality-based and tune into the contestant’s true aspirations and dreams, while other questions are more silly and similar to a “would you rather”. The night also features girls volunteering to be hosts of the night, wearing pretty dresses and getting glammed up to not only escort the boys but to add to the excitement of the evening.
For some, the contest is their dream and something they’ve wanted to do for a while now. For junior Alvaro Halbeck, participating in the contest was an easy decision for him. 2 years ago, his older brother Diego Halbeck won Mr. Phs when he competed as Mr. NHS. “I decided to do it because my brother is a huge inspiration of what I’m doing in high school. The reason I’m in theater and tennis, the reason I’m taking a lot of the classes I’m in, and the reason I did the contest is all because of him, and he’s just a huge inspiration of who I am today and who I want to be,” said Halbeck.
For others, the decision to join the contest was different. Aaron Massey was a contestant in Mr. PHS, representing the Spanish National Honors Society. He was approached by his Spanish teacher, who asked if he would be willing to represent the club. This ultimately worked out for him, as he was crowned Mr. PHS 2025.
