By Rae Jefferson
A&E Editor

Fraternity Phi Kappa Chi was awarded first place at All-University Sing this past weekend.

The 62-year-long also awarded Kappa Omega second place and Pi Beta Phi third place.

Phi Kappa Chi’s act, “Dust Bowl Days,” told the story of rain that eventually falls on the American Midwest during the Dust Bowl.

Coppell junior Grantham Akerly, Phi Kappa Chi sing chair, said waiting to hear the winners announced was nerve-wracking.

“When they announced Phi Kappa Chi, I was covered in chills,” he said. “It’s the type of moment you only dream about.”

The fraternity’s Sing chairs tried to keep the act focused on the group as a whole.

“As a group of Sing chairs, we often stopped to remind ourselves that we were elected by the fraternity to represent them and their best wishes for our act,” he said.

Akerly, who taught his group most of its choreography, said he strove to reinforce the group’s unity.

“I tried to make sure that they felt respected, and that in turn led to them giving the sing chairs a lot of trust and respect as well,” Akerly said.

Kappa Omega Tau’s “The Grand Hotel” was inspired by Wes Anderson’s newest film, “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” Pi Beta Phi’s act, “Back in the Habit” featured singing and bell-playing nuns.

Cheryl Mathis, assistant director of campus programs, announced the top eight Sing acts, which will advance to the Pigskin Revue in the fall.

Audience members voted in the People’s Choice Awards for their favorite acts in specific categories via text after the show.

Phi Kappa Chi won best vocals and best backdrop; Pi Beta Phi won best song selection and best costumes; and Delta Delta Delta won best choreography and best theme development.

All-University Sing judges awarded each act up to 100 points in five different categories: 30 points for entertainment value; 20 points for music quality; 15 points for creativity; 20 points for choreography; and 15 points for theme development.

Taylor Foster of Kappa Kappa Gamma was awarded Sing Chair of the year.

Mathis said there were more than 1,800 performers across the 18 groups that participated in Sing this year.

“Something that’s always fascinating every year is how many performers we have,” Mathis said before announcing the top eight acts.