Meet the 2014 Mr. Concordia contestants

And the winner is…a Q&A with the 2014 Mr. Concordia contestants

Name: Justin Marquette
Class: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Religion major, Psychology minor
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? We were sitting at our (Campus Service Commission) meeting and Mr. Concordia popped up. It was noted that we need a male representative, and I volunteered as tribute.
Are you single and ready to mingle? Yes.
What is your talent? My talent will be hopefully wooing a woman with poetry.
Who is your favorite Disney Princess? Merida from Brave.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Oof. That’s a tough one. I feel like part of me is bad ass enough to be a Slytherin, part of me is prestigious enough to be Gryffindor, part of me is hipster enough to be Hufflepuff. So that being said, the sorting hat would probably put me in Ravenclaw.
What was your favorite childhood movie? Without a doubt, The Lion King.
Who is your hero? Justin Timberlake.

Name: Dylan Jones
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Chemistry major, Biology minor
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? Because I thought it would be a good way to raise money. It’s a fun night, and it’s for a good cause, so why not? I don’t exactly have dreams of being a beauty pageant queen. Most of the guys are wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into. It will be interesting.
Are you single and ready to mingle? Sure. The first part, yes. The second part, why not, right?
What is your talent? Performing original music.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? I don’t like the movie that much, but Rapunzel is my favorite princess.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Probably not Gryffindor. I’m not evil, but I’m not heroic either. How about Hufflepuff. Those are the nice people. If the Hufflepuffs are the hipsters, then that’s probably what I am.
What was your favorite childhood movie? Star Wars Return of the Jedi.
Who is your hero? My Grandpa Larrison.

Name: Alex Elizárraga
Class: Junior
Major/Minor: Psychology major, Spanish and Religion minor
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? I didn’t apply for Mr. Concordia. I was asked to do it…the reason I said yes…is because, as modest as I am, I have to embrace that I have a natural charisma and I love this school, so I figured, why not showcase both of those things while also raising money for a good cause?
Are you single and ready to mingle? I am single. But I’m probably too socially awkward to mingle.
What is your talent? There’s a strong chance I’ll rap something self-written. I don’t know if it can compete with Matt Dymoke flipping pancakes, though!
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Mulan, without a doubt, is my favorite princess.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Slytherin. Someone’s got to show Slytherin some love, right?
What was your favorite childhood movie? Cinderella, Space Jam or The Sandlot.
Who is your hero? Definitely my dad. He is the reason I’m able to be at Concordia.

Name: Matt Ziebarth
Class: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Accounting major
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? To help fundraise for YWCA.
Are you single and ready to mingle? I have a wonderful girlfriend named Katie Lippert.
What is your talent? I make people laugh and don’t take myself too seriously.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Elsa from Frozen.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Gryffindor because I am heroic, and Harry is my BFF.
What was your favorite childhood movie? My favorite movie growing up was Kicking and Screaming.
Who is your hero? That would be my baseball coach Chris Coste.

Name: Mike Rose
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Biology and Chemistry double major – Pre-Medicine
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? I participated last year, had a blast, and they asked me again.
Are you single and ready to mingle? Super single.
What is your talent? I’m going to perform another one of my raps.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Pocahontas. I’m all about strong, smart women.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? I’ve never read a Harry Potter book or seen a movie.
What was your favorite childhood movie? The Sandlot.
Who is your hero? Jesus is my overall hero. Paul Farmer is my medical hero, and my Dad is my personal hero.

Name: Jeff Miller
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Math and Psychology double major
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? It seemed like it would be a fun experience, and it’s definitely for a good cause. A lot of us don’t think about other people who might be going through difficulties like those at the YWCA.
Are you single and ready to mingle? I’m technically single, but I have no idea if I’m ready to mingle.
What is your talent? I will be singing and playing guitar.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Mulan.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Ravenclaw. I wish it was Gryffindor, but definitely Ravenclaw.
What was your favorite childhood movie? The Lion King was my jam.
Who is your hero? My mom. She’s a wonderful human being.

Name: Domenic Fraboni
Class: Junior
Major/Minor: Exercise Science and Biology double major, Psychology minor
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? A couple guys on the football team told me they had put my name in, so I guess they chose for me.
Are you single and ready to mingle? Yes, I am single right now.
What is your talent? I play guitar and piano and like to sing. I don’t consider myself great at it, but it’s something I love to do.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Definitely has to be Belle. I acted in Beauty and the Beast in high school, and I had a crush on the girl playing Belle.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? Probably Gryffindor because I would like to be besties with Hermione.
Who is your hero? My parents.

Name: Matt Dymoke
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Social Studies Education major, Communications minor
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? They asked us to send a representative from SGA and Levi said, “No way in hell.” But it’s for a really good cause, so why not?
Are you single and ready to mingle? Yes. Most definitely.
What is your talent? Choreographed pancake flipping.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Jasmine. She’s the most attractive Disney princess.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? I’ve taken the test multiple times. At first I wouldn’t have been able to admit it, but I’m starting to embrace it. Yeah, I’m a Hufflepuff.
What was your favorite childhood movie? Toy Story.
Who is your hero? Queen Elizabeth II. That’s the first thing that popped into my head.

Name: Zach Zitur
Class: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Exercise Science major
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? Nicole Berry asked me to do it twenty times so I gave in. I have to beat Justin Marquette.
Are you single and ready to mingle? Oh, I am. Quite single and ready to mingle.
What is your talent? Fortune telling.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? It has to be Jasmine.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? I’d be one of the bad boys in Slytherin. I like to root for the bad guys.
What was your favorite childhood movie? Forest Gump.
Who is your hero? Wyatt McCoy, the tennis player.

Name: Nick Bainer
Class: Senior
Major/Minor: Business-Management Information Services major
Why did you apply for Mr. Concordia? I was selected on behalf of CEC.
Are you single and ready to mingle? When am I not ready to mingle?
What is your talent? Playing guitar. Maybe more. I might just wing it.
Who is your favorite Disney princess? Cinderella.
If you were a Harry Potter character, which house would you belong to? According to Pottermore I belong to Hufflepuff, even though I think I’m a Gryffindor.
What was your favorite childhood movie? The Land Before Time.
Who is your hero? My mother. She is the most caring and loving person I could ever ask for.

Karen Besonen

Karen Besonen is a senior Multimedia Journalism major, originally from Apple Valley, Minnesota.
She is an enthusiast of music, along with keeping a personal blog and following the action on Capital Hill. She has a passion for traveling and philanthropic work, and with her degree, she hopes to work for a Christian nonprofit that fights the trafficking and exploitation of children.