The men of Trojans continue their streak after winning their second Sing Song title. The class of 2017 walked away from their first Sing Song with a victory, and Ko Jo Kai won their 18th Sing Song title.

Trojans director Andrew Tate said winning last year encouraged the club to create a winning act.

“It’s awesome to work so hard on something and it pay off. Our goal from the beginning was to produce the best show we could and not worry about others and I’d say we achieved that,” said Tate, junior biology major from Abilene.

The Trojans celebrate with the Sing Song trophy after being announced as the overall winners of the men's division for the second year in a row. (Optimist photo by Deanna Romero)

Though it was their first Sing Song, the freshman class was able to “believe in their potential” and support each other, said Courtney Tee, freshman director and communications major from Houston.

“We knew we had a good act, and we knew we had worked hard, but we also knew we would have to put on a great show because there were some awesome other classes,” Tee said. “We were really excited to put together the best show we could.”

The freshman act won three out of the four categories for mixed competition.

“This class is something special for sure,” Tee said, “They have lots of energy and are a very fun, very cohesive group, so I’m excited to see what’s in store for the future, for us.”

Trojans will be donating their $1000 prize money to Love and Care Ministries, and the freshman act’s donation will be given to The Leukemia and Lymphoma society.

Kojie director Madelyn Robinett, senior family studies major from Amarillo, said winning felt surreal to her.

“I’m honestly so stoked. Even more than that, I am so thankful. Like, I can’t believe it,” Robinett said. “We really dove into it whole-heartedly from the very beginning. We were never afraid to ask for help. We had so many people input ideas. They inspired us. We definitely didn’t do it alone.”

Ko Jo Kai’s $1000 of donations will be given to, senior ad/PR major from Amarillo and Sigma Theta Chi member, Sarah Puckett and her family. Puckett’s mother has terminal cancer.

“Their family has been financially struck by that,” Robinett said. “We prayed a lot about it and decided to give our money to her.”

The Siggies planned to give their prize money to Grace Mason, senior nursing major from Amarillo and Sigma Theta Chi member, who had a similar situation with her mom. The directors of the Siggie and Kojie acts decided each club would raise $500 and give that joint money to Mason.

“We didn’t want to pick between the two,” Robinett said. “That’s not what the competition is about. It’s about supporting our friends.”

The women of Ko Jo Kai celebrate after being named the overall winner of the women's division. (Optimist photo by Deanna Romero)