NIU sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha is sponsoring a most attractive African-American male contest to raise money for two charities.

Nominations were held Monday and six candidates were chosen for the ballot. Juniors Emanuel Barr, Dave Townsend, Tony Smith and Devon Jones and Seniors Irving Nicholson and Thomas Thompson are the six candidates.

Voting was held and donations were accepted Wednesday in Cole Hall and will continue today in DuSable Hall and Friday in the Pow Wow Cafeteria. The contest will be announced Saturday around midnight at the Black Greek Council Homecoming party, located at the Office of Campus Recreation.

All proceeds will benefit Cleveland Job Corps and Educational Advancement Foundation.

Alpha Kappa Alpha member Maahra Hill said they only had the contest open for black males, because they wanted “to promote self-pride in the black male.” The purpose of the sorority is “based on promoting success in the black community through integration,” she said.

Alpha Kappa Alpha President Cai Love was informed of the idea at a Chicago area sorority retreat and decided to implement it as a fundraiser at NIU.

“This is just a fun way to raise money for different charities,” said Alpha Kappa Alpha member Trina Hadman. “We will continue to raise money for various philanthropies through out the year,” she said.

“We have a very hard working chapter that has a lot of goals for this year, so anyone is invited to come out and support us,” said Alpha Kappa Alpha member Gwen Johnson.