Districts came together in this Hunger Games themed pageant to compete for one of the most coveted titles in the region: Mr. Trailblazer.
On Feb. 12, nine students participated in a night filled with talent and questions to showcase what they have to be the 2025 Mr. Trailblazer. The competition, which required a three-week commitment, came down to one final night where contestants demonstrated their wit, skills, personality and talent.
The students were asked to represent a “district” that showcased their involvement at Utah Tech University. Some of the represented districts included the Utah Tech Student Association, intramural sports and different departments at Utah Tech.
The new 2025 Mr. Trailblazer attendants are:
- Carson Warner: Mr. Trailblazer, Mr. Congeniality and winner of $500
- Kybin Al-Mosawi: First attendant and winner of $300
- Noah Rowley: Second attendant and winner of $100
The competition started with a high-energy musical dance number, giving them a chance to introduce themselves and commemorate the former Mr. Trailblazer, Tyler Quincy.
The event wasted no time diving into the onstage question segment, which brought laughter, suspense and big reactions from the crowd. Contestants had to think quickly, answering questions written by judges just an hour before the event.
Some of the questions had the men on their toes thinking of the best answer. Some of the hard-hitting questions were:
- How would you describe yourself in pizza ingredients?
- If you could live your whole life as a TV show character, who would it be and why?
Arguably, the most entertaining part of the night was the talent portion. From lip-syncs to a cooking show, the night was exhilarating, to say the least. The nine men were able to truly show not only their dedication to this event but also their unique talents.
First attendant Al-Mosawi, a junior psychology major from West Jordan, said: “I just love the movie Ratatouille. That is really it [my talent]. I got my creative juices flowing, and I just felt good doing it.”
Al-Mosawi created the ambiance of a cooking show on stage by crafting a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“It was a perfect experience all around. I don’t regret doing anything, and I look forward to doing it next year,” Al-Mosawi said.
To end the night off, the contestants walked the red carpet as one last chance to win the judge’s hearts and prove their worth. Many walked with family members or friends while displaying what they are passionate about.
Rowley, a senior population health major from Reno, Nevada, and second attendant walked the stage with his grandma. The crowd was charmed by his choice.
“I want to do something that I love… Nobody is ever really too busy for their grandma,” Rowley said.
Mr. Trailblazer, Warner, a junior criminal justice major from Las Vegas, walked with his childhood dog. His 13-year-old companion Badger, an Australian Shepherd Border Collie, proudly walked alongside Warner.
Warner’s main focus for this upcoming year will be service. “I’m super excited to serve. I mean, Tyler [Quincy] is a great inspiration of how Mr. Trailblazer should look like,” Warner said.
The night ended with the student body congratulating all contestants and overall supporting their friends.
“The biggest thing is serving [the community],” Warner said. “I represent this [Mr. Trailblazer] as like almost a badge or sash of honor.”
