 "Photo: Jay Bailey")
Kappa Delta held it's sixth annual "Wing Fling" Saturday on the Murphy Center Lawn to raise money for the organization Prevent Child Abuse in America.
Hundreds of members of the MTSU community came to try wings made by local restaurants, fraternities and sororities who participated in the contest on Saturday.
"Last year there were about 15,000 people coming in and out," said Grace Janoski, a junior liberal arts major and member of Kappa Delta who is in charge of Wing Fling. "We raised over $18,000 for Prevent Child Abuse America."
Janoski said this year the Wing Fling was the biggest it has ever been thanks to the addition of a live band and a larger silent auction.
"This event takes about three to four months to plan," Janoski said. "Members of the Kappa Delta Chapter have been here since about six in the morning just trying to get everything set up and in order."
Danny Kelley, dean of Student Life, Vincent Windrow, director of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs and Dustin Barner, a chef from Miller's Café served as contest judges.
"What I'm going to be looking for in the wings is the crispiness," Barner said. "If somebody smoked them or found a new method to cook them, then they could definitely win on originality."
Fraternities and sororities showed their support for Kappa Delta by cooking their own wings in hopes of winning the judge's choice or people's choice for best tasting wings.
"As far as philanthropic work goes, this is the biggest event," said Cole Merrick, a senior basic and applied sciences major and member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. "It's great because everyone gets a full belly and the money goes to charity."
Greg German, a junior business major and member of Sigma Chi, said they won the contest two years ago and were aiming to bring the trophy home again.
"This is a great event because [Kappa Delta] raises more money than any other sorority or fraternity on this campus," German said. "It's a good way to get the community involved, and I'm just glad to be apart of it."
Kappa Alpha won for the judge's best fraternity wings and Alpha Chi Omega won for the judge's best sorority wings. The people's choice winners were Chicken Shack for best restaurant, as well as Alpha Tau Omega and Alpha Omicron Pi for best fraternity and sorority wings, respectively.
"We have won people's choice for the past four years," said Haley Wilder, a freshman education and behavioral science major and member of Alpha Omicron Pi. "We have a different sauce this year but it's even better than before."
Local restaurants participating in the event included the Chicken Shack, Hooters, Kirkenburts and Zaxby's.
Arabee Mateen, an MTSU alumni and chef at Zaxby's, said this is the first time he's been at Wing Fling, but that Zaxby's has participated in the event every year.
"We won the trophy for best tent last year," Mateen said. "I knew kids who were abused growing up so I'm all for anything that can help abused children."
Brandon McNary, student government association executive vice president and a senior education and behavioral science major, said he has attended the Wing Fling since he was a freshman.
"The girls from Kappa Delta do an amazing job with this every year," McNary said. "They get a lot of support from the Greek organizations and the university."
Lyndsi Wadel, a senior education and behavioral science major and member of Kappa Delta, said members went out and found items from local businesses or family members who had things they were willing to donate to the silent auction.
"This philanthropy was one of the reasons why I liked Kappa Delta so much," Wadel said. "This is such a good cause and it definitely raises the most money."
Wadel said this is her third year helping out with the Wing Fling and that she has watched the event grow and raise more money every year.
"This is my first year participating," said Charley Talley, a sophomore liberal arts member. "I didn't know what to expect, but seeing the turn out now makes me have pride in my sorority knowing all the proceeds go to a wonderful philanthropy."
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