Darryl David Dawson, music business sophomore and “Dating Game” host, announces education freshman bachelorette Valerie Hernandez’s winning bachelor at the eighth annual “Dating Game” Feb. 14 in Loftin. She chose Contestant No. 1, liberal arts freshman Reno Williams. Photo by Juan A. Rodriguez
Contestants win Kindle Fires for ‘Dating Game.’
By Adriana Ruiz
aruiz168@student.alamo.edu
An audience of about 50 in Loftin Student Center witnessed potential bachelor and bachelorettes try their luck at winning a Kindle Fire during a reinvention of the classic television show, “The Dating Game.”
The event was sponsored by the Black Student Alliance, Black History Month Committee and the office of student life Feb. 14.
Students signed up before for the game and waited to have their name drawn from a fish bowl.
Four women and four men were picked to participate. They chose questions from a list provided by the host, music business sophomore Darryl David Dawson. A screen separated the contestant from the bachelor or bachelorette.
In the first round of questions, liberal arts freshman Nathan Holiner played the bachelor.
Holiner asked the contestants, “Which Disney character would you say best describes you? Minnie Mouse, Goofy or Winnie the Pooh?” and “On Valentine’s Day, which of these would you prefer to receive? Candy, flowers, chocolate-covered nuts or a kiss?”
The crowd cheered while the three bachelorettes giggled and timidly answered the questions.
Mortuary science freshman Lauren Griffin, Contestant No. 1, did not win the grand prize but said she enjoyed participating and decided to play because she is adventurous.
Participation did not require students to go on a date, but Griffin said she would have to think about a date with Holiner.
“I feel like I am much older,” Griffin said. “But if he picked me, and he was nice, I might have gone out with him.”
During the second set of questions, early childhood education freshman Valerie Hernandez played the bachelorette. She asked Contestant No. 1, “If I was stranded on an island, how would you save me?”
Liberal arts freshman Reno Williams, contestant No. 1, shocked the audience with his response.
“Save you? I would save myself,” Williams said.
Even after his response, Hernandez chose Williams because he was nicer, she said.
Criminal justice sophomore Pablo Moreno said he was surprised he didn’t win.
“I should have won. Look at me,” Moreno said. “I guess people didn’t like my comments, but it was just something for people to laugh about.”
The event had the crowd laughing and offered plenty of audience participation.
Holiner, Hernandez, Williams and nursing sophomore Erendira Olvera were the winners of Kindle Fires.
