THERE was hardly a dull moment at the Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts on Sunday when the Bermuda chapter (Epsilon Theta Lambda) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity staged its fourth annual Alpha Beautillion.

The capacity audience sustained a high energy level, and seemed fully engrossed and well entertained throughout the four-and-a-half-hour programme.

Just in case one might be thinking otherwise, the 'beautillion' is not by a long shot a male variation of the female beauty contests that have become so fashionable in Bermuda.

APA Chapter president Dwayne Caines explained it, saying it is a male "right of passage" ceremony where top high school students demonstrate their oratorical ability and other talents while highlighting community services they rendered during the six-month lead-up to the big night.

Warwick Academy student Nhoj-Trebor Steede walked away with top honours and a $5,000 bursary for his efforts. He outpointed Delmont Williams of Bermuda Institute whose award was $3,000, Ronald Burchall of CedarBridge Academy, who got $2,000, and the Berkeley Institute's C.J. Quest Richardson whose reward was a $1,000 bursary

In addition to the educational awards, Mr. Caines said all four of the competitors would be flown to New York to attend a four-day workshop at Alpha's Leader shop Development Institute (LDI). Participation in the LDI is an opportunity to reach out to the brightest and best and instil leadership qualities and skills that will assist them in becoming tomorrow's leadership.

Every September the Bermuda chapter approaches all public and private high schools inviting them to nominate one male senior to become an 'Alpha Beau'. Those nominated are mentored and monitored by fraternity brothers for a programme starting in January and culminating in the Beautillion.

The programme included participation weekly in a Fraternity Math Attack at Dellwood Middle School, weekly volunteer work at Pembroke Rest Home and, among other things, weekly personal development seminars conducted by Orbis Investment Management.

We doubt if anyone envied the judges responsible for scoring the stage performances of the Beaus. Each of the competitors seemed to outdo the next one, to the enthusiastic responses of their respective cheering sections of school mates, family and friends. They were all multitalented and quite polished in their singing, dancing, acting and alternating in playing different instruments.

However, scores tallied at finals had to be combined with the pre-judging scores in order to determine the winners.

THE judges were Jeremy Elmas, general manger of Bermuda CableVision, Suzzette Harvey of United Dance Productions, Hott 1075 Radio personality Nefertari M. Swainson, educator E. Merle Swan Williams and Magistrate Juan Wolffe. CableVision was one of the principal sponsors of the programme, contributing $30,000.

The overall winner, 17-year-old Nhoj Steede, is the older son of Kalreta Conyers Steede and Robert Steede. Since as early as age two, he has been building a reputation in the performing arts arena, having been cited over and over for his singing, dancing and theatrics.

He has performed in the Bermuda Jazz Festival and Bermuda Music Festival. For two consecutive summers he has performed weekly on board cruise ships. Overseas he has performed in New York and as far away as at the King Cat Theatre in Seattle, Washington, as well as before hundreds of students in Seattle's Public School System, where he was classified as a motivational singer.

Nhoj, who is fondly known as 'No-j', is head student at Warwick Academy for the current school year. He has maintained honour roll status at the Academy since enrolling there in 2000. His ambition is to become an accountant. He is a committed Christian.

Ronald Eugene Burchall, 17, is the son of Ronald and Jeanette Burchall of St. David's. He is extraordinarily gifted in visual arts and design and has completed a scholarship programme at the Institute for Talented Teens (ITS); and he has received "A" Certification in the GCSE Visual Arts and Design.

He was elected deputy head boy at CedarBridge for the year 2005-06. He is set for graduation from the Academy this year, and will pursue the Associate of Science Degree programme at Bermuda College, leading to a bachelor's in Environmental Science. He is a member of the Bermuda Zoological Society, and works part time and weekends at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

CJ Quest Richardson, 17, is the son of Jocelyn and Calvin B. Richardson. He is a product of both Dellwood and Victor Scott Primary Schools, and is now at the Berkeley Institute. In January he was accepted in the Rotary Exchange Programme, and is set to follow other young Bermudians who have travelled far afield through this programme.

He is intensely interested in playing the piano and has a special interest in Bermuda's native and endemic plants and animals. Last month he was nominated for the National Trust Association Young Environmentalist Award.

Delmont Wiliams, 17, is the seventh of eight boys born to Bernella and Carlton Williams. He is currently in the 12th grade at Bermuda Institute. He aspires to be a mathematics and music teacher, and says his main goal in life is to serve others and allow the character of Christ to be seen in him. On his Christmas break in 2003 he went to Thailand as a missionary.

Incidentally, Delmont is a cousin of Bryce Williams, who placed first in last year's Alpha Beautillion. Bryce is a certified lifeguard, who is set to go to France in August for a year as a Rotary Exchange student, and the following year will enter Andrews University in Michigan to pursue a degree in International Business.

It was the on-stage renditions of the above mentioned that kept the audience fully alive on Sunday, combined with the wit and banter of Alpha brothers David Minors and Wayne Caines, who were the masters of ceremonies.