DJ Stobbe, a senior real estate major from Louisville, Ky., was crowned the 2026 Mr. University on Tuesday, April 14 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Featured in an introduction, questionnaire, talent show and fitness portion, five contestants vied for the pageant title as they raised funds for the William Magee Center.
“I told myself before I came here that no matter what happens it’s all in the Lord’s plan,” Stobbe said. “I told myself to just have fun, and I got to meet some great guys. Thank you to everyone who came out.”
Three judges selected Mr. University: Aggie Doddridge, assistant director of student activities at the Ole Miss Student Union; Henry Potter, 2025 Mr. University contestant and Cameron Davis, 2026 Miss University. The panel also selected a Mr. Talent, Mr. Muscle, Mr. Know-It-All and Mr. Congeniality.
“You want a Mr. University that has it all,” Doddridge said. “That’s a good representative of the university while also having a good attitude, a good spirit — someone that’s really a fan among the crowd. That was really evident in DJ’s performance tonight, so it’s no surprise that he ended up being Mr. University.”
“I’ve worked with (the William Magee Center) previously, and I know the people in that foundation are absolutely incredible,” Watters said. “I couldn’t be more happy to support that mental health and wellness foundation.”
“The event ultimately helps bring seniors together one last time before walking the stage while raising awareness and money for the William Magee Center,” Dagg said.
The center opened in 2019 and was named in honor of William Magee, an Ole Miss track-and-field athlete who died from a drug overdose. By providing addiction recovery services and wellness education, the center functions as a valuable campus resource.
Sean Giamportone, who won Mr. Talent by competitively eating four hot dogs during the talent section, is a senior biomedical engineering major from Olive Branch, Miss.
“I just wanted to help support the William Magee Center,” Giamportone said. “It was a fun time, and I met some great people.
Braeden Watters, named Mr. Muscle for his jiu jitsu performance in the fitness competition, is a senior biological science major from Oxford who emphasised his admiration for the cause.
“I’ve worked with (the William Magee Center) previously, and I know the people in that foundation are absolutely incredible,” Watters said. “I couldn’t be more happy to support that mental health and wellness foundation.”
Watters celebrated the Mr. Muscles win.
“It was so fun. Obviously, we weren’t the best with choreography, but we tried our best and we were just laughing and smiling,” Watters said. “It was a great time.”
Wesley Templet, a public policy leadership and political science major from Vacherie, La., won Mr. Know-It-All for his answers during the interview section.
“It’s senior year,” Templet said. “I figured I might as well go out with a bang, have fun and raise money for a good cause. (The fitness section) was really uncomfortable for all five of us, and it was just really fun to go through it.”
Andrew Nichols, a senior public policy leadership and economics major from Monroe, N.C., won Mr. Congeniality for his first impression with the judges during the introduction section, but he preferred the talent portion.
“We all spent a while working on our talents, and I loved how every guy did something different that kind of fit his personality,” Nichols said. “I’ve wanted to participate in Mr. University ever since I got here and saw that this was a thing. It’s the senior class’ way of giving back to the university that’s given me so much.”
Hagan Hord, a senior integrated marketing communications major from Stuttgart, Ark., spoke to how the talent portion was a crowd favorite.
“I got to see lots of different comedy factors with the talent and had the most entertaining night,” Hord said. “It was lots of fun. Getting to see these guys actively give back to the William Magee Center was really cool.”
Elizabeth Anne Mitchell, a senior biomedical engineering major from Pontotoc, Miss., was not disappointed by the evening.
“That was the most entertaining and atrocious night of my life,” Mitchell said. “Best $15 ever spent.”
Potter, a 2025 Mr. University contestant and 2025 engineering graduate, shared his insight into both sides of the competition.
“There was a lot of good talent up there, a lot of laughs,” Potter said. “It was weird judging (having been a participant) because there were several things where I saw where it was coming from. But we didn’t have a dude speed-eating hot dogs — that was new so it was interesting to see, and I thought it was hilarious.”
Stobbe closed the laughter-filled night with thanks to all of the pageant participants.
“Truthfully, I’m just grateful to everyone who came tonight, all the judges and everyone who made this possible,” Stobbe said. “This university has given so much to me, and I’m really blessed to be in this position and to win tonight.”
