No Shave November came to a close after the competition’s judging took place on Tuesday, December 1 at lunch on main street. Showing off their beards after an entire month without shaving, the participants included Raja Ramesh, Zack Khan, Samad Iqbal, and Veeraj Majethia, with the winner being Carlos Monterroso.

Monterroso did not win because of his facial hair. “Beards separate a man from a boy,” said Iqbal, “and show the transition to manhood.” No Shave November and its focus on beards provides a fitting opportunity to bring attention to the multitudes of male patients affected by prostate cancer. The winner of the competition was determined by who raised the most money for the cause. After raising over $210, Monterroso won the title.

Other participants continued to support and appreciate the event. While Iqbal found the competition to be a win-win situation in which he could enjoy growing a beard while helping others, some students enjoyed participating for practical reasons. “[Shaving is] a lot of work, so it’s fun not shaving,” said Majethia. Though Khan agreed that not shaving was “easier and more convenient,” he pointed out that his prevailing goal was “to raise money and awareness.”

The participants’ efforts resulted in a grand total of $405 raised to support patients with prostate cancer. Many “really got into it,” as Khan said, and onlookers enjoyed seeing various conspicuous beards on otherwise clean-shaven faces. No Shave November is not just an eye-catching occurrence that entertains students and staff – its most important takeaway, as described by Khan, is that “beards are a premise to raise awareness. It’s all about charity.”