Chapman University sophomore Mark Pampanin grew up at a time when the “the gay best friend” became glibly known as the must-have accessory for every fashionable female in need of a sympathetic ear or a martini pal, as essential as the perfect pair of skinny jeans.

But Pampanin says enough already with that silly cliché. In fact, he said it so well that he won a first-place national award at the 100th Biennial Pi Kappa Delta tournament, beating out competitors from 89 other colleges and universities to take the top honor in the After Dinner Speaking category.

Read more in Happenings …