Thanks to a penguin dreaming big and polar bears becoming mentors, Pi Kappa Phi realized its own dreams by capturing the Sweepstakes trophy at Step Sing 2026.
“We put it all out there, and I think it showed,” said Pi Kappa Phi co-director Jackson Griffee. “We had the awesome character and great vocals. Everything came together for an awesome and funny show.”
The final key ingredient?
“Admittance of stupidity,” said co-director Jacob McLendon. “You just be stupid and good things happen, man.”
The 76th edition of Step Sing featured four shows inside the sold-out Wright Center and a livestream audience that surpassed 90,000 viewers worldwide.
The event featured 18 groups and more than 1,500 performers.
Pi Kappa Phi most recently won the Sweepstakes trophy in 2017 and 2022.
Organized by students, including musical arrangement, choreography and costume design, Step Sing has been held inside the Wright Center since 1976. The beginnings trace back to 1951, when it was a sing-along on the steps of Renfroe Hall at the Howard College East Lake Campus.
Alpha Delta Pi swept chimneys and the choreography awards during Step Sing 2026.
Judges Awards
Sweepstakes winner: Pi Kappa Phi for “Slide”
First Runner-Up: Dudes-A-Plenty for “The One That Got Away”
Second Runner-up: Alpha Delta Pi for “Just in Time”
Excellence in Music: Dudes-A-Plenty
Excellence in Choreography: Alpha Delta Pi
Excellence in Creativity: Pi Kappa Phi
Dudes-A-Plenty went surfing during Step Sing 2026.
Committee Choice Awards
Best Group Character: Dudes-A-Plenty
Best Song: Pi Kappa Phi for “Defying Gravity”
Best Moment: The Other Guys for “Surfer Lift”
Director of the Year: Ignite
Participant Choice Awards
Favorite Choreography: Alpha Delta Pi
Favorite Music: The Other Guys
Favorite Costume: Sigma Chi
Favorite Emcee: Dudes-A-Plenty
Videos
Beck's Bench: Celebrate with the winners
Support the Step Sing Scholarship
