The Villages Daily Sun

THE VILLAGES — Joel Dreher hesitated as he leaned in for the kiss.

Then he pulled breath freshener out of his pocket and sprayed his mouth.

He needed it — his kissing partner was a real porker.

As the winner of the “Kiss the Pig” contest at The Villages Charter Middle School’s FCAT pep rally Thursday afternoon, Dreher had to pucker up and plant a wet one on a pig.

“It was an uncomfortable feeling knowing I had to kiss a pig in front of 800 people,” said Dreher, the vice principal of the seventh and eighth grades.

Dreher raised $97 during three days, beating out principal Mark Pienkos and fifth- and sixth-grade vice principal Jennifer Cowart for the special honor.

“Joel is such a cool character,” Pienkos said. “It was a landslide (win).”

Because the money went toward Relay For Life and it was all in the name of pumping up the middle school for today’s FCAT exams, Dreher did not mind smooching the swine.

“It was a rare privilege,” he said.

Other events at the pep rally included a baby-picture contest, where students had to match baby pictures to their teachers; Golden Girls cheers; a spirit contest; and teachers dancing to the rap song, “Crank That,” by Soulja Boy.

Sixth-grade student Hunter Worrell said his favorite part of the pep rally was watching his teachers perform the signature Soulja Boy dance.

Hunter also won a prize for Wednesday’s “Dress as a Villager Day.”

“It was fun just seeing everybody dressed up,” he said.

Student council president Morgan McDowell, an eighth-grader, hosted most of the pep rally’s activities and said she could not be more pleased with how eager her peers were.

“It’s amazing to hear everyone scream and get so excited about FCATs,” she said.

Rachel Katz is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be contacted at 753-1119, ext. 9265, or rachel.katz@thevillagesmedia.com.