While snow fell outside, the temperature rose inside the Great Hall of the Memorial Union Friday night.

A crowd of 500 people cheered as ISU men strutted their stuff and pop newcomers, Innerlude, performed a medley of songs. The Hottie Contest and party was a fall fund raiser of the Asian Pacific American Awareness Coalition.

“For the past three months it’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears, but it feels good when it’s done,” said Donechanh Inthalangsy, president of APAAC.

Innerlude, a pop, hip-hop and R & B group from California, was one of the highlights of the event.

Although they are currently opening on tour for popular artists such as *NSYNC, Mya and Destiny’s Child, the group said they didn’t mind coming to Iowa.

Group member Cyrus said the group is trying to build a stronger fan base in the Midwest and was pleasantly surprised by the crowd turnout at the event.

“It feels good to see such a large, diverse crowd, especially when we aren’t well-known here,” said James, another group member.

This is the second year APAAC has sponsored an event dedicated to bringing Asian awareness to the ISU campus.

Inthalangsy, junior in marketing, said the event grows each year because of the entertainment and media coverage it has received.

She said the great turnout for the event this year may also have been due to the increasing sponsorship for the evening.

Minority student groups such as the Black Student Alliance; the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Ally Association; and the Mexican American Young Achievers Society helped sponsor it.

While funds from the event will go to help fund group activities, Inthalangsy said it also was held to raise awareness of the Asian community at Iowa State because many people have misconceptions about the Asian culture.

“Asians are typically stereotyped as being the model minority — they don’t think that Asians know how to have fun,” she said. “We are here to prove them wrong.”