Most Eligible Bachelorette
Courtney Victor
Most Eligible Bachelor
Jason Victor
In an unprecedented moment in "Best of Savannah" history, a sister and brother duo takes this year's honors for Most Eligible Bachelor and Most Eligible Bachelorette.
Connect caught up with winners Jules "Jason" Victor IV (age 25) and Courtney Victor (age 31) at Abe's on Lincoln, as they took a well-deserved break after the busy Bachelor-Bachelorette campaign season. They spoke to Connect between preparing for a Wednesday "Victor-Y" Party at Hang Fire, and putting the final touches on the platform they will champion during their yearlong reign as Savannah's favorite pair of singles.
Jason is a graduate of University of Mississippi and markets surgical equipment for Global Medical. When not at work, he can be found playing indoor or outdoor soccer, or (in a less competitive mode) at the Sunday night Kickball League in Bacon Park. Preferred hangouts include Hang Fire and Circa.
Courtney, a graduate of Vanderbilt, is owner of Glow MedSpa and Beauty Boutique on Eisenhower Drive.
Just how did the Victors pull off this historic win?
Unbeknownst to Jason, in early May, Courtney launched a Facebook based campaign promoting Jason as Best Bachelor. At press time, the FB group "Jules Victor Connect Savannah Most Eligible Bachelor 2010" had 155 members, including their mother.
Jason learned of the campaign "about a week after my sister started it." He describes the campaign as a series of "multiple embarrassing photographs taken of me in my better moments.
"It started to spread like wildfire over the internet," he says. "It really showed me all the love and support the Savannah community has to offer. I aspire to give back to them as much as they gave to me."
While there was no companion campaign for Courtney, Jason is not surprised by her win as Savannah's Best Bachelorette.
"I think a lot of people saw the shame and embarrassment she was putting me through," he says. "I think when they were putting my name down they just automatically reciprocated the favor to Courtney."
For her part, Courtney says her campaign for Jason was motivated by concern for his future.
"Is he ever going to make friends? Is he ever going to get out there?" says Courtney. "It was [concern that] he would honestly never get a date. Let's use social networking to help an introverted, socially awkward 25 year old."
"And I think what happened was people would enter Google searches for ‘desperate lonely man' and the search engines would drive them to the Facebook page.
"It was a community coming together to save one of their own." says Courtney.
"Although we did have members as far away as New York," says Jason.
Jason's campaign included one event, a "meet and greet" at Patrick's Uniforms and Gun Range.
"No one attended," says Courtney, "but it was the first time he'd left the house in three years, so that was exciting."
"The next thing I knew, I won also," she says. "I was extremely flattered and excited. And I was amazed that my brother knew how to operate a computer to vote for me."
Going forward, Jason and Courtney see this year as an opportunity to work together for the greater good. Like Miss America, they plan to use their year to promote a specific platform for change. After rejecting theme ideas of world peace, ending world hunger, and promoting universal spray tanning, the siblings opted for a platform that would resonate within the Savannah community: "Campaigning for Lyle MacKenzie as Connect Savannah's Most Eligible Bachelor in 2011."
"Lyle was the closest competitor, and he is disappointed," says Jason. "He has called me numerous nights, sobbing."
"We feel we have been so fortunate, this has opened up a whole new world for Jason," says Courtney. "We want to reach down. Way, way, way down, and bring someone else out of the shadows and into the light."
"Right," says Jason. "It's the passing of the torch."
The Jason Victor File:
Likes: KFC's Double Down. Orthopedic shoes ("On other people. They don't flatter me.") Sporks ("You know, those spoon forks.") Being Bobby Deen's successor as Connect's Most Eligible Bachelor. The Law and Order theme song. Motley Crue.
Dislikes: My sister. My other sister. Restraining orders. Astrology. Condensation.
The Courtney Victor File:
Likes: Saying "duckbilled platypus." Cheese out of a can. Puppies. Cotton candy. Veggie chips. A night out in Statesboro with my best friends.
Dislikes: Hair plugs. Instant messaging. Rainy days. Jellyfish. Broken legs. "And, I don't like squash. I like the game, but not the vegetable." - RWG
Best Old Building
Cotton Exchange
This Bay Street mainstay got its winged lion restored earlier this year and is almost ready to start offering public tours for the first time in four decades.
Runner-up: Owens-Thomas House
Best Example of Local Revitalization
Ellis Square
The consensus is that most people, if not all, prefer outdoor seating and an interactive fountain over a dilapidated parking garage. Bravo, City of Savannah.
Runner-up: Broughton Street
Best Local Greenspace
Forsyth Park
The completed renovation of the fort and band shell was icing on the cake for this perennial outdoor favorite.
Runner-up: Ellis Square
Building Most in Need of Demolition
Drayton Tower
We're starting to feel sorry for Drayton Tower, which has won this distinction several times now. Will the black sheep in Savannah's architectural family ever get the respect it deserves for being different?
Runner-up: The Civic Center
Best Neighborhood to Live In
Ardsley Park
Stately townhomes, quaint bungalows and plenty of parks it's no wonder this charming neighborhood is a repeat winner.
Runner-up: Isle of Hope
Most Underrated Neighborhood
Baldwin Park
This eastside gem definitely doesn't get the credit it deserves for having both historic charm and plenty of peace and quiet.
Runner-up: Parkside
Best Apartment Community
The Oaks
With wi-fi by the pool, a state of the art fitness center and easy access to the beach and downtown, The Oaks sounds like a winner to us.
Runner-up: The Merritt
Best Place of Worship
Savannah Christian Church
A full roster of music, missionary work and outreach programs has grown this church into a regular winner in this category.
Runner-up: Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Best Pastor/Priest/Rabbi
Rev. Billy Hester
The uptempo pastor at Asbury Memorial UMC is both a spiritual leader and a devotee of community theater.
Runner-up: Cam Huxford
Best Private School
Savannah Country Day
This elite private school wins the crown yet again.
Runner-up: Savannah Christian
Best Public School
Savannah Arts Academy
Savannah Arts Academy has won the vote as Savannah's Best Public School. The students who attend SAA demonstrate remarkable artistic and academic abilities. We had an email exchange with Odessa Richards, the school's principal of 4 years.
What are your comments on the fact that SAA won Best Public School?
Richards: I think it is fantastic. This award affirms that the work we do is recognized by the people we serve as being exemplary. It is a compliment to the SAA community.
What makes SAA the best?
Richards: The cooperation of the school staff, parents, and students all working together to ensure the success of each student.
How does it feel to be the principal at the best public school?
Richards: The accomplishments of the students and teachers at SAA are a source of pride for me.
Tell us a little about the student body.
Richards: The students, who attend SAA, all had to apply. They had to meet academic criteria and audition in their art concentration area. The students are expected to maintain a GPA of at least an 80 and meet the demands of their arts area in order to remain in good standing. Each student must take all academic courses required by the state for graduation and 2 courses in their arts area each year. Many students continue private lessons, for example in music or dance, during their years at SAA.
What are your goals for the school?
Richards: My goal is always to insure the success of students and support teachers. When students and teachers experience success and feel valued, then good results follow. - AS
Runner-up: Charles Ellis
Best principal/headmaster
Roger Yancey
Savannah Christian
Twice a runner-up for best private school, Headmaster Roger Yancey has been with Savannah Christian for more than a decade, helping it grow.
Runner-up: Diane Towles (Islands Elementary)
Best Tour Company
Old Savannah Tours
With age comes wisdom. These folks have had the "Best Tour Company" award locked down for years.
Runner-up: Old Town Trolley
Best Free Wi-Fi Spot
Starbucks
Is the wi-fi fair trade too? Go ahead and curl up with your iPad and a cup of java.
Runner-up: Gallery Espresso
Best Street Character
‘Stop the Lie' Guy
His name is Mister Moody, and if you haven't heard his message about the evil empire, then you must not come downtown very often.
Runner-up: Savannah Dan
Best Celebrity Appearance
Miley Cyrus
OMG. We're still in disbelief that the Princess of Pop spent the summer with us too.
Runner-up: Robert Redford
Best Savannah Moment in the National Spotlight
Obama's Visit
Our first visit by an actual POTUS in quite a few years brought a lot of cameras to Savannah, and even more attention to Mrs. Wilkes' chicken.
Runner-up: The Last Song
Best Local to Make It Big
Paula Deen
Though not a Savannah native, this Albany, Ga.-born star continues to rise and the lines outside Lady and Sons keep getting longer.
Runner-up: Ruby
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