Westlakers find themselves posing for Campus Men calendar
WESTLAKE -- The 2002 Campus Men calendar at Ohio State hasn't come out yet, but there is a good chance that one of the models will be from Westlake --- and he probably will be featured during one of the winter months.
That prediction is based on the last two calendars published by Calendar Models of America. The calendar of Buckeye men is distributed nationwide and produced by Sean Ashbrook, photographer for Calendar Models of America. The photos depict students in various campus locales, such as dorm rooms and athletic fields.
Westlake's Vince Meno was Mr. January 2000 and Westlake's John Wong is Mr. February 2001. The two young men don't know each other, (Meno graduated from Westlake in 1998, Wong from St. Edward in 1999) but they do have something in common --- both work out and keep themselves in great shape. And they don't take their brief modeling careers too seriously.
As a chemical engineering major at Ohio State University, Wong is a dedicated young man who spends most of his waking hours in class, in the lab or in the library.
But he does have a fun side.
As a lark, he sent a photo of himself in to Calendar Models of America.
Now many call him Mr. February. In his photo he wears a smile and a towel --- nothing else.
Wong heard about the competition when the residential advisor on his dormitory floor got a mailing seeking models for the calendar.
"The RA gave my friend George and I this business card because we're always lifting weights and working out. So we sent some photos in. Turns out they liked them and asked us to come in for a test photo shoot. That's how I got picked," he said.
Wong was one of 71 students invited to apply, and, of course, one of only 12 to make the final cut.
Wong has been too busy with studies to have much time to devote to the calendar, but he did take 100 of them over to the freshman girls' dorms one recent day. They sold out.
Meno, a psychology major with plans of joining the military after graduation, said being Mr. January does have its advantages when meeting the opposite sex.
"I get some girls to come up to me and they say 'I know You from some place. Are you in one of my classes?" I never tell them that I'm in the calendar but sometimes they find out. They next time I see them they'll say 'I found out where I know you from, You're Mr. January'," lie said.
Meno is the youngest of six children of Kin and Josie Meno of Westlake. It was his first crack at modeling and initially, his parents weren't very enthused about the idea.
"My dad had no comment and my mom didn't like it. But Soon they realized that I was a good kid and [hat the experience didn't change me. I'm not more vain and I'm still a pretty good Catholic boy," Meno said.
Fame does have its disadvantages. Meno said that he is constantly kidded and reminded of his decision to "bare his soul" for the photo shoot.
"They're always calling me Mr. Calendar," Meno said of his ROTC buddies at school.
He's taken some good-natured ribbing from his brothers and sisters as well. As the youngest of six siblings, seven years younger than the second youngest of the Meno children, Vince's older sisters told him the last time they saw him so naked, it was when they were changing his diaper.
Although many models for the calendars pursue modeling careers, Wong and Meno are concentrating on more practical careers.
"I wouldn't mind giving modeling a try, but chemical engineering is taking all my time right now," he said.
Wong was captain of the tennis team at St. Ed's and played on the tennis and cross-country teams at Lakewood High School, which he attended during his freshman year.
He is the son of John Wong of Westlake and Audrey Keane of San Diego. His dad owns Aquatic Biocontrol, a Westlake-based company that produces benevolent bacteria and other agents that control ammonia, nitric buildup and algae in ponds, pools and fishtanks. He has a brother and sister, as well as stepsiblings.
Meno said one photo shoot was enough.
"It was the first time I ever did something like that and originally, I was nervous. But then I realized it wasn't that hard to do. I work out a lot and I didn't mind showing my body off. I wasn't ashamed. But it was a onetime deal. It's something that I can look back upon and hopefully tell my grandchildren about," he said.
To view the website version of the calendar, call tip wwwcampusmen.com. The calendar is $12.95 and may be ordered from the website or by writing Calendar Models, PO Box 3301, Columbus, 43210, or by e-mail at Casting at CampusMen.com
Originally published Nov. 8, 2000. Story © West Life. This text is exactly as published.
