Miss America Nina Davuluri Defends Patrick Farves After He Gets Suspended for Asking Her to Prom

Central York High School took disciplinary action against senior who asked pageant winner to a dance

By Zach Johnson Apr 21, 2014 1:18 PMTags
Patrick Farves, Nina DavuluriToday; Desiree Navarro/Getty Images

When the opportunity to ask Miss America to prom presented itself, 18-year-old Patrick Farves seized the moment. Unfortunately, it also resulted in the high school senior's three-day in-school suspension.

Nina Davuluri visited Pennsylvania's Central York High School Thursday to discuss the importance of science, technology, engineering and math studies. During the assembly, Farves ignored school officials' prior warnings by giving the 25-year-old speaker a flower and asking her to attend the dance.

Central York High School defended its decision to suspend Farves in a statement. "It is not our practice to disciple a student for asking someone—even Miss America—to a school dance," it said. "However, it is our practice to set expectations for student behavior, to communicate those expectations and rules to students and families and to ensure those rules are followed within our schools."

Davuluri, who was crowned in September 2013, addressed the incident via Miss America's Facebook Saturday. "I was flattered by the gesture although I am unfortunately unable to attend due to my travel schedule. I later learned of the disciplinary action taken and reached out to the school in hopes that they will reconsider their decision," she wrote. "Meeting and interacting with students across the country has been an important and rewarding part of my year as Miss America. I always encourage students to follow their dreams through education, and I'm inspired daily by the enthusiasm and aspirations of the bright young adults I have the pleasure of meeting through my travels."

Farves, meanwhile, traveled to New York City to speak with Today's Tamron Hall Monday morning. "This whole thing has just been insane," he said. "I didn't expect any of this." Farves said when he was told not to ask Davuluri to prom, he viewed at it as "a now or never kind of thing."

"This is kind of what I do," the prankster added. "I'm kind of known for this type of stuff."

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Farves said his mother disciplined him, but not too harshly: "She knew it wasn't out of character for me to do something like that. At the same time...I think it's amusing to her with all this media attention."

Matt Lauer and Willie Geist hailed him a "hero" for mustering the courage to ask Davuluri to prom.

Does Farves have a back-up plan now that Davuluri has declined his invitation? "I actually don't have one," he said. "I don't know if I want to ask someone or if with all the attention if a girl will ask me."

(E! and Today are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)

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