On Thursday March 21, CAB hosted a talent show showcasing popular performers from this semester’s open mic series. The talent show was presented free of charge to students, faculty, staff and the public. Donations were accepted on behalf of the Associated Women for Harding. Throughout the show, multiple door prizes were given to members of the audience, including gift cards to popular places in Searcy as well as entrance to the drawing for a free international program, to be drawn at the Burksys on April 13.
Nine acts performed over the course of the talent show for the audience as well as for a panel of judges who determined the first and second place winners. The first place winners, three-piece soul band Keef & Co., won a prize package including VIP passes to the Burksys. Second place winner, rap duo Poetic Justice, won gift cards to Starbucks.
Drake Pieper, who performed with freshman Cassidi Shorter and sophomore James Morgan, said he was pleased with the experience.
“I thought it was a good first talent show,” Pieper said. “It was good to have in addition to the open mics. This draws in a larger crowd and has a different sort of feel.”
Keef & Co. won by only four votes, and according to judge senior Kaelyn Tavernit, the talent show had a impressive display of talent overall.
“It was pretty difficult to judge the talent show,” Tavernit said. “I was pleasantly surprised with how much originality was shown; original songs and original takes on old favorites.”
At the talent show, Campus Life director Logan Light said CAB plans to host more open mic nights and subsequent talent shows, and encouraged students to perform and come to watch their fellow students perform.