On Tuesday as a part of Grambling State University’s TigerFest, Senior Class President Corey Howard and co-host Brittina Bethune hosted a talent show.
Several of GSU’s most talented students got the chance to display themselves for the student body.
The acts ranged from spoken word, to singing and dancing and rapping. The Grambling Sate crowd was very respectful and applauded each performer in support.
“It [talent show] was a cool event, “ said host Howard. “I have much respect for each participant that took the stage and everyone that made the event possible.”
Taking home first place was Clarence McShan Jr., a senior from Benton, performing Donald Lawrence’s “When Sunday Comes.”
“It [winning] feels great since this is my graduating year,” said McShan, “I can honestly say I have left my mark now.”
After graduation McShan plans on going into a research career and starting his master’s program in chemistry.
Taking home second place was Mionne Featherstone, a member of Lyrical Quest on GSU’s campus.
“I was surprised at my success in the talent show. I had a technical glitch and I always underestimate the love and support my fellow Gramblinites give to me,” said Featherstone, a sophomore majoring in theatre.
Helping Featherstone by singing background was last year’s talent show winner, Jessica Barnes. The duo performed a song titled “Extreme,” which is an original song from Featherstone.
Lyrical Quest made numerous appearances in the show. Including Donald Carral who performed his song “Traurig.”
“Performing in the talent show was a great feeling,” said Carral, a sophomore from Baton Rouge. “The love you get at Gram is like none other.”
Reginald Denard, the president of Lyrical Quest, recited a poem titled “I Don’t Get Tired” that had the crowd truly on the edge of their seats. The poem was a play on how hip-hop and television have influences on the community making references to popular rap lines and the slogan #BlackLivesMatter.
“Honestly, I feel as though the message I gave was well received by the crowd,” said Denard, a senior business management and criminal justice major from Houston. “I just thank God that I can use my gift to touch lives.”
“People were really creative this time around,” said Bethune, who is a senior mass communication major. “I enjoyed it being on and off the stage – being with the crowd on stage and off the stage watching the performances.”