Laughter, applause, and a showcase of creativity lit up Oak Lawn Community High School as students transformed the stage into a vibrant celebration of talent during their school-wide show last week.
“Dancing with my friend is what I liked most about the show because I was able to show my skills off in two different genres of dance,” said CeCe Sanders, 16, of Oak Lawn.
Photo by Kelly White.
Sanders was one of 30 participants who entertained an audience of students, staff, and families with acts ranging from live sketching and musical performances to rhythmic dances and a dance routine by the Spartans swim team.
“The atmosphere on the night was incredible,” said Eileen Wholley, co-sponsor of theStudent Class Advisory Board (SCAB).
“There was a palpable positive vibe in the room. We really tried to bring in unconventional acts to highlight all kinds of talent that the students have.”
Highlights included Ayesha Muhammed sketching audience members live, a Metallica cover band, and Nate and Michael Swan reenacting the final lap of a NASCAR race—a crowd favorite for four consecutive years.
“The swim team was looking for a fun way to get involved with the school, so we figured the talent show was the perfect opportunity to showcase our talents outside of swim,” said Alie Gabriel, 17, of Oak Lawn.
The show concluded with awards based on judges’ scores and audience votes, cast via scanned forms. Nate and Michael Swan earned third place and $50 for their NASCAR act.
The swim team placed second, winning $100 for a choreographed dance featuring members Izzy Romero, Klaudia Turza, Klaudia Latocha, Noemi Castillo, Juliette Campos, Mya Orozco, Alie Gabriel, and Amelia Fudala.
The first-place prize of $150 went to Jayla Clark and Amber Trigg for their duet of “Die with a Smile” by Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga.
Ticket sales supported future senior class activities, including a winter ice-skating trip downtown.
The evening ended with cheers and applause, as attendees celebrated the creativity and spirit of the OLCHS community.
“Events like these remind us of the creativity and spirit within our student body,” Wholley said. “We’re already looking forward to seeing what next year’s talent show will bring.”