Students from across campus gathered in the Olsen Family Basement on Friday night for a talent showcase organized by the Robert Morris University Criminal Justice Society.
Club president Michele Russell, who comes from a musical background, had long dreamed of seeing students share their unique abilities. That vision came to life as her organization hosted an inclusive talent show featuring music, dance, and more.
“I’ve always had a dream to see everybody else’s talents, and I’ve mentioned criminal justice society. I brought up the idea, I was like hey, how do you guys feel about singing, dancing, and just bringing all inclusive activities to a stage?” said Russell, “ and they found that they loved that.”
The Night didn’t stop there, as there were exciting performances all night. Various students from all organizations showed up to showcase their abilities. Two brothers from Phi Mu Delta, Marm Amreliya and James Bonacci, performed a duet and shared their experience afterward.
“I felt pretty confident,” Amreliya said. “I had my beautiful, gorgeous girlfriend in front of me, so I was more confident. I didn’t have to be worried about it.”
The crowded basement was very warm and welcoming for the talent tonight, and it was felt as students showcased their abilities. Bonacci echoed this sentiment, saying,
“Man, to be honest, I was really nervous at first, but the crowd was just so welcoming, and they had this presence where they just were so eager for the creativity and talents that were about to come, and from there, it was just easy.”
Easy was an understatement for one performer as she proceeded to play the piano with a twist. She was able to play with her arms twisted flawlessly.
Later, a group of students dressed in blue paid tribute to Elvis Presley with a bluesy performance, contributing to a night full of surprises and show-stopping moments.
After a night of great performances, winners had to be declared: Kyle Le got first place, Trey Reichenfeld got second, Justine Stonlinksi got third, and Michele Russell won the audience choice award.
“It’s kind of unreal cause I was just going into it and just wanting to wear my heart on my sleeve and just share something that just meant a lot to me, and clearly it meant a lot to those that were listening in the audience, so that’s that’s honestly the biggest gift is that it was able to impact and just hit so many people at home.” Said first-place winner Kyle Le
This event has allowed students to see people they know showcase talents that they may not have known they had. The campus has many hidden gems in talent that were brought to the light Friday night.
“Here, there is so much potential for so many people and, you know, it’s events like these that give people a way to make their voice heard and make themselves seen,” said Le.
The night ended with all the performers returning to the stage for one final moment in the spotlight. For some, it may mark the beginning of something bigger — and for others, it was a chance to make their voice heard.
