The St. Michael’s community got to learn a little more about the student body on Dec. 4., for example that senior Mike VanDenBergh enjoys late night texting. It all took place at the second annual “Who can turn on the lights?” Proceeds from the contest benefited the Ilula Orphanage program (IOP) in Tanzania, Africa. The IOP educates and houses 33 orphaned girls.
St. Michael's got...talent?
Six men and two women participated in the show, comprised of funny introductions, talents, “dress your best,” and a dance-off. “Talent” was a term used loosely by the two hosts, Tim Warren and Ryan Deck, when referring to the contestant’s performances.
The fundraiser was part of the programming “AIDS and the denial of human rights.” Last year the winner earned the title of "Mr. SMC." This year's title was "class clown." Even though the contest was open to more people this year, it was hard to get contestants to sign up, senior Sarah Smith says.
“We had some people sign-up early then kind of get nervous and back out,” Smith says. “It’s just kind of tough to ask people to willingly get on stage and act silly; it takes a certain type of person.”
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VanDenBergh "magically" got a girl's number while pretending to do magic.
(Photo by Meghan McNamara) |
Senior Alex Furdon took home the crown and title of “class clown” by performing an African drumming piece with the help of a couple of classmates.
“The drumming was incredible,” says Grace Kelly, director of Student Activities and judge of the contest. “I thought his talent was unsurpassed.”
Furdon says in the past five years he has taken drumming more seriously, but has been drumming since he was 4.
After Furdon’s performance, Warren suggested perhaps Furdon didn’t get the memo that you didn’t necessarily need an actual talent to be in the show.
Putting it all together
Smith helped organize the event along with four other students as part of an advocacy project for professor Trish Siplon’s Politics of the Global Aids Pandemic class. Other students who helped out last year, helped guide this year's group as well.
Last year’s show was very successful raising $1500, Smith says. This year, the group will be donating $1000 to the IOP. The proceeds will help keep the 33 orphaned girls in the program.
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Warren and Deck amused the crowd with their back and forth banter.
Photo by: Meghan McNamara |
“Because of the financial crisis a lot of the donors for the children are backing out,” Smith says. “So there are people who say ‘I will pay for this child to go to school every year until they have gone through the whole way’ and now they’re starting to back out because they’re struggling themselves.”
The IOP has room for 80 girls to stay and go to school, but funding only permits 33 girls to participate at this time, senior Kelley Boudreau said during the show.
“They’re all children who don’t have parents anymore, and most of the parents it's assumed died by HIV/AIDS; but with a lot them it's not certain,” Siplon says.
The IOP consists of five programs. The programs are the Foster family program, Sponsorship Program, Orphan Center, Pre-School, and Community Development Program, Siplon says.
“It’s a whole cluster of programs all being run by volunteers in the community,” she says.
The final act
St. Michael’s faculty and staff judged the event. Judges consisted of Trish Siplon, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Cormier, Moise St. Louis, Zaf Bludevich, and student judge Liam Danaher.
Some of the talents included, VanDenBergh’s “magical” way to get a girl's number without her knowing, Gerhard Meyer’s accordion playing, and Jeanne Nauheimer’s ability to play Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” on the ukulele.
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The judges wait to be amazed by the contestants.
(Photo by Meghan McNamara) |
“All of the contestants were really great, but a standout was the winner Alex Furdon,” senior Andrew Driscoll says.
Junior Heather Barss’ says her favorite contestant was Evan Dewey. Dewey came out in a Scooby-doo costume and his talent was finding ‘Where’s Waldo?’
“My favorite part of the show had to be Mike VanDenBergh’s pick-up line because I’m going to use that this weekend,” Driscoll says.
Talent and good humor were what Kelly was looking for in a contestant, she says. Furdon had it.
“A lot of us come from wealthy families; we go to St. Michael’s; we have a lot of opportunity to help out people who are less fortunate,” Furdon says, “There’s no better of doing that than taking small steps and fundraising.” |
