The week of homecoming festivities continued with the Super Power Talent Show in the Rayburn Student Center on Oct. 19, where students showcased their various talents to the community and a panel of judges. The event was presented by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and hosted by comedian Paul Varghese.
Laquinlan Loudermilk, chair of company, lecture and poetry for CAB, organized the talent show. The event was first presented three years ago, but Loudermilk has sponsored it for the last two years.
“We had over 500 students in the conference rooms last year, this year we expect a bigger crowd,” Loudermilk said.
While audience members weighed in on who they believed would win the competition, the three judges – SGA President Adria Green, Recruiter for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions Brittney Johnson, and SGA Senator and Morris Recreation Center Special Event Programmer Sarah Cunningham – made the final decision.
“I am very excited, I know we know we have talent [on campus],” Green said. “I am anxious to see the show.”
Peerless Mentoring Program student and freshman Cameron Smith won $300 for first place in the talent show for his rapping skills. This was the first time Smith had won first place for performing.
“I feel awesome, I am ready to get on Facebook and tell everyone I just won $300 for a talent show,” Smith said. “This is the first time I have won this much money for performing. I can count on both hands how many times I have performed.”
According to Smith, he has a lot of talented family members and that his mom has always been supportive, and that his first call would be to his mother.
“[My mom] would have driven an hour and a half to be here tonight if she didn’t have to work at five tomorrow morning,” Smith said. “I have been doing this since fifth grade, but I have only been rapping seriously like I do now for about two years. This is what I want to do with my life. I want to rap. I want to do what I enjoy doing, not wake up every morning and go to a job I don’t want to be at.”
Smith was joined by fellow participants and A&M-Commerce students Shadane Easington, who took second place and $150. William Nitson took third pace and a $100 prize.
This year’s emcee, Varghese, assisted in ushering in the performers while keeping the crowd entertained and laughing. Varghese headlines at clubs in the state of Texas and was just on Comedy Central last week, and he said he enjoys campus crowds.
“This crowd tonight was energetic and I love that,” Varghese said. “I have been on the college tour since the middle of August. It’s always cool; college crowds are super nice and supportive.”
Varghese said he would love to come back and do his stand up comedy show for A&M-Commerce students, and give them an hour without interruption.
“I think it would be a lot of fun,” he said. “I love Texas crowds in general; I was born and raised here. Any Texas school that would take me, I would jump in, any excuse to come home.”