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NOSA Talent Show

Biehler and Dubois Win Talent Show

The annual St. Louis National Optometric Student Association (NOSA) chapter held the annual talent show on Friday, February 13, 2015 at the Pilot House on the UMSL campus.  This year's talent show featured six acts and two side shows.

NOSA President Valerie Arnold ('17) is very proud of the organization and the talent show this year and the involvement NOSA has in other events throughout the year.  "NOSA and the NOA work hard to provide eye care to under-served minority populations as well as to increase the number of minority optometry students," she said.  The chapter here at UMSL is also part of the annual Easter egg hunt for the visually impaired and several other events.


Kara Rowden ('17) took the stage first to perform the song "Valentine" by Martina McBride.  She dedicated the song to her daughter. 
Kara Rowden ('17)

After her performance, Katie Loock ('17) performed a musical song she wrote about optometry.  Katie's performance earned her second place in the talent show.

 
Katie Loock ('17)





 She prepared the song just hours before the performance and sang it acapella with a jazzy and soothing tone.

Current first year Kandace Alfred ('18) was the host of the talent show and also performed stand up comedy during the talent show.  Kandace was preparing for Mardi Gras weekend as she threw out beads to the audience at the beginning of the show.

Kandace Alfred ('18)
Vice-President of NOSA, Coral Pucci ('17) returned this year to teach two first year students how to baton twirl.  Pucci wowed the audience last year with her baton twirling skills.  Andrew Ibisch ('18) and Kajene Murugathasan ('18) learned quickly how to twirl the batons during a intermission between acts at the talent show.

L-R (Andrew Ibisch '18, Coral Pucci '17, and Kajene Murugathasan '18

Molly Gorder ('17) with the help of Marie Oliver ('17) took the stage to sing a song in multiple dialects.  As Marie would change countries  Molly would change her voice to fit the dialect of that country. 

L-R Molly Gorder '17 and Marie Oliver '17
Third place winner Jessica O' Conner ('17) and her husband Dalton, performed She is Love, by Parachute. Her husband played guitar and while Jessica played the keyboard and sang for the talent show.  O' Conner is also a member of the UMSL band, PowerCross.


Jessica and Dalton O'Conner
The stars of the night and first place winner's of this year's talent show went to two second year students who performed a duet song When You Got a Good Thing by Lady Antebellum.  Curtis Dubois ('17) played the guitar and sang with Paige Biehler ('17).  The crowd was silent during the performance and the loud cheers after the performance indicated they were the favorites of the night.

Curtis DuBois and Paige Biehler ('17)

NOSA President, Valerie Arnold ('17), was amazed by Paige and Curtis's performance, "Paige and Curtis were absolutely phenomenal!  Their voices blended so well together and it seemed as though they had been singing together for years" she said.  

The talent show drew about 60 guest and raised money for the St. Louis Foundation Fighting Blindness.  In addition, to the talent show, a dating game was played between acts.  Krystyna Golden '17 and her handsome man, Aric Katz won the dating game and were given a $50 gift certificate to the Cheesecake Factory for playing.

Several other raffles were held at the talent show for gift cards, iPad, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, and Beat Headphones which were donated by the event sponsors,  Cooper Vision's Mike Burke,  Hoya's Mike Elton, Pearle Vision, and Wal-Mart's Dr. Jennifer Goldman.

Judges for the event included  Dr. Alex Harris who is also the organization's advisor,  Dr. Angel Simmons (and her two children, Michael and Mackenzie) and Program Director, Nick Palisch. "I also think that the judges had a very difficult choice to make, but they were very fair and did a great job" commented Arnold.

Expect more exciting things from the NOSA organization over the next few months, including the Easter egg hunt later in the semester. 

 

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