The Youth Mentoring Program, March of Dimes host Norwich's finest students at the...

Talent Show

By Dale Mauldin
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

Ten acts, two very big winners.

On March 28, Dole auditorium was filled with some of the university's most talented students, who performed their hearts out in hopes of winning the grand prize of $250. The really big winners were the charities which benefitted from the fundraiser.

"Our goal was $800," said Megin Berglund, a 22-year-old senior psychology major, from Thomaston, Conn.

The fundraiser ended up making almost double what they were aiming for, a grand total of $1,432. The whole team was "thrilled," according to Berglund.

"It was a joint fundraiser between our office and the March of Dimes (MOD). It was to sponsor both the March of Dimes and our youth mentoring programs," said Nicole DiDomenico, director of volunteer services.

Talks between the MOD and Norwich University's volunteer service office started last semester. Both organizations were looking for a fun yet informative way of raising money, and raising interest in both organizations.

This year's talent show was different from the ones held in the past. In the past there was no admission fee, and it was more of a spontaneous event.

"This year we had auditions and a rehearsal," said DiDomenico.

"We advertised throughout campus; we advertised in the mess hall; we talked to people we knew that liked to perform and stuff like that," Berglund said.

Once the word was out that there was going to be another talent show, Norwich students went to auditions and gave it their best shot.

"We had a bunch of acts come and try out and we picked the top 10 acts," said Berglund

According to DiDomenico, there were four students who played a very important role in putting the talent show on, and without their hard work it would not have been the success that it was.

Nikki Sheppard, Megin Berglund, Mariah Gavrish, and Karen Kelleher did everything from going to meetings with a MOD representative, to announcing the acts and asking trivia questions in between some of the acts.

"They went to all the rehearsals and auditions; they picked the acts; they put everything in line; they did everything," said DiDomenico.

The first place winner of the competition was Dana Dexter, second place went to Eric Beauregard, and there was a tie for third place between the Norwich Shock Platoon and Melvin Knox. On the night of the event the scores were added up wrong, and Knox's name was not read.

"We do apologize to Melvin for not having added up the scores correctly," said DiDomenico.

The mentoring program will use money for various things, such as "training for their mentors, conferences on mentoring programs," said DiDomenico.

The money will also be used for fun things that both the mentors and mentees will do together such as "a big barbeque" at the end of the year, according to Berglund.

The money also allows the program to buy new sports equipment and art supplies for next year, according to Berglund.

Currently there are three main mentoring programs. There are one-to-one mentors who are matched with their own mentee and they spend time together doing fun activities such as "bowling or hanging out here" according to DiDomenico.

Another program is in the study partners group; these mentors go to Northfield high school and help students with their study habits or with their homework. In the third program students from East Montpelier come here and "several mentors work with them as a large group, and they do activities on campus," said DiDomenico.

These programs are very happy at the turnout of the event.

"I appreciate everybody that came out to watch the talent show. Everybody that preformed did a great job, and I hope that it will be bigger and better next year," said Berglund.

"I felt that it was a huge success not only because of our efforts but because of the support from the Norwich community," said DiDomenico.

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