Every year, during the spring semester, Waynesburg University hosts its annual talent show,  Waynesburg’s Got Talent. This year, it occurred Friday, Feb. 9. A total of 10 contestants competed for prizes. A prize of $100 was offered for first place, $50 for second place and $25 for third place. Most of the acts were singing, but there were also unique acts such as magic and baton twirling.

This year’s first place winner was freshman sports broadcasting major Ed DiOrio.

“For me to [win] against such a great and talented field really makes it mean that much more,” said DiOrio. “To get first [place] was something completely unexpected.”

DiOrio chose to perform his favorite song from the Broadway musical, “The Lion King”. The song was called “Endless Night”.

For DiOrio, singing that song had a very special meaning to him.

“I saw The Lion King when it came to Pittsburgh in 2006, and in 2007, my pap passed away, and this song really connects me to him… so that’s why I did it.”

DiOrio said he thought the song should be shared with people whether they are “musical nerds” or not because the song has a “powerful message and a powerful image” that comes with it.

“That’s why I wanted to bring it to how ever many people were in the audience [that night],” said DiOrio.

DiOrio said the $100 he received for first place will probably go into his bank account, since he is a “broke college student”.

Second place went to freshman nursing major Madison Walker, who presented a baton twirling performance. Walker performed juggling tricks with three batons to a song, using an array of different twirling techniques.

Walker said she had a great experience participating in WU’s Got Talent, especially since sports often prevent her from participating in events on campus.

“I haven’t really had any stage experience here at Waynesburg, being that I also play soccer, so it was fun showing everyone a different talent of mine on stage,” said Walker.

Walker said she was not expecting to place at the event because of the great talent that went on stage.

“Baton twirling doesn’t always appeal to audiences, especially if you drop several tricks throughout the performance, so I was thrilled to be able to show a routine without any drops, which isn’t always possible,” said Walker. “I’m proud to be chosen for second place but honestly just putting myself out there, trying something new, and making new friends was more rewarding to me than just placing.”

In third place was a group of students who sang and danced to a parody of Chicago’s “Cell Block Tango” with Disney characters, titled “Spell Block Tango”.

Students Kristina Fisher, Kayla Coughlin and Megan Cook choreographed the piece, said sophomore Heidi Dziak, who was in the performance.

“They came up with some dances they found online and tried to incorporate them based off the song and song lyrics.”

Dziak said she first thought of the plan after speaking to Coughlin and Cook, who always wanted to do the song. As the song was not mission compliant, the students worked to edit the song to something they could perform for WU’s Got Talent.

“We needed to rewrite it to make it appropriate,” said Dziak, “but we all got together because we really love the song and musical theatre, so we thought it would be really fun to do.”