Katherine Repasky | assistant editor

Each year, Duquesne’s orientation talent show gives incoming students the opportunity to showcase their unique skills, while cheering on their new fellow Dukes.

This year was no different.

From beatboxing, which had students dancing in their seats, to hypnosis and perfectly choreographed staff dances, the audience was engaged in every act.

Transfer chairperson Abbie Pectrarca said that the orientation team continues to bring this event back because it allows students to put themselves out there in a new environment.

“New students can showcase their talents, so they can show their true selves freely and see what everyone uniquely brings to the table at Duq,” Pectrarca said.

For some students, performing has always been a way of connection for them, while for others, the talent show was a chance for them to try something new.

Madi Seretti, who grew up doing musical theater and singing, performed “Maybe This Time” from “Cabaret.”

Seretti explained that though she had performed in countless musical theater performances in high school, she had never done a show on a whim before.

“In high school, I was really quiet, but now, suddenly, I just felt I had to do this,” she said before stepping on stage.

Seretti received claps throughout her entire performance and a standing ovation once she finished.

“Having everyone support each other and cheer each other on creates a sense of support, unity and community,” Ace O’Malley, a team leader on the orientation staff, said.

Some students used the talent show as an opportunity to share their backgrounds.

Hailynn Corpuz was born and raised in Hawaii and is a third-generation Filipino immigrant.

She said that representing her culture with a hula dance at the event was a no-brainer.

“I originally only did it when I was younger with my mother and sister, but I returned to it about two years ago and am super excited to share the culture of it with everyone,” Corpuz said.

The pinnacle of the crowd’s support occurred when Sophia Priore, an incoming music therapy major, performed a singing and ventriloquism act.

“I became interested in ventriloquism when I was ten, and since then I have been self-taught for eight years,” Priore explained. “I have gotten to use it here and there and have performed before at small venues, including some ice cream shops at home.”

Priore’s performance kept the audience laughing and smiling ear-to-ear, especially when her puppet, Molly, exclaimed

“We won!” At the end of the act.

Even more smiles erupted when it was officially announced that Priore won the talent show.

Priore not only was awarded the judge’s choice, which granted her 100,000 Burgh Bucks, but also the people’s choice award, which awarded her another 100,000 Burgh Bucks.

As Duquesne’s orientation currency, Burgh Bucks can be used to participate in the closing auction of the program.

Priore said she was so moved after winning that it brought her to tears.

“It gives me a lot of hope and encourgement that I can use puppetry through my future career in music therapy to make people happy,” she said.

Katherine Repasky can be reached at repaskyk@duq.edu