NSU’s Got Talent, hosted by KNWD, is a student-run talent show that allows Northwestern State University students the chance to show off their talents on a larger scale. This year’s event was held at A.A. Fredericks Fine Arts Center, which boasts a large stage where students performed, and was hosted by comedian Jay McKinney.
The winner of this year’s NSU’s Got Talent was Kyra Alexander, a freshman musical theater candidate. Alexander’s winning song was “Creep” by Radiohead, which she described as “one of my favorite songs ever.”
As the winner of NSU’s Got Talent, Alexander will be allowed to open for the headliner at Demon Fest, an event hosted by KNWD at the end of the spring semester. “I’m extremely excited. I want to know who it is that is going to be singing, so maybe I can adjust my vibe to whoever’s going to be headlining,” Alexander said.
Alexander decided to compete in NSU’s Got Talent after performing at KNWD and Argus’s Open Mic Night, where she was approached by Chris James, event coordinator for KNWD. Alexander said James told her she should audition for the talent show, to which she said, “I’d love that.”
Standing on stage waiting for her name to be called was nerve-racking for Alexander. “Honestly, I was 100% sure Lauryn [Vernon] would have won. She’s a dancer, and absolutely every time I watch her, she blows me away. And when they said Lauryn was second, and then they called my name, I was like ‘No!’ My heart just kind of exploded. It’s really nice that they thought I was that good,” Alexander said.
Another contestant for NSU’s Got Talent, Darrick Jasmine, a sophomore dance major, was also cheering for Alexander and Vernon. “Lauryn is my captain, and I’ve always admired how she moves. She dances with so much emotion, and it just touches my heart. And then Kyra, her voice is amazing, like if you were in that room, her voice just hugged you. I don’t know how to explain it, but it just surrounded everything,” Jasmine said.
This was KNWD’s second year hosting NSU’s Got Talent. The organization’s event coordinator, Torin Merchant, a sophomore communication major, said KNWD plans to keep the event going for as long as possible.
Merchant also provided some insight into how the organization selects judges for its event. “Whoever was the main tabulator from the previous year will automatically be a judge. Certain people, like Pia Wyatt, will always be a judge because we want it kind of how America’s Got Talent is, we want somebody to always be constant,” Merchant said.
While not every student may feel inclined to get on stage and perform at a talent show, Merchant encouraged students to take a step out of their comfort zones and give the competition a try. “We got so much feedback after the show, people coming up to us and being like, ‘You know what, I think I might audition next year,’ so yeah, you never know until you try,” Merchant said.
Whether singing, dancing or another unique performance, KNWD’s NSU’s Got Talent will continue to provide a space for students to put their talents on display for years to come.
