Fourth MHS Key Club talent show features fun for a cause
by Margaret Hurlbert
March 16, 2020

MUSCATINE, Iowa, When it comes to talent, Muscatine High School students have it in spades. From singing and playing instruments, to dancing, to even performing stand-up comedy, MHS’s performers always enjoy an opportunity to showcase their skills to their peers. For the fourth year in a row, the MHS Key Club hosted their talent show, giving students an opportunity to use their creativity to help raise money for the Diversity Service Center of Iowa.

The student branch of the Kiwanis Club, MHS Key Club gives students the opportunity to volunteer in many different ways, including running blood drives, participating in the United Way Day of Caring, assisting with parks and recreation programs, and raising money for Shop with a Cop, Muscatine Center for Social Action, and the Muscatine Humane Society. As MHS Key Club Member and talent show organizer Pratibha Khatri put it, “Key Club is an organization where we volunteer and donate money wherever we can.”

Four years ago, MHS Key Club restarted the tradition of having a yearly talent show and began to use admission for the event to raise money. Over the years, the talent show has grown, bringing in lots of funds for area organizations. This year, 500 people attended, bringing in $2,500. Key Club Vice President Marcos Bautista shared he felt, “pretty good,” about the amount of funds they raised, particularly because he, “really liked the charity we donated to.”

This year, the proceeds of the MHS Key Club went to the Diversity Service Center of Iowa. Headquartered in Muscatine, the Diversity Service Center of Iowa operates in various locations helping immigrants of all ages feel at home in their new community and complete their path to citizenship. Since Muscatine High School and the wider community have many immigrants, the members of MHS Key Club felt that helping Diversity Service Center of Iowa would help many people locally and in other areas.

Along with helping students support a good cause, the MHS Key Club talent show also gave both students and teachers a chance to share their specialties. This year, 14 competing student acts and four exhibition performances featuring both student organizations and teacher groups graced the stage.

A panel of teacher and staff judges chose this year’s winners. Damir Brown won most unique award for his original rap. Esther Sogbeth won the crowd pleaser award for her dance to the song “Fallen in Love.”

First, second, and third place each received prizes of $100, $50, and $25 respectively. Olivia Bastin earned third place for her rendition of “Say the Word.” McKenzie Lofgren placed second with her performance of “Kindergarten Love Song.” This year’s first place award went to CJ Gibson for his performance of Tim Hawkins’ stand-up comedy routine “Tubin.’”

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