United Way presents Fifth annual We’ve Got Talent competition

United Way of the Ouachitas will present the Fifth Annual We’ve Got Talent scholarship competition on Friday at the Lake Hamilton High School Auditorium.

Senior high school students representing schools from across Garland County will compete for $3,000 in scholarship funds for their school beginning at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the door and are $10 for adults and free to students and children.

The brainchild of legendary Oaklawn announcer Terry Wallace, We’ve Got Talent identifies competitors through a series of talent shows at the various high schools. The winners compete before a distinguished panel of judges for first-place honors, garnering $1,500 in scholarship funds; second place, $1,000; and third place, $500. Each performer wins a personal trophy in addition to winning scholarships for their schools. A traveling trophy goes to the winning school.

This year’s contestants include Joshua Lay, Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts; Madison Bellomy, Cutter Morning Star; Kristen Brown, Fountain Lake; Alexsus Nellum, Hot Springs; Grace Robertson and Ben Carey, Jessieville; Anna Cole, Lake Hamilton; Krystyna Valdivia, Lakeside; Madelyn McCutcheon, Magnet Cove; and Clarke Elmore, Mountain Pine.

Special performances by Blues in the Schools, the Teen Challenge Choir, and Josue Ibarra will add extra star power to the event. Ibarra, a graduate from Hot Springs Charter School, won first place at last year’s We’ve Got Talent competition.

Event emcee Jeremy Brown is a graduate of Mountain Pine High School, where he played the trumpet and served as drum major for two years. A small-business owner, he holds an organizational management degree from John Brown University and enjoys giving back to the community. He and his wife, Sara Jines-Brown, have two children, Abigail and Zachary.

Kerry Lockwood Owen, a consummate veteran of the local entertainment scene, will reprise her role as stage manager, helping the high school contestants add polish and professionalism to their performances.

The talent will be scored by a group of distinguished local judges including Ryan Alexander, Shirley Chauvin, Clinton Coleman, Marsalis Weatherspoon and Laura Lee Williard.

Event sponsors include the Morris Foundation; Entergy; Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union; Ike Eisenhauer State Farm Insurance Agency; First Security Bank; and Wheeler Printing.

United Way of the Ouachitas, formerly known as United Way of Garland County, has served the Hot Springs area for more than 100 years. It was organized in 1917 as the Associated Charities. United Way of the Ouachitas financially supports 22 programs operated by 20 agencies serving Garland, Montgomery, Pike, Polk, and parts of Hot Spring, Clark and Saline counties.