We are.... Talented - CDT Story (2nd Place Talent show)

PENN STATE HOMECOMING

We are ... talented

Lion Ambassadors take first at For the Glory talent show

By Annemarie Butkiewicz - For the CDT

UNIVERSITY PARK — Eisenhower Auditorium was full of Penn State pride Tuesday night when 20 teams performed skits with themes ranging from re-enactments of Penn State football games to '90s television shows.

The Lion Ambassadors took first place in the fifth annual For the Glory talent show, part of Penn State's homecoming week celebration.

The Lion Ambassadors made the crowd cheer with their performance, focusing on Penn State traditions such as the guarding of the Lion Shrine, the "We Are" chant, school colors blue and white and the Nittany Lion mascot, and how they became prevalent in Penn State culture.

Theta Chi and Penn State Dance Alliance won second place for their rendition of "Aladdin."

Dancers donned skirts with bells and fringe, and Theta Chi performed with fake swords and purple tunics.

Alpha Chi Omega came in third place with a performance of "Drops of Jupiter."

Maura Clark, a Penn State senior and a homecoming chairwoman on the Lion Ambassadors, said she wasn't expecting to win first place with so many dance teams competing.

“We heard the second place, and I was like, 'my man, we didn't place” Clark said.

"And then they said first place. We all jumped and screamed."

Rebecca Chelburg, who chore-ographed the dance for the group, said she enjoyed working with the Lion Ambassadors.

"It was definitely a group effort, and it was a ton of fun," Chelberg said.

"I was just really glad that we came out and everyone loved it."

For Samantha Sarandis, a Penn State senior and member of the Dance Alliance, planning for the talent show was hasty.

"We finished in two rehearsals because the auditions were so early this year," Sarandis said.

"It was really rushed."

Theta Chi performer and Penn State senior Sam Shively said they had a lot of fun doing the show. "It's something out of the box," Shively said, adding that most guys can't say they've been on a dance team.

Homecoming Committee Executive Director Claudia Bonilla said she enjoys watching the homecoming court present the performers.

"It's always awesome to see how, in a few days, they bond and come up with these great num-bers that they put on stage to open the show for us," she said.

The top three teams will perform at the 2015 Penn State Dance Marathon.

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