The SFU’s Got Talent finale took place on Feb. 20, drawing more than 130 students to JFK Lounge.
A four-member band earned first place and the $500 grand prize. The winning group included Zach Persinger, a junior Nursing major from Greensburg; Shawn Barnhart, a junior Nursing major from Johnstown; Cole Weiland, a junior Chemistry/Pre-Med major from Ebensburg; and Jude Hudkins, a freshman Business major from Ashville.
The winning band featured Persinger on vocals, Barnhart and Hudkins on electric guitar, and Weiland on drums.
Winners were determined by audience voting.
“It was definitely unexpected,” Barnhart said.
Hudkins described the win as “exquisite,” saying it was a great honor to finish first in the competition.
The group plans to split the prize money evenly.
Persinger said he plans to use his portion to help pay for gas for clinicals, while Barnhart said his money would go toward “a lot of Ramen noodles.”
Hudkins said he would use his winnings as gas money. Weiland said he plans to save his money and “let it marinate” in his bank account.
Persinger encouraged students to consider participating in SFU’s Got Talent in the future.
“Don’t be afraid to do what you love to do.”
Freshman English major Simon Greene finished in second place, winning $250, and singers John Paul Caroff and Brenna Kern took home third-place honors after performing a duet.
Kern, a junior Accounting and Business Analytics major from Munhall, said she was grateful for the support from everyone who attended the event.
Caroff, a junior Cybersecurity major from Ebensburg, said the most challenging part of their performance was blending their voices. Kern said that learning Italian lyrics and hitting specific notes was also a challenge.
The duo plans to use their $100 prize money to go out to eat together.
The event was hosted by comedian Derrick Knopsnyder, who returned to campus to emcee the finale. Knopsnyder has hosted SFU’s Got Talent four times and has led similar events at other colleges. He last hosted this event at SFU in 2022.
