ELLISVILLE – Ellisville State School hosted its first-ever talent show Friday afternoon at the Roosevelt Center in Ellisville as part of IDD (Intellectual and Development Disability) Awareness Month.
As part of the event, participants from the many community-based programs of ESS sang songs and performed a spiritual dance among other talents.
The winner, as voted on by a judging panel that included Laurel Mayor Melvin Mack, was Hattiesburg resident Regina Young, who sang the Carrie Underwood song, “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”
Young was emotional upon receiving the trophy, hugging event organizer Martha Metzler, director of community living for ESS. The moment also brought tears to Metzler’s eyes.
“It took a lot of guts for them to get up here and participate,” she said. “These individuals wanted a talent show to show off their abilities. In the past, we did individual things for them (during IDD Awareness Month). But, this was something they wanted to do.”
Metzler said the event was called “Let Inclusion Shine” as it showed those using Ellisville State School’s many services are no different than any of us.
“They’re able to do so many different things,” she said. “They’re extremely talented. That doesn’t mean they can’t go out and function. They want to be as integrated and involved as possible.”
Contestants were judged on a number of different categories including showmanship, creativity, sound quality and clarity and stage presence.
The event kicked off with a performance by three men who are all blind and deaf, and even featured appearances by “Elvis” and “Michael Jackson.”
Billy Ray Hamilton, who dressed as Elvis and performed “Hound Dog,” took home third place. Arthur Keys, who led the audience in singing in a number of tunes including “Lean On Me,” “When the Saints” and “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” was awarded second.
In addition to Mayor Mack, the judging panel included Randall Hendrix, human resources director for ESS, Reginald Bird, director of community programs, and local business owner Bobby Harper.
Young’s Funeral Home provided the trophies.
Local News
Related Photos
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Photos/David Owens
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‘Let Inclusion Shine’
ESS hosts first-ever talent show
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