Youths Shine During Teen Center's Talent Competition

Special to Dixon Patch

Dixon's got talent and on Saturday 130 teens, 30 parents and even some and School Board members filled the to enjoy some of it.

The competition, dubbed "Dixon's Got Talent," was filled with increasingly talented acts, but out of the many competitors Saturday, Sept. 17, the judges identified the top three who stood out above the rest.

The 1st place winner was Maryn Smith, singing and playing her guitar; 2nd place went to Megan Hannon, who also played guitar and sang; Michelle Duran won 3rd place, singing a beautiful solo in Spanish. 

“The teens just totally impressed us tonight”, said LC Cunningham, the emcee and promoter of the event. “The energy and the level of competition in here tonight was truly outstanding.  It takes a lot of guts to get up there in front of your friends and just put it all on the line!  I am very proud of each and every one of the kids who went up there and tried. We are definitely going to hold this event again, and next time … it will be even bigger and better!” 

Teen Center volunteers were pleased with the turnout, and the presence of local officials. The center would especially like to thank school board members Irina Okrhemtchouk and Gil Pinon, and Dixon City Councilman Michael Ceremello, Cunningham said.

"We so need and rely on their support and involvement to do the things we are trying to do here.  Seeing their involvement, makes the kids feel like they are important and worthy of their time," said Cunningham.

Last month, the Dixon Teen Center held the preliminary talent show. Teens had a month to prepare their performances and on Aug. 20, they performed gallantly.

There were 22 acts ranging from singers, to musicians, to dancers and even a stand-up comedian and a poet. The teens of Dixon certainly proved they had talent.

Anyone who missed Saturday's show will have another opportunity to attend. The night was so successful that the decision was made to hold an encore performance and invite the public as well as city and school leadership to enjoy Dixon’s talent.      

The judging came from a four-person panel of local volunteers with special performing expertise: Brad Shehan, (guitar player and vocalist), Rina Fuller (dancer and artist), Liz Haugen (pianist and vocalist), and Jessi Besseghini (vocalist and artist).  

“What makes this event even more special is the fact that the whole idea of a talent show was brainstormed, conceived, planned and implemented by our Teen Council," Cunningham said.

The Teen Center’s teen council is a group of kids who volunteered, interviewed and eventually were selected to a position of increased responsibility within the Teen Center.

We meet frequently to plan events and decide on ways we can make the Teen Center better.  They are much like a student government is to the school.  The teen council has been responsible for several highly successful events at the Teen Center ranging from black-light night, Fear Factor night, and they assembled a group to march in the Mayfair parade.

Their next endeavor is to plan and host a city-wide haunted house to be open nightly Oct. 29-30 at the Teen Center.

In addition, representatives from the Teen Council visited both the City Council and the School Board meetings this week and updated each on the Teen Center, to thank each group for their involvement with the center, and to personally invited them to the talent show.

The Dixon Teen Center is a non-profit organization that strives to provide a safe place for kids to meet and grow.  Opened since January, there are now over 700 kids registered as participants. The center regularly draws 100-130 kids on weekend nights. Doors are open to all the kids of Dixon aged from 13-18 or 7th -12th grade.  

"If you meet one of those two requirements, you’re in!” according to Cunningham.  “Our goal in the very near future is to be open daily as an after-school program providing Dixon teens with a place to go, with computers, tutors, mentors ready to assist.  It’s just another way we can help meet the needs of the teens here in Dixon and that’s our primary goal."

Cunningham wishes to thank all the volunteers that make the Teen Center possible.

"There are too many to list, but they know who they are, and they are extremely valuable to our efforts," Cunningham said. 

If you would like to volunteer and make a difference, contact Cathy Morris at 678-2191.