The Black Students’ Association will conduct “A Night at the Apollo” Friday, an original ACU talent show.
The performance will begin at 7 p.m. in the ACU Amphitheatre and will be emceed by Khaylor Pruitt and Ryan Woods.
BSA facilitates community-forming and relationship-building events each year, but this is will be its first time to have a talent show giving students a chance to showcase their talents.
“As far as getting involved in the talent show, everyone is involved,” said Ryan Woods, sophomore pre-physical therapy major from Dallas. “No one will be singled out. There is no excluding anyone or anybody – color, size, shape, anything. Anyone that wants to try out can try out. It’s open to everyone. You don’t have to be a part of BSA to perform.”
Pruitt and Woods said the show is not only for BSA or any other specific group because it’s a chance for the student body to get to know each other on a closer level and associate with different crowds than they are used to.
The group’s Facebook page explains how they use events like this to promote the association and expand cultural diversity. The BSA mission statement states, “The mission of The Black Students’ Association is to foster the success and development of the African American student body by creating a community that encourages representation, involvement and inclusion.”
Their mission for the talent show is very similar to this mission; they are trying to integrate the entire student body and encourage everyone to attend the performance.
The show is free of charge, but donations will be accepted. All proceeds will be given to the International Rescue Committee.
“I would just like to encourage everyone to come out to the talent show,” Woods said. “It’s going to be a great time. You get to see a lot of the talent that kids here at ACU have. Talent shows really show you a lot about your peers that you wouldn’t find out if you hadn’t gone.”