Cheers spread through the crowd at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Emens Auditorium as the 25th annual Student Scholarship Talent Search began.
Twenty acts, which had been practicing hours each day as the Talent Search approached, filled the room with energy and kept the audience entertained throughout the night.
Sophomore Josh Coffey, a nursing major, took the top prize of overall winner with his banjo medley performance. He said the win came as a big surprise.
"I thought my performance went really well," he said. "I worried about my stage presence, but I made up a hip thrust. I was goofy to keep the crowd involved."
While he did not expect to win, putting the medley together came easier than he thought it would.
"I sat down an hour and had a piece of paper and figured out what sounded well together," he said. "I then practiced an hour or two a day the week before and practiced with my band on the weekends."
Coffey's other act, Noteworthy, which also includes Ball State students Brandon Buller, Brad Kieper, Luke Meyer and Nathan Wilson, performed in the Talent Search as well. They walked away with the honor of best music group.
"It all felt relaxed," Buller said. "There was some pretty tough competition overall. It was especially strange fighting against one of our members."
Fifth year senior Katie Friedel, a musical theatre major, said she was excited about winning best female vocals.
"I didn't believe it for a second," she said.
She said she was pleased with how her performance went.
"I thought it went the best it could for me," she said. "I was just praying that the right people would get it. I didn't think that they would."
Other winners included the Student Dance Association's interpretation of "Expect Us," Logan Campbell's acoustic guitar performance of "Alright," Jennifer Rife's original composition "My Senior Song," Noel Kunz's yo-yo performance and Joe Redman's male vocals in "Run Away With Me."
Sheri Niekamp, Homecoming Talent Search chairwoman, said the event went smoothly.
"Everyone put a lot of hours into everything and then it came together to make a great show," she said. "I couldn't decide who was the best and had no idea who would win."
The Homecoming Steering Committee has been planning the event since February. Niekamp said all the work the committee put into it was worth it.
"I was really nervous, but everything was on time and it was a really great show," she said. "The emcees made it exciting. I appreciate everyone's hard work."
Freshman Zach Holzer, a meteorology major, said he appreciated it too.
"I definitely didn't expect it to be that good," he said. "The vocals were the strongest I've ever heard. They were all heartfelt performances."
Freshman Abby Ray, a nursing major, said, "I thought it was cool to see all the different talent that is at Ball State."
Students also appreciated the variety in the acts.
"I think it's better than other talent shows. The acts were a nice variety," freshman Denisha Russell, a telecommunications major, said.
Best male vocals winner Redman encouraged students to not be fearful of performing.
"Don't be afraid to be unique," he said." I'm a big nerd and still successful."
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