Meet the finalists in Dugan’s Got Talent competition for students

April 2, 2024 | 12:12 am

Updated April 1, 2024 | 11:32 pm

Eleven local high school students are vying for a $4,000 scholarship in the second annual “Dugan’s Got Talent” competition. The event will be held at 6 p.m. on April 12 at the Dugan Best Recreation Center. Here’s a look at the students competing. 

Tickets to the event cost $10 per person and may be purchased at the door, online here, or by calling the Parks & Recreation Administrative Center at 270-687-8700 or the Dugan Best Recreation Center at 270-687-8714. All proceeds will go toward programming at the Dugan Best Recreation Center.

The finalists and their talents, as listed on the Owensboro Parks & Recreation website, are:

  • Nate Watson, Color Guard.
    Watson is an 18-year-old senior at Daviess County High School. His favorite food is Cane’s box combo. In his free time, he enjoys singing, dancing color guard, and hanging out with friends. After high school, he plans to attend the University of Louisville and major in nursing. In the future, he wants to open his own Pediatrics Clinic. Nate has a Golden Retriever named Mocha and a Husky named Shadow. His role model is Gabrielle Vita.
  • Lily Berry, Vocalist and Musician.
    Berry is a 17-year-old senior at Apollo High School. Her favorite food to eat is orange chicken. Lily’s hobbies include acting, singing, listening to music, and sleeping. Her future is to go to college and study music. She has one cat that she loves to death. Lily has an incurable illness, but says she does what she can. Her role models are her parents; they are living life doing things that they love.
  • Helena Klein, Acrobat.
    Helena is a 16-year-old junior at Daviess County High School. Her favorite food is salads and cinnamon rolls. Her hobbies include acrobatics, gymnastics, and playing the piano. After high school, Helena plans to attend college. What makes Helena unique is that she is an exchange student from Germany. Her role model is her mother.
  • Clayton Manire, Clogging.
    Manire is a 17-year-old senior at Daviess County High School. His favorite food is chicken tenders. His hobbies include clogging, drumming, and spending time with family and friends. Clayton plans to attend Western Kentucky University and major in business. He is an extrovert. Clayton’s role model is his mother because she is the definition of kind and selfless.
  • Diba Karimi, Artist.
    Karimi a 17-year-old junior at Owensboro High School. Her favorite foods are pizza and fish. Her hobbies include reading and drawing. Diba plans to attend college and become a dentist. She has a high attention to detail and emotional intelligence. Her role model is her parent.
  • Abigail Oakes, Vocalist singing “Another in the Fire” by Hillsong United.
    Oakes is a 16-year-old sophomore at Glory and Grace Academy. She loves to eat orange chicken. Her hobbies include playing volleyball, singing, making jewelry, hanging out with siblings, ice skating, and cuddling with her dog. She plans to go into law enforcement or social work to help child victims. Abigail has a Yorkie named Gracie. Abigail is adopted and has a huge family. Her role models are her mom and sisters.
  • Elizabeth Burgan, Vocalist singing Russian song “Leningrad.”
    Burgan is a 17-year-old senior at Daviess County High School. Her favorite food is pineapple. Her hobbies include baking, painting, drawing, building and making dioramas, and playing video games. After high school, she plans to attend the University of Louisville and major in computer or political science and minor in Russian. Elizabeth has a cat named Daisy and a dog named Lucy. Her role model is her mom.
  • Matthew Boarman, Musician playing “Pantera Jam” on electric guitar.
    Boarman is a 16-year-old sophomore at Owensboro Catholic High School. His favorite food to eat is peanut butter and banana toast. His hobbies include the electric guitar. Matthew is interested in science and hopes to carry this into college. Matthew likes heavy metal music. His role model is Dimebag Darrell from the bands Pantera and Damageplan.
  • Michya Durr-Dulin, Dancer.
    Durr-Dulin is a 16-year-old sophomore at Apollo High School. Her favorite food is ramen noodles. Her hobbies include dancing, drawing, and creating stories. After high school, she plans to go to college. Her style, attitude, and sense of humor make her unique. Her role models are her mother, Sade the singer, and many of her family members.
  • Spencer Combs & Dylan McCollam, Vocalists singing “Creep” by Radiohead.
    Combs is a 17-year-old senior at Owensboro High School. He loves Raising Cane’s chicken. His hobbies include going to the gym, playing music, working, and hanging out with friends. He is undecided on which college to attend, but he plans to major in chemistry. He has a Pomeranian named Izzy. Spencer loves Chemistry. His role model is Chris Stapleton.
  • Jakovie Curry, Human Beat Box.
    Curry is a 16-year-old junior at Owensboro High School. His favorite food is fried chicken. His hobbies include beatboxing, learning, and playing basketball. Jakovie plans to attend the University of Kentucky and major in electrical engineering. He has a dog named Nyla. His role model is his friend from middle school who passed away.

The 1st-place winner will receive a one-time $4,000 scholarship. The 2nd-place winner will receive a one-time $500 scholarship, while 3rd- and 4th-place winners will each receive a one-time $250 scholarship.

A panel of “local celebrities” will judge the competition. Judges include Mayor Tom Watson, Dugan Best Neighborhood Alliance Chair Bobby McCormick, Northwest Neighborhood Alliance Chairperson Rafe Buckner, Independence Bank Daviess County Market President Nick Oller, Independence Bank Community Enrichment Officer Susanne Story, and WEHT/WTVW Chief Meteorologist Ron Rhodes.

April 2, 2024 | 12:12 am

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