Kuyper Hosts Annual Variety Show
On an unseasonably warm March evening, members of the Kuyper College community gathered in the Vos Chapel for the return of a beloved event.
The Variety Show is an annual, fun-filled event that gives students, staff and faculty the chance to showcase their talent and creativity through an eclectic mix of performances.
This year’s acts ranged from musical offerings to animal appearances, interspersed by a series of high-energy mini games designed to involve the audience.
“We get to celebrate the gifts that God has given us. We encourage students to join by saying everyone has a talent. This year, there was such a variety of talents, and no two were the same,” said Kuyper Student Development Specialist Alyssa Patton.
As a member of the Student Development Office, she coordinates outside-the- classroom aspects of student life – activities like the Variety Show being a big part – on the Kuyper campus.
The Student Development team is led by Dean of Students and Work Curt Essenburg and also includes Assistant Dean of Students and Work Emily Perton and Director of Faith Formation Al Moss. It exists to support, encourage and challenge students to become who God created them to be while fostering a close, tight-knit community that serves each other.
This emphasis on togetherness is exactly why Patton loves the Variety Show so much.
“This is an opportunity to showcase a talent we may never have seen before, gaining more insights into who each of us is. It also provides the opportunity to laugh and play silly games together, creating lasting memories. Plus, it’s a fun opportunity to connect outside offices and classrooms,” she said.
A panel of judges, composed of Kuyper students and staff, awarded the evening’s prizes, which included the Razzle Dazzle Award for creativity and entertainment, the Gold Standard Award for talent and mastery, and the Standing O Award, based on voting by the audience.
Siblings Alivia and Ethan Brainerd took home the evening’s trophies – with Alivia winning both the creativity and audience-determined categories for her martial arts board-breaking demonstration, and Ethan winning the talent category for his original spoken-word style poetry.
Infused throughout the night was a sense of gratitude for being part of a community like Kuyper and for God-given creativity.
Michael Grimm, one of the evening’s student hosts, closed the Variety Show with an appropriate prayer:
“I thank You for the talents that you have given us, for the boldness that has been given to those who shared them tonight. We praise You and give You all the glory,” he said.
