RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (October 13, 2022)–It’s great to win Tech’s Got Talent. The $600 first-place prize is nice.
But when you look down from the stage a few minutes after the competition is over and your grandfather is proudly showing an old childhood photo of you singing with him…that’s priceless.
That is what Arkansas Tech University student Faith Tooke experienced on Thursday night at Witherspoon Auditorium.
“He (Doug Scallion) has sang all over Arkansas and other states,” said Tooke when asked about that photo. “I’ve grown up singing with him in countless places. I grew up singing in church. I see myself singing in church for the rest of my life and giving all the glory to the one who gave me this wonderful gift.”
Tooke is a 19-year old sophomore from Warren. She is majoring in digital marketing.
She won the annual talent competition for ATU students sponsored by ATU Student Activities Board by singing “Something in the Water” by Carrie Underwood.
“It’s a song I’ve sang for a few years now in church and out of church,” said Tooke. “It’s never failed me. I love it, and that’s why I chose to sing it. I’m so thankful for the opportunity and all the support I had from friends, family and my sorority. They were great. Everyone here has been amazing…all the people working it and all the contestants. We definitely bonded over this. They are all so talented. I’m so grateful to have experienced this with them.”
Cole Huddleston of Waldron won $300 as the Tech’s Got Talent 2022 runner-up, while Kayleb Starnes of Vandervoort earned the third-place prize of $100.
Lamardre Brazell of Pine Bluff, Janniebeth Melendez of Fayetteville and Matthew Melton of Lavaca also advanced to the Tech’s Got Talent 2022 finals. They were joined in the preliminary round by Seamus Brown of Gravette, Juan Olivarez of Fort Smith, Grace Rhodes of Pine Bluff and Jamie Walsh of Hot Springs.