When guidance counselor Erica Maira joined the Seneca High School Student Council, she noticed the annual talent show begin to lose its luster.
“We could not get enough students to participate,” she said.
In an attempt to bring back the excitement to a once cherished tradition, she and her students put their heads together to come up with a solution.
Seneca has now been hosting its Golden Eagle Pageant for four years, and it continues to be a hit.
March 15 marked the most recent chapter of this new tradition, beginning the new reign for Tom Mahany and Jess Raffo as this year’s Mr. and Ms. Golden Eagle.
“It gives six ordinary boys and six ordinary girls the chance to be ‘extra’ ordinary and feel like a celebrity for a month as the hype builds for the show,” Maira said.
“It’s a bonding experience for the student council and an event that gets several different groups of students involved with one another that wouldn’t typically interact with each other,” Student Council President Sam Scarpello said.
The group viewed the pageant as the perfect opportunity to crown a Mr. and Ms. Seneca while keeping their finest musical talent involved to perform in between acts.
The class of 2016 was around for the first-ever pageant four years ago, so it has been patiently waiting since freshman year to become eligible to participate in the entertainment.
“What makes the pageant unique is each year the contestants are seniors, never seen before on the Seneca stage,” Maira said. “It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself in a situation to perform in front of your friends, family and peers.”
Eighty-three students were nominated by their teachers to participate in January, and the six senior boys and six senior girls were drawn in February on the LDTV Morning Show to compete for the title of Mr. and Ms. Golden Eagle.
All 12 finalists were also assigned a month to represent at the show.
The students begin by decorating a poster of themselves to be put on display and promote the show. They then have a two-week period to get their monthly themed costumes together for a calendar shoot. These calendars are printed and sold at the show.
The remainder of the time is up to the contestants to get ready for each event in the pageant.
The week before the show, they rehearse the opening act as a group. Senior Hailey Russell choreographed this performance.
They also collect for the charity donation during this time period. In the past, students raised money for a scholarship at graduation, but in light of the recent ATV accident involving siblings of Seneca students, the $375 raised was donated to Ronald McDonald House, which helps families of patients.
Nick George and Sarah Guzman will receive a student council-sponsored scholarship at graduation for being the male and female who raised the most money.
The show is broken down into four major events — a monthly presentation of each contestant, a talent competition, a fish bowl competition and a formal wear demonstration.
There is a male and a female winner from each category chosen by the nine judges, who consist of teachers from each department.
Contestants are also given the opportunity to earn points in three other categories — audience favorite, congeniality and scholarship.
“The audience was able to record their votes on a poll from their cell phones during the show so it was quick and easy,” Scarpello said.
Student council advisor Matthew Abate coordinated the text voting and calculated all of the scores.
Maira accredited all of her advisors for playing a key role in the success of this year’s show.
“We work very well together, relying on the efforts of all,” she said. “It was the most efficient and smoothest run show yet!” she said.
