When the Talent Show Must Go On

Even from home, Maryland Smith students know that the show must go on.

On Thursday, April 23, 2020, over 70 students, faculty and staff from the full-time MBA program came together via Zoom to show off their talents outside of the classroom in this year’s Smith’s Got Talent competition.

“Given this is such an unprecedented situation, I felt that it was my responsibility as the VP of signature events to bring everyone together and help maintain the sense of one community,” says event organizer Niharika Gupta. “I believe this is an example of the fact that we can stay together as a community, help boost each other's morale and support one another even during difficult times.”

With social distancing restrictions in effect, this year’s talent showcase had to be done a little differently. Rather than convening for live performances, students submitted videos of their acts in advance – their musical performances, dance routines, painting skills, even their dog tricks.

“Seeing the students cheering each other on through the chat — and all the work that the full-time MBAs had put into creating videos — was heartwarming,” says Nicole Coomber, an associate clinical professor of management at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. “I was excited to see another side of the students.”

For participants and attendees, the competition offered much-needed interaction and a reprieve from the coronavirus pandemic.

“As faculty, we have a big role to play in helping our students process this difficult time we are all experiencing. We have a responsibility to our students to continue to provide an excellent educational experience,” Coomber says. “If I can provide a sense of continuity and compassion to them, then that is essential for me to do.”

After viewing all of the videos, students voted in an online poll to divvy out the awards. Here are the results:

• Most Surprising Talent: Braden Walden, for his drum and harmonica performance
• Funniest Talent: Daksh Gumber, for his MBA faculty impersonations
• Best Group Performance: First-year MBAA group, “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)” dance routine
• Best Musical Performance: Maria Herold, for her piano cover of “The Office” theme
• Performance of the Evening: Neha Agarwal, for her time-lapse painting