Thaniuska Vivas and Milton Ramos/PantherNOW Staff
Students, faculty, and staff viewed fellow Panthers showcasing their talents from live streams, their cars, or seated six feet apart at Lot 5 at the Modesto Maidique Campus.
This year’s “Panthers Got Talent” event was a pre-recorded show due to the CDC’s social distancing guidelines. However, the pandemic did not stop students and faculty from having a fun time.
“I thought it was interesting how [FIU Homecoming Staff] could do this drive-in despite the pandemic,” said freshman Cherlyne Jean-Louis who sat in the grass section. “We could see how much talent FIU has.”
Applause, cheers and car horns filled Lot 5 of the Modesto Maidique Campus as students, Greek life members, and staff performed on-screen. All of the performances were projected onto an inflatable projector screen.
Audience members who were seated in their cars were asked to tune in to 88.5 FM. The atmosphere was filled with excitement and music by artists such as Megan Thee Stallion and Bad Bunny. Students sat in their cars and approximately 14 students sat in lawn chairs, eagerly waiting for the show to begin.
Student organizations also competed in “Panther’s Got Talent.” The 2020 Peer Advisors and the FIU Bartender Guild filled their performances with school spirit. Both the Peer Advisors and the FIU Bartender Guild wore FIU shirts and posed with FIU flags throughout their videos.
Student Assistant Jacob Covas dazzled the audience with his instrumental and vocal skills with a cover of “Don’t Think Twice” by Bob Dylan.
Some outstanding performances included a country boy and girl themed dance performance combining country music with urban-contemporary dance choreographies, and an Avatar: The Last Airbender themed performance featuring dances referencing the four elements of the animated series.
Other notable showings include the instrumental jazz piece performed by FIU staff member Kalin Bowles who played both the piano and the saxophone, and a young, soothing voiced singer with a guitar performed “El Triste” by Jose Jose. Both seemed to have recorded at their respective homes.
This year, “Panthers Got Talent” was sponsored by Planet Fitness and Jimmy John’s. Snacks were provided to the audience courtesy of the Homecoming Staff.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students have missed out on campus events.
To ease the worries of students and to accommodate international, out-of-state, and high-risk students, 2020’s Homecoming events have shifted to either a completely virtual mode, or like “Panther’s Got Talent,” have been socially-distant with a virtual option.
“Without the pandemic, I would have attended more [Homecoming events],” said communication arts major Marcia-Lillian Curry, an audience member who sat in the grass section. A transfer student, Curry’s first FIU Homecoming experience consisted of virtual events, such as “Panthers Got Talent” and “Painting with Panthers.”
Freshman political science major Amari Jenkins encourages students to attend Homecoming events, whether they’re virtual or socially-distant. “Most definitely go to one for the experience, especially if you’re a freshman,” said Jenkins, an audience member.
Biology major Malaika Voz also recommends taking part in the Homecoming festivities. “If you never put yourself out there, you will never know how good [college life] is.”
For more information about this year’s Homecoming events, check out the Homecoming Instagram pages for MMC and the Biscayne Bay Campus (BBC).
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