On Sunday, April 26, 2026, the Villanova Room in the Connelly Center transformed into a stunning exhibition of the talent that lives on Villanova’s campus. The first annual Villanova’s Got Talent (VGT), organized by the VUnited Scholars program, kicked off at 2 p.m. and featured 11 performers from all corners of campus. Five solo student performers, three professors, a student band, the Irish dance team and a local business owner rounded out the diverse cast of talents who were selected through an audition process conducted earlier in the spring semester.
The hosts and judges were also highlights of the afternoon’s program. The hosting duo of freshman Hunter Ivery and Villanova alum Noel B Doherty continued to put the same energy they put into advertising VGT into the event itself. With dance breaks, songs and plenty of jokes to go around, they had the audience hooked from the very start.
“It was really special for me to be able to perform for families,” Doherty said. “I do a lot of shows in New York for more edgy people in their twenties, this show felt like I was cracking jokes at a family barbecue.”
Doherty also expressed immense joy at being back on the campus he called home not long ago. This joy was evident on stage as he and Ivery worked the crowd. Doherty even stalled the program for a moment mid-show to sing “Happy Birthday” to a friend of his in the audience, getting the judges’ panel to join him.
The judges themselves were quite a selling point of VGT for many students. The panel consisted of 6ABC reporter Alicia Vitarelli, former NFL player Brian Westbrook, beloved former Villanova basketball coach Jay Wright and, of course, our very own University President Father Peter Donohue OSA, Ph.D.
The four of them carefully considered each performance and eventually decided on a winner. The third runner-up was singer-songwriter and junior Olivia Millin, the second runner-up was student rock band Floor Six and the highly anticipated first place went to sophomore Nebula Cozmik.
“The talent show was filled with such genuine joy and excitement,” sophomore Anna Rupp said. “I especially loved listening to students perform their favorite songs.”
The warm reception all the performers and the organizers received was incredibly reassuring for this brand-new event. The Villanova Room was packed by the beginning of the show, a sold-out crowd of over 400 spectators waiting to cheer on friends and experience all the talent Villanova’s community has to offer.
“I’ve performed in Conn Cinema about a million times, and in the Mullen Center twice, but [Sunday] was my first time working the Villanova Room and it felt incredible,” Doherty said.
As VUnited looks to make VGT an annual tradition here on campus, the incredible success of their first year is certainly an indication that they are well on their way to making themselves a fixture of campus activities in the spring. All ticket proceeds went to supporting the VUnited Scholars Program and their mission to expand inclusive higher education opportunities.
