News Story

Engineers Compete on "America's Got Talent"

Clark School alumni and a student are among the 15 members of the acrobatic Gymkana team that have made it to the semi-finals on the nationally televised competition "America's Got Talent."

Assistant Coach Todd Supple (B.S. '86, chemical engineering) leads the team, which also includes Warren Eugene Hull (B.S. '11, electrical engineering) and student Alicia Mariah Grant (civil engineering).

Gymkana was selected to be one of 12 finalists in the America's Got Talent YouTube competition, edging out almost 10,000 other acts who submitted audition videos. Their performance aired last week on the show and audience members voted them on to the next round of the competition.

The team is made up of more than 80 students. Based in the UM School of Public Health, the group acts as "ambassadors of healthy living" to young people and models healthy behaviors by pledging to remain drug-, alcohol-, and tobacco-free and cooperating to accomplish challenging physical feats. They regularly perform shows for elementary, middle, and high schools in the Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia region and mentor kids ages 5-16 through gymnastics classes and a six-week camp each summer.

Their philosophy is that "anyone can learn gymnastics regardless of experience or abilities, so membership is open to students of all abilities and backgrounds," according to Supple.

August 15, 2011