What a night for our town of Thurmont! Our courageous Cougars roared loudly on October 21st, 2025. Thurmont Middle School’s (TMS) 26th Annual Talent Show performance was once again a hit from Mrs. Berna Laforce! From singing to dancing, to playing many instruments, it was phenomenal! 

To start our night, our very own TMS chorus performed the song Yo Vivo, Cantando! By Jerry Estes. They got their well-deserved cheers and yells as they exited the stage and our performers got ready. While the talented middle schoolers got ready, our Master of Ceremony, Mary Quealy, (also a retired PE teacher at Thurmont Middle), introduced the Judges, Taylor McIllrath, Bridey Puval, and Randy Stull.

Act 1 goes as follows: Kamden Miller singing Don’t Stop Believin’, Adelan Outland singing Lost Boy, Performers Joclyn Cassidy, Emily Garber, Wyatt Ridenour, Emily Roberts, Mia Sweeney, and Alice Watson dancing to Baby, Lilian McKinley singing First Love Late Spring, Connor McGrew singing Thank God I’m A Country Boy, Alysia Ridriguez and Ariana Wilford singing and dancing to Someday, Mackenzie Grandstaff singing Six Months Later, Hannah Lawerence dancing to Big Yellow Taxi, Mila Davis playing a compilation of Jigs and Cooley’s Reel, on the violin, and lastly Bella Cantrell singing Man in the Mirror. 

Act 2  goes as follows: James Clements, Evan Liard, and Garrett Mission performing Paranoid through singing and a band performance, Peyton Gallion singing Die From A Broken Heart, Keyonna Suoazo dancing to I Love Rock ‘N Roll, Ella Barborek singing The Fate Of Ophelia, Grace Cassella and Racheal Duncan singing Never Enough, Renna Munson singing Sailor Song, Cayden Hamlette singing and dancing to a Lady Gaga mix, Myah Snider dancing to Can’t Stop The Feeling!, Bailey Cope singing The House That Built Me, Addy Eaves performing a monologue of So God Made A Farmer, and lastly Irelan Outland singing If I Don’t Have You.

At the end of the night, just before giving out awards, the TMS students and teachers do two final performances. The TMS Chorus joins everyone on stage once again, singing the song Thriller. The soloists performing this song were James Clements, Nathaniel Fountain, Evan Laird, and Jeremy Veronie along with all of the 8th grade Chorus members dancing to the song. The second performance was a classic way of making e

veryone laugh. Mrs. Laforce gathered some teachers around the school and very quickly put together a dance number for the song YMCA. The teachers performing were Sherry Bueso, Tina Garst, Danielle Kuhn, Berna Laforce, Heather McClung, and Lyndsey Weller.

Now, onto the fun part! With the whole night being a success of loud cheers and laughs, there has to be winners. Starting off with 5th place, there was a tie! The band members, James Clements, Evan Laird, and Garrett Mission tied for 5th place with Cayden Hamlette! All of these boys did wonderful jobs. Our 4th place winner was Bailey Cope with her beautiful voice. The 3rd place winner was Bella Cantell who says, “Be yourself and always try your best”.  The 2nd place winner was Hannah Lawerence with her stunning dance skills and she says, “Always do your best and try your best”. Now, before announcing 1st place, the show held a People’s Choice Awards winner who happened to be Adelan Outland! And Lastly, to close off this fantastic night, our Thurmont Middle School 26th Annual Talent Show winner was Irelan Outland with her outstanding performance. She quotes, “let nothing stop you, keep climbing”! 

At the end of the night, Mrs. Laforce requested to say something to the high schoolers: “There’s a lot of talent in Thurmont. I love the kids that try their hardest and I never want anyone to ever think they’re not good enough because they are.” She also wanted to thank all of her past students for coming down on their own time because, “I know growing up makes you busy, and I’m grateful you made time for us,” said Laforce. The names of the crew members who came to help were: Rehgan Lee, Eliana Nichols, Natalee Wright, and Journey Young. She says, “I love my girls and they have always been there to help no matter how crazy I got”. She of course also gives special thanks to TMS’ Administration, Staff, Secretaries, Custodians, and many chorus parents who volunteered and donated their time and concessions items.

Thank you all for a wonderful evening in the town of Thurmont. Remember to never let anyone dim your light! Shine as bright as you want and keep going for what you need! Hopefully, we’ll see these performers again next year—plus some new ones!