"Pacific's Got Talent" Contest Winners Announced

At a time when leaders are talking of rebranding Pacific, eight young performers took to the Pacific Partnership portable stage to compete in the Pacific’s Got Talent contest, giving the town a head start on how it sees itself, according to Brian Knight, event emcee.

“This is who we are now. This is what we look like,” said Knight, as he cheered each performer as a contender for the winning spot, eliciting wild cheers from the audience.

Two sets of portable bleachers were filled to overflowing at the Sept. 22 Railroad Day crowd made its way over to the see the show.

Jenny Devine, who chaired the event, seated a panel of four judges with scorecards on each performance.

In the end, judges Nick Savage, Francine Lindemann, Kelsey Eversmeyer and Shauna Ray combined their scores to determine the top three winners.

Cody Goggin, 17, who is homeschooled, took first place for his rendition of “God’s Golden Eyes.”

Kaitlin Guelbert, 11, a student at Meramec Valley Middle School, took second place singing “Pay Phone” and Kerissa Houghton won third place for her a cappella rendition of “Outside Looking In.”

“You have to commend these young performers who would get up on the stage and do their thing,” Knight said. “After this day, it will always be known that Pacific’s Got Talent.”

The outdoor competition was part of the 10th annual Railroad Day celebration at Pacific Station Plaza, which is hosted by the Pacific Partnership. Monica Mahler chaired the event.