For 51 years, Shaler Area High School has hosted its annual talent show which includes the crowning of Mr. or Ms. Shaler Area.

Every year the winner of Mr. or Ms. Shaler Area wins a cash prize based on donations from the audience. The crowned winner then gets to choose how much money to donate to a charity of their choice.

This year, the winner won $890 and donated that money to St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

“Growing up, St. Judes was always the go-to hospital my mother would donate to. Plus, in the future I want my career to install with helping children in need,” Ms. Shaler Area said. 

The competition is open to anyone, but historically a male would typically earn the title of Mr. Shaler Area. 

“This year we had one of my favorite groups of Mr./Ms. Shaler Area contestants.  They were prepared and hilarious.  Shout out to Ella-Jay Kopelic, Jacob Presto, Andrew Purucker, and Nicholas Rudolph,” Director Mr. Scott Krenn said. 

However, this year was different in that the winner was Ella-Jay Kopelic, Shaler Area’s first Ms. Shaler Area.

“I was more grateful than anything. Obviously I was shocked, but that’s a reaction anybody would have. I was proud of myself for working so hard, having to take a couple days off of work and buying my own costumes with my own money. The process of actually composing what was in my mind into the outside world was more rewarding than anything,” Kopelic said.

Not only does Mr. or Ms. Shaler Area get crowned, but two Paul Schweiger awards were handed out – this year to Envy Cleveland and Cassandra Schneck. These seniors showed the best spirit after the past four years of participating in the annual show, as well as helping to rebuild the show ever since COVID happened. 

“Those two were the only seniors that participated in the Talent Show for all four years of their high school career.  They helped us to rebuild the show after it was shut down for a couple of years due to Covid,” Krenn said.

To be awarded this award, the directors pay attention to the students who would go above and beyond to make sure the show runs smoothly. They go out of their way to help someone with their act or blow the directors away with their own act.

“We really evaluate what is the spirit of the talent show and who best embodies that,” Mrs. Kristen Aluise said. 

To make the show a success, there are four co-directors that make the talent show happen: Mrs. Aluise, Mr. Krenn, Mr. Mitch Stivason, Mr.  Tony Sarkis. 

Mr. Krenn and Mrs. Aluise were once performers in the Shaler Area HS talent show; they soon turned into being in charge of the entire thing. 

“I was actually in the talent show with my High School band, Pulse (with Mr. McDermott on lead guitar and vocals).  But I’ve been involved since I was hired.  I think that this was my 21st show,” Mr. Krenn said. 

Besides the first ever Ms. Shaler being crowned, another thing was different about this year’s show was the size of the cast. Compared to previous years the cast was smaller than usual, but everyone was ready to show who they were and why they deserved to be on the stage. This year the show was very musically centered with many kids being involved with the band, orchestra, or the choir. 

“It was small but mighty! They came prepared and ready to work,” Mrs. Aluise said. 

It was a unique year for the Talent Show, but it is safe to say the 2026 version was a success and definitely not one to forget.