Amid plastic aliens, paper stars and bunches of balloons, the annual Air Guitar talent show “took off” on May 22 at Foothill Technology High School (Foothill Tech), with the out-of-this-world theme inviting students to get “Lost in Space”. After a reduced-schedule day, students gathered outdoors in the quad for an afternoon of singing, dancing and even a faculty game show to celebrate the fast-approaching end to the school year.
The Associated Student Body (ASB) planned the event and coordinated a spirit week preceding the show. Featured events included “Surfing the Milky Way”, when students were encouraged to wear their best beach gear, or a sports jersey themed “Space Jam” day, with miniature basketball games taking place on the stage at lunch. As the last full school event before finals, Air Guitar and the accompanying spirit week act as an opportunity for all students to be together on campus before graduation.
“I like that [Air Guitar] brings all of us together because normally we’re all just spread out doing our own things for school,” Abdul Yasir ‘28 said.
Before the event began, the Tanner Aubert Award was presented to Truman Caudill ‘29. This award is given annually to a freshman who embodies the principles and spirit of the award’s namesake, a Ventura Ambassador for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Foothill Tech student, in memory of his impact on the school and the greater community.
After the award presentation, Dragons settled in to watch the talent acts, with lunch from a selection of food trucks and club booths. Hosted by emcees Alex Ramirez ‘26 and Angel Sanchez Moreno ‘26 and judged by teachers Daniel Baker, Emily Hunt and Justin Frazier, the show featured 16 acts, from group performances to solos.
“I figured [Air Guitar] would stretch me in my confidence. I’ve been a theater kid all my life, but it’s different performing in front of your peers versus an audience. I just wanted to put myself out there and I’m really proud of myself for doing it,” Hannah Cagle ‘28, who performed both solo and duet acts, said.
While the event is judged, it is regarded as an opportunity to showcase talents, not as a competition, with staff participation, jokes and dance breaks as regular parts of the show. The emcees, dressed as neon green aliens, filmed videos with the audience and invited students to shout out their favorite teachers between acts.
“[My favorite part is] the community, ’cause everyone is just so supportive of each other … I just think it really brings people together,” participant Penelope Serrano ‘28 said.
The judges’ winner of the talent show was Benjamin Barnett ‘26, with Serrano coming in second and Rebeca Hu ‘28 coming in third. The ‘Audience Favorite’ award had no winner, as all acts nominated had equal support from the crowd.
As the ending notes of “One Last Time”, performed by Cagle and Drama teacher Kevin Becker, echoed through the school, Dragons packed up their picnic blankets and waved goodbye to friends. With the conclusion of Air Guitar, students now prepare for the final stretch of the school year, dreaming of a summer of sleeping in and basking in the sunlight, while studying for final exams, or for the class of 2026, readying graduation gowns.
Air Guitar Set list:
- Grace Kopp ‘28 and Hannah Cagle ‘28 (duet) – “What is this Feeling” from Wicked
- Lua Rodriguez ‘27 + band- “3D Country”
- Benjamin Barnett ‘26 – solo – “Stuck in the Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel
- Caleb Sandoval ‘26 + band- “Filthy Rabbit Hole”
- Brooklyn Brown ‘28 – solo – “Dangerously” by Charlie Puth
- “Scream Mountain” – Corey Duhs ´27
- Penny Serrano ‘28 and Grace Kopp ‘28 – “Love Is an Open Door” by Kristen Bell and Santino Fontana (Frozen)
- August Banando ‘27- “Money” from Cabaret by Alan Cumming
- Penny Serrano ‘28 – “Still Into You” by Paramore
- Ian Toreja ‘26 -piano- “Clair de Lune” by Claude Debussy
- Evan Morris ‘28 – “Time for You to Go” by Sum 41
- Rebeca Hu ‘28 – Plume dancing
- Joshua Calderon ‘26 & Angel Aguilar ‘27 – “Con Tus Besos” by Eslabon Armado
- Angela Hua ‘28 -piano- “Big Fish”
- Kevin Becker + Staff – Faculty Feud
- Hannah Cagle ‘28 & Kevin Becker – “One Last Time” by Christopher Jackson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton
Editor’s Note: At 8:41 a.m. on May 27, this article was amended to correct the name of the second place winner from Cagle to Serrano.
