Local talent competes in television show

LOCAL students and a parent are competing on the “America’s Got Talent” TV show (GGUSD photo).

Six students from Garden Grove Unified School District are currently competing on NBC’s hit show “America’s Got Talent” as part of the Voices of Hope Children’s Choir, a spectacular group of 70 students ranging in age from five to seventeen.  GGUSD parent Michael Ketterer is also a contestant on the show as a solo vocalist. Both acts earned coveted spots on the show’s semifinals which will air Sept. 4.

Students who are members of Voices of Hope include Jade Bruce, junior at Garden Grove High School; Autumn Rasmussen, freshman at Garden Grove High School; Ashely Aguirre, sixth grader at Eisenhower Elementary School; Isaias Aguirre, second grader at Eisenhower Elementary School; Evelyn Nguyen, seventh grader at Bell Intermediate; and Madeline Nguyen, sixth grader at Patton Elementary. Voices of Hope aims to bring children of all backgrounds together and is a free program that seeks to deliver the message of hope and peace to others.   The choir’s performance of Moana’s “How Far I’ll Go,” received the golden buzzer from guest judge Ken Jeong.

In his first performance, Ketterer earned the golden buzzer from music mogul Simon Cowell who was inspired by his personal story of adopting children in need and serving as a pediatric mental health nurse. Ketterer is an active parent volunteer and has children at Northcutt Elementary, Fitz Intermediate, and Mark Twain Special Education Center, and has performed for students and staff on several occasions.

The GGUSD serves most of Garden Grove and portions of Anaheim, Cypress, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster,