"Synergy '91" shows that rivalry among students can be beneficial.

The third annual student talent show will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday in Schwab Auditorium. Winners will be competing for more than $2,400 in cash prizes.

Sponsored by the Alumni Association, "Synergy" was established to create friendly competition among students at each grade level, producer and director Bill Miller said.

With the help of the Lion Ambassadors, the Penn State Thespians are responsible for running the show and he produces and directs the production, Miller said.

Interested students from undergraduate and graduate programs auditioned in February and a panel of judges selected 18 acts. Composed of University staff, professors and community members, the panel of judges scored each competitor on stage presence, technical skill, creativity, appearance, audience appeal and overall effectiveness.

Three acts from each class --freshman, sophomore, junior, senior and graduate -- will compete. There is also a cross-class category that includes students from different grade levels performing together. A panel of judges will select the winners based on nearly the same audition guidelines.

The overall show winner will receive $500, a winner from each category and the first runner-up will win $250, and the second runner-up will be awarded $150.

In addition to performing their individual acts, the contestants will participate in the grand finale. They will perform to the Scott Joplin's tune, "The Entertainer."

"Synergy" choreographer and awards presenter Kim Christianson (senior-management) staged the finale. Christianson said she selected five couples to do the dancing. The other students will join in by singing words composed to accompany the instrumental piece.

Inner Dimensions, a jazz ensemble of the School of Music, will provide the musical structure for the show.

The acts are as follows:

Freshmen:

-- Kristin Alexander -- vocal solo, "The Medowlark."

-- Ian Briggs -- steel drum solo, "Calypso."

-- Eric Teplitz -- vocal solo, "Paper in Plastic."

Sophomores:

-- Aaron Dworkin -- violin solo, "Romanian Folk Dances."

-- Brian Fox -- juggling with comedy.

-- Mark Pelusi -- vocal solo, "The Impossible Dream."

Juniors:

-- The Ragamuffins -- scene and dance, from "42nd Street."

-- Chris Goffredo -- vocal solo, "Until You Came Into My Life."

-- Thomas Cunningham -- vocal solo, "Love Changes Everything."

Seniors:

-- Matthew Mroczka -- vocal solo, "Leader of the Band."

-- Deena Walter -- vocal solo, "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered."

-- Juliette Leon -- vocal solo, "Arietta from Romeo and Juliet."

Graduates:

-- Philip Spoor -- vocal solo with comedy.

-- Brad Townsend -- vocal solo, "In My Own Lifetime."

-- Will Goins -- vocal solo, "Bring Him Home."

Cross-class:

-- Julie Heron and Jeffrey Fortney -- vocal duet, "Suddenly Seymour."

-- The dreamers of Phi Mu Alpha --vocal octet, "In the Still of The Night."

-- The 4-tracks -- vocal quartet, '50s-style music.

Tickets for the show are free if students pick up the tickets in advance at Eisenhower Auditorium box office or at the HUB desk. The night of the performance, tickets will be $3 for adults and $2 for students.