Lipinski earns talent win at DYW program

It's been an eventful week for Emma Lipinski as she successfully showcased her talents for two separate events.
While performing as part of the ensemble in the Grease musical at the Lake Benton Opera House this past weekend, she also won the talent portion of the Minnesota Distinguished Young Women scholarship program Saturday that was presented virtually for the second straight year due to the pandemic.
Due to the two events occurring over the same period, Lipinski had to skip two Grease performances so she could participate in DYW shows.
"I was fortunate enough to be part of the cast event with my conflicts," said Lipinski, who will be a senior this fall at Minneota High School said.
Grease is the third summer musical Lipinski has been a part of at the Lake Benton Opera House, following Footloose and Shrek. She also did two children's theater shows with the Opera House when she was in elementary school.
Being on stage is like a second home to this personable performer, having been in several plays and musicals in high school, as a member of the Minneota Speech team since seventh grade, and singing for various programs and events, including as a featured soloist with the Buffalo Ridge Chorale.
"When I was younger, I used to go around to different libraries and community centers with my mom and grandma and we would put on 'Songs of the Civil War' programs," said Lipinski. "I have also performed for Relay for Life two years. Recently, my mom (Reba) and I have started singing at the Western Minnesota Steam Threshers Reunion.
"For her talent portion of the DYW scholarship program, Lipinski performed, ‘Let Me Sing and I'm Happy', from Irving Berlin's White Christmas.
"I chose this piece because it fits my voice well and I am comfortable singing it," she explained. "I also have an emotional attachment to the song and show as it was the last high school production I did with Jackson Jeremiason and Jacob Haen."
DYW participants had to record their talent videos and then submit then but were only allowed to do one take. Lipinski filmed her performance at the Lake Benton Opera House.
Along with scholarships offered by various colleges to the state participants, Lipinski received a $150 cash scholarship for winning the talent portion.
Keerthana Ramanathan of Eden Prairie was named the 2021 Minnesota Distinguished Young Woman and will represent the state at the national level.