Schools
Eighth-Grader Nails Donald Trump Impression During Graduation Speech
Jack Aiello wowed the crowd during Thomas Middle School's graduation ceremony with his election-themed speech.
Arlington Heights, IL—The Chicago area is starting to build a reputation for cultivating a certain kind of talent among young performers: celebrity impersonations.
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Last month, Northbrook native Ryan Goldsher, 19, won $10,000 on the cable series First Impressions With Dana Carvey thanks to his impressions of Morgan Freeman, Nicolas Cage and President Barack Obama.
Find out what's happening in Arlington Heightsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Now an Arlington Heights middle-schooler is wowing people with his politically tinged takes on Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.
RELATED: Northbrook Teen's Celeb Impressions Earn Him TV Show Win and $10K
Find out what's happening in Arlington Heightsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Jack Aiello, an eighth-grader at Thomas Middle School, unleashed his impressions of this year's presidential candidates during his graduation speech earlier this month, NBC 5 Chicago reports. A YouTube video of his eight-minute speech went viral—as the kids and crusty media outlets trying to sound cool like to say—according to the TV station.
Watch Jack Aiello's impressions of presidential candidates.
Jack's speech was part of an English assignment, and its content combined with his delivery convinced school officials to let him deliver it, the report stated. The fact that Jack would come up with such a topical speech peppered with impressions didn't come as a surprise to his mom, Carla, who told NBC 5 Chicago:
"He’s been doing them since he was very young—family members, teachers—he even makes up his own silly voices and he’s been doing that for a very long time. And then with the election, he watches the news clips and he just absorbs everything."
The next step is a promoter coming forward to create a comedy lineup with Jack, Goldsher and Lori Mae Hernandez, the girl who delivered the killer Trump zingers on America's Got Talent.
PHOTO: Patch.com; screen cap from Jack Aiello YouTube video
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