Stand-up comic Gary Vider '02 came back to Berkshire on Friday, March 4 to close out a great Pro Vita week with a performance in the atrium of Berkshire Hall. Vider is most recently known for his impressive run on "America's Got Talent," where he was one of only four comedians to make it to the final ten in the ten-season history of the popular hit show.

Back at Berkshire, he was introduced by his advisor Senor Ibanez, after which Vider quipped, "You, too, can wind up performing.. back in the lobby of your high school," in signature ultra-dry fashion. Vider packed the atrium where overflow had students watching the show from up above on the second floor and Gary cracking jokes about their excellent new view of his bald spot.

Comedian Alexis Guerreros opened for Vider and instantly won over the audience with some jokes about our warm, welcoming community. ("Are you guys all fake or something?"). It turns out Guerreros is a fan of MLS soccer and in particular, NYCFC. One of his favorite players? None other than Jack Harrison '15, of course!

After the show, Vider invited students to the mic to tell their own jokes. Ben Dixon '17 took Vider up on the offer after thanking him for the warm up. Vider then answered some questions about his career path and his experience on "America's Got Talent." The audience loved him, and the students couldn't get enough of his straight-shooting, deadpan humor. A big crowd stayed after to snap selfies with the comic and talk one-on-one. It was the perfect end to the Pro Vita evening speaker series and another great example of "not just for school, but for life."