Six Soldiers Remain in 'Operation Rising Star' Contest

By Tim HippsNovember 28, 2007

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(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (Army News Service, Nov. 28, 2007) - Six Soldiers remain in the inaugural Operation Rising Star singing competition. Online voting at www.OpRisingStar.com through Dec. 3 will determine the winner.

The finalists are Master Sgt. Kevin Crawford of Camp Victory, Iraq; 2nd Lt. Jacqueline Evans of U.S. Army Garrison Red Cloud, South Korea; Sgt. Richard Scarlett of Baumholder, Germany; Spc. Richard Sianoya of Fort Irwin, Calif.; Spc. Joel Tahimik of Fort Hood, Texas; and Sgt. 1st Class Dendre Wright of Fort Bliss, Texas.

Thirty-five Army installations and more than 300 performers participated in the singing contest based on the premises of FOX television's American Idol.

Army Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities played host to local competitions in September and October. The contest evolved into an Internet competition during November. The field of 12 performers was pared to six by the online balloting of viewers at www.OpRisingStar.com.

Video clips of each of the finalists' local winning a cappella and musical-accompanied performances are posted on the Web site, where viewers can vote and post comments.

Viewers may cast only one vote per day for each performer.

The winner of the inaugural Operation Rising Star contest, to be announced Dec. 7, will receive $2,000, with $1,000 and $500 going to the runner-up and third-place finishers respectively.

The Army Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Command-sponsored competition was open to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel from all branches of the U.S. military.

(Tim Hipps writes for FMWRC Public Affairs.)