ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Maryland--From old school to new school, glowing new faces walked away with prizes in this year's "So You Think You've Got Talent" competition at the APG North (Aberdeen) recreation center Sept. 26.

Added to the top awards - First Place Military; First Place Civilian and the People's Choice Award -- was the newly-created Most Talented Unit Streamer award, which goes to the military unit with the most participants in the show.

The big win of the night went to Pfc. Stacy Dobson, of the 20th CBRNE Command. The young songstress' strong performance of Beyonce's "Halo" charmed the audience enough to win both First Place -- Military and the People's Choice Award.

The First Place-Civilian winner was Willie Stevenson, a Directorate of Public Works employee who presented listeners with a smooth rendition of The Temptation's "My Girl."

Other winners included

Second Place Military:Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Hines & Evaniz Pacheco

Second Place Civilian: Rachel Bauer

Third Place Military: Spc. Brandon Versteegh

Third Place Civilian: Tiffany Evans

APG leaders presented the show's awards. Garrison Commander Col. Gregory McClinton thanked attendees for supporting APG Soldiers and Families on behalf of APG Senior Commander Maj. Gen. Robert Ferrell. He commended the show's host, Tricia Devine, MWR programmer Earlene Allen and Sgt. Eric Jimenez, president of Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS), which partnered with MWR to provide refreshments. McClinton encouraged everyone to continue supporting APG events by visiting the installation's 2nd Annual Oktoberfest celebration to be held Friday, Oct. 11 through Sunday Oct. 13 on Shine Field.

"We'll have events for everyone from kids to teens to adults and we'd like to see all of you there as we kick off our second celebration of this traditional Bavarian fall festival," McClinton said.

For more information, visit the Oktoberfest site at www.apgmwr.com/oktoberfest.html.

Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. James Ervin also recognized the BOSS Soldiers who prepared and sold meals for guests during the show. He thanked Allen and MWR's Byron Reasin, the group's civilian advisor.

"BOSS Soldiers are the Army's future," Ervin said. "This was their idea and they learned a lot about project management."

"You guys were awesome," added Installation and CECOM Command Sgt. Maj. Kennis Dent, to the show's participants. Our thanks go out to you for what you do every day and to this great audience for supporting this event."

The winners

Willie Stevenson, DPW

Stevenson said he couldn't believe it when his name was called as the first-place winner.

"I was very surprised and speechless," he said.

Stevenson has been member of the DPW roads and grounds crew since 1997; he was with the laundry logistics division for eight years before that. He also plays drums for the John Wesley United Methodist Church choir.

A contestant in previous shows, Stevenson, said that although he's been singing all his life, he thought he didn't have a chance due to the wide variety of acts in this year's show.

"I thought there was a lot more talent in this show and I felt like there was no way I'd win," he said. "God is good."

Pfc. Stacy Dobson

Surprised by her first-place win, Dobson appeared taken aback when her name was announced as the People's Choice winner as well.

"Words can't describe how I felt," the First Place -- Military and People's Choice winner said. "I was very shocked and happy."

Dobson said she developed a love for singing from her mother, who was in attendance, and her grandmother. A "military brat," Dobson has been singing in front of audiences since she was 5-years-old in church, at concerts, in plays and other productions. She said she also sang a song for consideration by Grammy Award-winning recording artist Rihanna.

A human resources specialist with the 20th CBRNE, Dobson said her goal is to attend OCS to become a human resources officer.

"I just want to accomplish as much as I can in the military and see where my singing takes me," she said.

The show's judges were:

Diana Ciccotelli, a music teacher with Baltimore County Schools; Bonnie O'Brien of Music 4 Vets; Carolyn Harrison, a singer and vocal coach and Morgan State University graduate; William Clark, an independent entertainment promoter, and Charlie Burgos-Lopez, Army Research Laboratory civilian and member of the APG Theater Group.

Audience members said they enjoyed the show from start to finish.

"I really enjoyed it," said civilian spouse Lynn Knox, the wife of ASAP chief Timothy Knox. "I really liked the girl who sang "Halo" [Dobson] and the lead act [Charrissa Stancell] is a friend of ours. Overall, it was a lot of fun."

"We were just happy to be a part of a great show," said Wayne Cornish, whose three friends, Brandon Hooper, Kellan J. and Demetri Sims joined him onstage for an upbeat, combination hip-hop-step dance that brought the audience to its feet. The courtesy performance by these and other local teenagers continues in the Teen Zone during the APG Oktoberfest.

"It's not choreography, Cornish said. "It's bringing music to life."

Other contestants:

Charrissa Stancell sang Whitney Houston's "The Greatest Love of All"

Stephen Perno (CECOM) sang Frank Sinatra's "You Make Me Feel So Young"

Kashmira (Sandy Sanders, Tee Kay, Devon Rust and Corinne Rao) performed a belly dance to "Amell Antan"

Rachel Acevedo (CHRA) sang her original song, "Through It All"

Christina Biederman, delivered original spoken word, "My Music Room"

Rachel Bauer sang Sugarland's "Stay"

Michael "Kyle" Champion sang STYS's "Mr. Roboto"

Sgt. 1st Class Ricky Hines and Evaniz Pacheco danced salsa to "Homanje a Los Baila Dores"

Gabriella Hiltibidal and Michael "Kyle" Champion performed "Moulin Rouge" theme, "Elephant Medley"

Tiffany Evan's of RDECOM sang Lauryn Hill and the Fugees' "Killing Me Softly"

Jorge Perez danced to "Love Stoned"

Spc. Brandon Versteegh, Public Health Command, played guitar and sang his original, "When the Children Cry"

Renesha Robinson of CECOM sang and performed Bruno Mars' "Grenade"