PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - Five talented vocalists from the Presidio of Monterey community stepped up to the microphone at the Hobson Student Center to battle for the title of the Presidio's 2011 Operation Rising Star competition Sept. 23.
Drum roll please. And the winner is …
After delivering strong vocal renditions of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "The Power of Love," Army National Guard Spc. Constance Mack was declared the first-place winner and Presidio's Rising Star. Mack received a large trophy, a $500 gift card in the form of an oversized check, and the chance to compete for an all-expenses-paid trip to a recording studio in Hollywood.
"My first thought was 'what have I got myself into?'" recalled Mack about the moment she realized she had won. "I was thinking about my school work. I even jokingly whispered to another finalist 'hopefully you win because I can't miss class.'"
Trophies were also given to second-place finisher Pfc. Andrew Hercules, along with a $250 gift card, and third-place finisher Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Keller, who received a $100 gift card. The Army was announced as the winner of the best supportive organization throughout the competition and will receive $300 for its unit fund.
The year's Presidio "American Idol" style singing contest began Aug. 19 with the first of four elimination rounds that preceded Friday's finale. Judging for the competition was done by Richard Bruce Eells, Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center staff member and Hobson music instructor; Gay Rearick, Presidio of Monterey RCI project manager; and Danny Steven, Veterans of Foreign Wars state co-chairman for education and training.
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