PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. -- Spc. Constance Mack was crowned the Presidio's Rising Star winner for the second year in a row during the local finale of the Army singing competition organized by the Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Directorate at the Hobson Student Activity Center Oct. 12.
Mack beat four other finalists in part due to a stellar vocal performance of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" in which she also played the piano.
Among those impressed by the contestants' performances during the finals was Rising Star judge Staff Sgt. Carrie Vobian.
"The contestants were amazing, their talent was amazing," said Vobian "We were very fortunate to have had such a great finale because I think all five contestants were worthy of being on that stage tonight."
"I am so grateful that the installation gives the service members this opportunity, and the Hobson Student Activity Center is a great place," added Vobian. "[The students] work hard and study hard; they eat, live, breathe, drink and speak their language here. They need to have someplace to come and have fun and be competitive. It gives them a big stress relief."
Operation Rising Star is an annual "American Idol" style singing contest for U.S. military personnel, their family members and Department of Defense civilians.
As the first-place winner at the local level, Mack received $500 and the possibility of being chosen to compete in the Army-level Operation Rising Star event.
The 2012 Army-wide Operation Rising Star finals will be held in San Antonio, Texas, and will be broadcast on the Pentagon Channel.
The grand-prize winner will receive an all-expense paid trip for his or herself and a guest to attend a three-day professional recording studio experience, which includes a three-song demo compact disc and $1,000 in spending money.
The Spirit Award for the unit with the most enthusiastic spectators for the duration of the competition was awarded to the Company D, 229th Military Intelligence Battalion. The prize for Company D was $300 to go toward the unit fund.
The other Rising Star finalists were Lance Cpl. Elizabeth Keller (second place), Pfc. Tyler Nettles (third place), Pfc. Tricia Arvanis (fourth place), and Airman 1st Class Roni Cindrich (fifth place).
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