2008 Woodie Awards
Singers belt it out to be 'Blue Hen Idol'
Laurel Rockwood
Issue date: 4/24/07 Section: News
When Junior host Mike DeRienzo, vice president of variety events for Student Centers Programming Advisory Board, announces Sanjaya's dismissal from "American Idol", the crowd in Trabant went wild.
Wednesday night SCPAB organized the university's own version of the popular show - Blue Hen Idol. There were four judges, and yes, they drank out of Coke cups, but the 10 contestants were vying for a different prize - National Anthem singer at this year's Relay for Life event and a $25 gift certificate to a Main Street restaurant of the winner's choice.
Sophomore Ashley Contreraz was named this year's new Blue Hen Idol after singing "Easy As Life" from the Broadway show "Aida." Contreraz's clear voice soars out over the audience, rising to its feet by the end of her performance.
Matt Lenno, a Greek system advisor and judge, says, "I was speechless, I only wrote one word - wow!"
Judge Lalena Luna, program coordinator for student centers says, "You give me goose bumps, you belong on Broadway honey!"
Two of the judges commented on her choice of song, saying it was unexpected for a competition such as this. Contreraz says she let her brother pick it out for her because he's a music expert.
"I want to be famous someday," she says. "But if I'm not, my brother will be."
One of the other contestants, sophomore Jill Vernon, had a different idea about how to showcase her talent.
"This experience was ridiculous," Vernon says. "I didn't know what to do with this. I didn't want to make a fool of myself by singing something real."
She picked "I Touch Myself."
Judge Alan Hamant, a professor of music, says, "They told me this was going to be a family-rated show."
Judge Scott Mason, an associate director of the student centers, says, "If I was high, that might be a really good song. I wasn't sure if you were even trying to be serious."
There's a Sanjaya in every Idol group.
Other performances varied from the classic rock song "Jack and Diane," to "Before He Cheats," a modern country pop tune.
While SCPAB members were tallying up the votes, three members were picked from the audience to come on stage and give an impromptu "Idol" audition in front of the judges.
One girl sang her own version of "Respect" and another student sang "Lip-gloss." The third was very special, singing a song he wrote while on Spring Break.
Because they each did well, Mason decided the student centers would give each of them a gift certificate.
DeRienzo says SCPAB decided to host Blue Hen Idol because they want students to enjoy and support the university's own talent, citing that Amateur Night and Battle of the Bands have both done well in the past. Last year, a fraternity hosted Delaware Idol, he says.
"I didn't know what to expect at first," DeRienzo says. "I think it went really well. We've been planning for a long time, since the beginning of the semester."
Wednesday night SCPAB organized the university's own version of the popular show - Blue Hen Idol. There were four judges, and yes, they drank out of Coke cups, but the 10 contestants were vying for a different prize - National Anthem singer at this year's Relay for Life event and a $25 gift certificate to a Main Street restaurant of the winner's choice.
Sophomore Ashley Contreraz was named this year's new Blue Hen Idol after singing "Easy As Life" from the Broadway show "Aida." Contreraz's clear voice soars out over the audience, rising to its feet by the end of her performance.
Matt Lenno, a Greek system advisor and judge, says, "I was speechless, I only wrote one word - wow!"
Judge Lalena Luna, program coordinator for student centers says, "You give me goose bumps, you belong on Broadway honey!"
Two of the judges commented on her choice of song, saying it was unexpected for a competition such as this. Contreraz says she let her brother pick it out for her because he's a music expert.
"I want to be famous someday," she says. "But if I'm not, my brother will be."
One of the other contestants, sophomore Jill Vernon, had a different idea about how to showcase her talent.
"This experience was ridiculous," Vernon says. "I didn't know what to do with this. I didn't want to make a fool of myself by singing something real."
She picked "I Touch Myself."
Judge Alan Hamant, a professor of music, says, "They told me this was going to be a family-rated show."
Judge Scott Mason, an associate director of the student centers, says, "If I was high, that might be a really good song. I wasn't sure if you were even trying to be serious."
There's a Sanjaya in every Idol group.
Other performances varied from the classic rock song "Jack and Diane," to "Before He Cheats," a modern country pop tune.
While SCPAB members were tallying up the votes, three members were picked from the audience to come on stage and give an impromptu "Idol" audition in front of the judges.
One girl sang her own version of "Respect" and another student sang "Lip-gloss." The third was very special, singing a song he wrote while on Spring Break.
Because they each did well, Mason decided the student centers would give each of them a gift certificate.
DeRienzo says SCPAB decided to host Blue Hen Idol because they want students to enjoy and support the university's own talent, citing that Amateur Night and Battle of the Bands have both done well in the past. Last year, a fraternity hosted Delaware Idol, he says.
"I didn't know what to expect at first," DeRienzo says. "I think it went really well. We've been planning for a long time, since the beginning of the semester."
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