Events
Wake Tech Names First Idol
RALEIGH, N.C. (November 8, 2013) - Yolanda Briggs is the very first Wake Tech Idol! A Wake Tech student in her first semester, Yolanda competed against 11 other finalists during the Fine Arts contest on Friday, November 8. More than 80 students auditioned for the event over several weeks.
Briggs sang “I am Changing,” by Jennifer Hudson, and “I Love the Lord,” by Whitney Houston. The Apex resident won a $1,000 scholarship to help with college expenses. Her goal is to earn a degree in Business Administration. Student Brandon Nivens took second place; Heather Pierce placed third.
More than 200 people came out to watch the live finale, which was held in the Building E Performance Hall on the Northern Wake Campus. Three high-profile local judges critiqued the singers: Valonda Calloway, co-host of My Carolina Today on WNCN-TV in Raleigh; Chuck Kaiton, radio Play-by-Play Announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes; and John Moyer, President of Uncle John’s Bands, a management and artist representation company. The judges picked the top three singers, and the audience voted to select the winner.
“Wake Tech Idol was an enormously exciting project for the contestants, the planners, and everyone involved!” says Dina Law, head of Wake Tech’s new Fine Arts Department, presenter of the contest. “It engaged students in some friendly competition and highlighted some of the amazing talent right here at Wake Tech. We definitely plan to make it an annual event!”
The Fine Arts Department offers the Associate in Fine Arts (AFA) degree with a choice of Music or Visual Art concentrations. Both provide a comprehensive and highly-personalized education with the core courses necessary to transfer to a four-year institution.
