Commerce – The Commerce Rotary Club is pleased to announce that this year's Commerce Idol talent show and scholarship fundraiser boasted the largest audience in the event's five-year history. The annual event is the Commerce Rotary's largest fundraiser of the year; the money raised is used for scholarships awarded each year to Commerce High School seniors. Two students are selected each year and each are awarded $500 for four school semesters.
This year's showcase featured vocal, instrumental and dance performance. Each act was scored on overall presentation, costumes or attire, audience enthusiasm and overall talent. First and second place trophies were awarded for each group category and cash prizes were also given to the first-place winners. This year's contest had four age categories, in addition to a church group category to consist of three or more people: First and second place winners were as follows:
3rd-5th Grade Category
1st Place -- Fly Girls: Alexandria Matlock, Alyssa Redd, Erica Nance, Aslyn Nelson and Skylar Shelton dancing to "It's the God in Me"
2nd Place -- Mak Morgan singing "Naturally"
6th-8th Grade Category
1st Place -- Tabatha Wooten tap dancing to "Dr. Bones"
2nd Place -- Billy McDonald singing and playing guitar, "Man of Constant Sorrow"
9th-12th Grade Category
1st Place -- Joann Jang singing and playing the piano, "Love Story"
2nd Place -- A New Day's Dawn: Jeremy Bellamy and Ethan Cole singing and playing guitars to an original song titled "Been So Long"
18 or Older Category
1st Place -- Stephanie Langford, Morgan Saxson, Tyler Harwell and JenAnne Shumway singing "That's How You Know"
2nd Place -- J.T. Wilkinson and Rachel Bailey singing and playing the guitar, "Bad Romance"
Church Group
1st Place -- Hand Bell Heroes: student hand bell choir from First Baptist Church, Commerce playing "Come, Now is the Time to Worship"
2nd Place -- Crosstrails Band from Crosstrails Cowboy Church performing "Stand Up in Jesus' Name"
For more information about Rotary visit www.rotary.org or for local district information visit www.rotary5810.org.