2019 Rotarian Idol

On May 17, 2019 an enthusiastic crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in the Rotary Club of Hickory’s 10th Anniversary All Stars Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives.

This year’s event format featured previous winners competing to advance to a second round of competition where the field was narrowed to five contestants competing for the All Star title.

The special commemoration of Rotarian Idol’s 10^th Anniversary featured 9 past winners from the events nine previous contests. Contestants competing in the 2019 All Star event included: Jennifer Canterbury – First Place 2014; Caroline Collins – Second Place 2017, Audience Favorite 2017; Joshua Costello – Third Place 2017, Audience Favorite 2015; Carol Anne Hartman – First Place 2010; Courtney Chay Hopkins – First Place 2016; Kendra Kitler –Third Place 2018, Third Place 2016; Sara King – First Place 2018; Savannah Spencer – Third Place 2015; and Johnny White – First Place 2017.

Three judges, LaKeisha Ross-Johnson, Kurt Sigmon, and Brittany Suttles were faced with the difficult task of selecting five contestants to advance to the second round of competition and from that group the ultimate winner. Patrons who attended the event selected the audience favorite.

After the first round featuring all contestants performing, Carol Anne Hartman, Courtney Chay Hopkins, Sara King, Kendra Kitler and Johnny White advanced to the second round of performances to compete for the All Star title. All contestants remained eligible for the Audience Favorite award.

Final deliberations complete; the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Rotary Club of Hickory President Linda Lutz and Rotarian Idol Co-Chairs Bonita Ferretti and John Rambo. First prize of $2,500 was awarded to Carol Anne Hartman. Jennifer Canterbury received a check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

The real winner again was education. This year’s contest is expected to raise around $70,000 bringing the total raised for 10 years of Rotarian Idol competitions to well over half a million dollars. Proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support the Catawba County Partnership for Children’s Imagination Library program, which was created by Dolly Parton and provides children who live in Catawba County one free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday. The Rotary Club of Hickory has contributed $162,000 to the Imagination Library making the purchase of 81,000 books possible. Imagination Library Currently serves about 5,200 children per month.

The Rotary Club of Hickory was honored to have Rotary District 7670 Governor Isaac Owolabi and Rotary District 7670 Governor Elect, Tiffany Ervin, spoke to the audience about how Rotary benefits the local communities they serve and participates in global wide initiatives such as the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation to eradicate polio worldwide. Rotary District 7670 includes 50 clubs in Western North Carolina.

The Rotary Club of Hickory would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor, Lenoir Rhyne University and stage sponsor Café Rule. Other major sponsors include Exodus Works, A Sign Co., Mike Johnson Hickory Toyota and media sponsors: Focus Newspaper, WHKY 1290 AM/102.3 FM and Kicks Radio 103.3 FM.

Hal Row, local radio personality, served as master of ceremonies.

Bob Huffman of Bob Huffman Photography documented the event with photos.

The Rotary Club of Hickory was founded in 1921 by Watt Shuford. The club has a long history of giving back to the community through its primary service avenue of education. For more information about the Hickory Rotary Club, visit www.hickoryrotary.org

 

2018 Rotarian Idol

On March 24, 2018 an enthusiastic crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in the Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory’s ninth annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives. Auditions in February narrowed the field of contestants to 20 finalists competing for $5,000 in total prize money. Saturday night’s finalists were: Mary Elisabeth Ballard, Mason Burr, Serena Cain, Skylar Calloway, Taylor Edwards, Kayla Harper, Mandi Johnson, Lucas Kelly, Sara King, Autumn Kohnle, Emily Lafone, Ketjuan Lafone, Stephanie McClosky, James Austin Medlin, Shaunna Musacchio, Shaun Pearson, Jairo Pereira, Sara Ramseur, Katherine Reese and Kendra Setzer

Three judges, Nate Howell, Michael Kirby and LaKeisha Ross, were faced with the difficult task of selecting three prize winners from the twenty outstanding contestants who performed. While the judges deliberated, the crowd was entertained by the winner of 2017 Rotarian Idol, Hickory native and 2018 American Idol sensation, Johnny White (left).

Deliberations complete; the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Rotarian Idol Co-Chairs Sandi Fotheringham and Lynn Loehr. First prize of $2,500 was awarded to Sara King. The second place check for $1500 went to Stevi McClosky and the third place prize of $500 was presented to Kendra Setzer. Taylor Edwards also received another check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

The real winner again was education. This year’s contest  is expected to raise around $70,000 bringing the total raised for 9 years of Rotarian Idol competitions to over half a million dollars. Proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support the Catawba County Partnership for Children’s Imagination Library program, which was created by Dolly Parton and provides children who live in Catawba County one free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday. Through 2017 the Hickory Rotary Club has contributed $162,000 to Imagination Library making the purchase of 77,885 books possible. Imagination Library Currently serves about 5,000 children per month.

Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors include Catawba Valley Medical Center, Exodus Homes, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota, Catawba Valley Community College, Adventive Graphics and Café Rule.

Hal Row, local radio personality, served as master of ceremonies.

Bob Huffman of Bob Huffman Photography documented the event with photos.

The Hickory Rotary Club was founded in 1921 by Watt Shuford. The club has a long history of giving back to the community through its primary service avenue of education. For more information about the Hickory Rotary Club, visit www.hickoryrotary.org.

2018 Rotarian Idol Sponsors and Ticket sales Locations Announced

The Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has announced dates for its musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, March 24, at 7:00 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory is grateful for the tremendous financial support provided by area businesses for our 2018 fundraiser. Event sponsors include Lenoir Rhyne University (Title Sponsor), Catawba Valley Medical Center, Exodus, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota, Catawba Valley Community College, Adventive Graphics and Café Rule.

With the tremendous outpouring of support by local artists performing in the event, by area residents attending the event and event sponsorships and ad sales promoting local businesses, The Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has raised more than $500,000 through Rotarian Idol competitions in the last eight years, and the bulk of the proceeds have remained in the community, supporting vital educational programs such as Imagination Library, student scholarships and annual Teacher of the Year recognition.

Please spread the word about Rotarian Idol to others. Also, if you are interested in purchasing an ad ($500, $250, $150) in the 2018 Rotarian Idol program, please contact Lynn Loehr at 828-310-7648, e-mail lynnloehr48@gmail.com or Sandi Fotheringham at 828-320-9429, fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net.

 

Please support our sponsors and and companies who purchased full page color advertising in the Rotarian Idol 2018 Program.  Visit their websites using the logo links below:

 

 

2018 Rotarian Idol Contestants Selected and Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Hickory Rotary Club has announced the 20 contestants selected by a panel of judges to compete in the club’s annual musical fundraiser, Rotarian Idol. The event will be held at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Competing for $5,000 in total prize money will be:

Mary Elisabeth Ballard	Mason Burr	Serena Cain	Skylar Calloway	Taylor Edwards
Kayla Harper	Mandi Johnson	Lucas Kelly	Sara King	Autumn Kohnle
Emily Lafone	Ketjuan Lafone	Stephanie McClosky	James Austin Medlin	Shaunna Musacchio
Shaun Pearson	Jairo Pereira	Sara Ramseur	Katherine Reese	Kendra Setzer

First Place wins $2,500; Second Place $1,500; Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes. The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event.

Hickory Rotary Club has hosted Rotarian Idol from 2010 -2017. In its ninth year, the 2018 event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham and Lynn Loehr.

“A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system. This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 percent of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County,” said Fotheringham. “Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales,” she said.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 or e-mail fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Lynn Loehr – 828-310-7648 or e-mail lynnloehr48@gmail.com.

Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Tickets for this year’s event are $20. One child, 12 and under, admitted with each paying adult. Each ticket includes a coupon for a free oil change and filter at Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota. Tickets may be purchased from any Hickory Rotary Club member or at three convenient locations.

Purchase Tickets On-Line or at the Following Locations

Hickory Public Schools Administrative Offices	432 4th Ave SW in Hickory	828-322-2855
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NE (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

2018 Rotarian Idol

Ninth Annual “ROTARIAN IDOL” Announced; Auditions Set.

      Hickory, NC – The Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has announced dates for its musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”.  The event will be held Saturday, March 24, at 7:00 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Last year’s winner was our own, Johnny White, a graduate of HCAM (Hickory Career & Arts Magnet School).  At the time of this release, Johnny has made it through several auditions for the returning American Idol show, and we hope he will be going to Hollywood!  Could you be next??

Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Auditorium Thursday, February 1, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and Saturday, February 3, 30, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm.  There is no limit on age or place of residence; however, professional singers (those who made $600 or more in 2017) will not be allowed to audition.

A $5 entry fee is required.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $5,000 in total prize money.  First Place wins $2,500; Second Place $1,500; Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite.  Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes.  The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event. The event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham and Lynn Loehr.

“A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system.  This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 percent of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County and other International projects that Rotary supports,” said Fotheringham. “Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales,” she said.

For more information, visit www.rotarianidol.com  or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Lynn Loehr – 828.310.7648 lynnloehr48@gmail.com

 

2017 Rotarian Idol

On April 8, 2017 an enthusiastic crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in the Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory’s eight annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives. Auditions in February narrowed the field of contestants to 20 finalists competing for $5,000 in total prize money. Saturday night’s finalists were: Jennifer Aderholdt, Mary Elisabeth Ballard, Serena Cain, McKenzie Call, Victoria Carver, Caroline Collins, Joshua Costello, Krystal Heffinger, Davey Huffman, Jason Lee, Tameka Morales, Shaun Pearson, Julie Phillips, Dave Privette, Jordan Randall, Brittany Setzer, Nathaniel Shoun, Annie Walshak, Johnny White and Chia Vang.

Three judges, John Coffey, LaKeisha Ross and Nathan Hefner, were faced with the difficult task of selecting three prize winners from the twenty outstanding contestants who performed. While the judges deliberated, the crowd was entertained by local singer, songwriter and musician, Ulysses Long, who was among the 48 finalists in the seventh season of NBC’s hit show, America’s Got Talent.

Deliberations complete; the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory President John Rambo and Rotarian Idol Co-Chairs Sandi Fotheringham and Lynn Loehr. First prize of $2,500 was awarded to Johnny White. The second place check for $1500 went to Caroline Collins and the third place prize of $500 was presented to Joshua Costello. Caroline Collins also received another check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

Click Image Links to Enlarge All Photos

The real winner again was education. This year’s contest is expected to raise around $70,000 bringing the total raised for 8 years of Rotarian Idol competitions to over half a million dollars. Proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support the Catawba County Partnership for Children’s Imagination Library program, which was created by Dolly Parton and provides children who live in Catawba County one free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday. Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has contributed $137,000 to the Imagination Library making the purchase of 68,500 books possible. Imagination Library Currently serves about 5,200 children per month.

Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors included Adventive (A-1 Printing), Café Rule (stage sponsor), Catawba Valley Community College, Catawba Valley Medical Center, Exodus Works, FOCUS Newspaper, Hickory Daily Record, Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota, KICKS 103.3 FM, IWANNA , WBTV Channel 3 in Charlotte and WHKY-TV Channel 14 in Hickory.

Hal Row, local radio personality, served as master of ceremonies.

Rose Mary Cheek of Rose Mary Cheek Photography documented the event with photos.

The Hickory Rotary Club was founded in 1921 by Watt Shuford. The club has a long history of giving back to the community through its primary service avenue of education. For more information about the Hickory Rotary Club, visit www.hickoryrotary.org.

2017 Rotarian Idol Contestants Selected and Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Hickory Rotary Club has announced the 20 contestants selected by a panel of judges to compete in the club’s annual musical fundraiser, Rotarian Idol. The event will be held at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, April 8, 2017, in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Competing for $5,000 in total prize money will be:

Jennifer Aderholdt	Mary Elisabeth Ballard	McKenzie Call	Victoria Carver	Caroline Collins
Joshua Costello	Joseph Heaggans	Krystal Heffinger	Davey Huffman	Jason Lee
Tameka Morales	Shaun Pearson	Julie Phillips	Dave Privette	Jordan Randall
Brittany Setzer	Nathaniel Shoun	Annie Walshak	Johnny White	Chia Vang

First Place wins $2,500; Second Place $1,500; Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes. The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event. The public will also be able to vote on-line before the event on April 8.

Hickory Rotary Club has hosted Rotarian Idol from 2010 -2016. In its eighth year, the 2017 event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham and Lynn Loehr.

“A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system. This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 percent of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County and other humanitarian causes both locally and internationally,” said Fotheringham. “Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales,” she said.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 or e-mail fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Lynn Loehr – 828-310-7648 or e-mail lynnloehr48@gmail.com.

Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Tickets for this year’s event are $20. One child, 12 and under, admitted with each paying adult. Each ticket includes a coupon for a free oil change and filter at Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota. Tickets may be purchased from any Hickory Rotary Club member or at three convenient locations.

Purchase Tickets On-Line or at the Following Locations

Hickory Public Schools Administrative Offices	432 4th Ave SW in Hickory	828-322-2855
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NE (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

The Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has announced dates for its annual musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, April 8, at 7:00 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Thursday, February 9th, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and Saturday, February 11^th, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm. There is no limit on age or place of residence; however, professional singers (this is an amateur competition) will not be allowed to audition. A $5 entry fee is required.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $5,000 in total prize money. The First Place winner will receive $2,500; Second Place will receive $1,500; Third Place will receive $500; and $500 will be awarded to the Audience Favorite. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes. The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event. The public will also be able to vote on-line for Audience favorite before the event on April 8.

The event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham, Lynn Loehr and Mike Johnson. “A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system. This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 % of the money raised, will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County and other humanitarian causes both locally and internationally” according to Fotheringham. Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 or e-mail fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Lynn Loehr – 828-310-7648 or e-mail lynnloehr48@gmail.com.

2016 Rotarian Idol

All Photos Courtesy of Rose Mary Cheek Photography

On March 12, 2016 a near capacity crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in the Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory’s seventh annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives. Auditions in January and February narrowed the field of contestants to 20 finalists competing for $5,000 in total prize money. Saturday night’s finalists were: Serena Cain, Cristin Cartwright, Courtney Chay, James Franklin, Angela Freeman, Tad Fulbright, Lauren Hart, Krystal Heffinger, Josh Killian, Jason Lee, Stephanie McClosky, Donald Lewis Mills, Jr., Tameka Morales, Summer Rahn, Jana Sales, Kendra Setzer, Savannah Spencer, Emily Stober, Lauren Wasmund and Johnny White.

Three judges, John Coffey, LaKeisha Ross and Nathan Hefner, were faced with the difficult task of selecting three prize winners from the twenty contestants who performed. While the judges deliberated, the crowd was entertained by local singer, songwriter and musician, Ulysses Long, who was among the 48 finalists in the seventh season of NBC’s hit show, America’s Got Talent.

Deliberations complete; the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory President Mark Seaman and Rotarian Idol Chair Sandi Fotheringham. First prize of $2,500 was awarded to Courtney Chay. The second place check for $1500 went to Lauren Wasmund and the third place prize of $500 was presented to Kendra Setzer. Emily Stober also received a check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

The real winner again was education. In six previous Rotarian Idol competitions the Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has raised and distributed almost $400,000 for local educational initiatives and Rotary International humanitarian efforts. This year’s fundraiser is expected to raise an additional $70,000 bringing the seven year total close to half a million dollars.

All proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as other Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support the Catawba County Partnership for Children’s Imagination Library program, which was created by Dolly Parton and provides children who live in Catawba County one free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday! Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has contributed $112,000 to the Imagination Library making the purchase of 56,000 books possible.

Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors included Adventive (A-1 Printing), Café Rule (stage sponsor), Catawba Valley Medical Center, FOCUS Newspaper, Graystone Eye, Hickory Daily Record, KICKS 103.3 FM, Spectrum Reach (Charter), WBTV Channel 3 in Charlotte and WHKY TV Channel 14 in Hickory. Also meriting special recognition are Hal Row, local radio personality, who served as Master of Ceremonies, Rose Mary Cheek of Rose Mary Cheek Photography whose outstanding photos documented the event, all the event program advertisers and volunteers, without whose contributions the fundraiser would not have been a success. And of course a special “thank you” to all the contestants and people who purchased tickets to attend the event.

Second Place – Lauren Wasmund

Third Place – Kendra Setzer

Audience favorite – Emily Stober

 

2016 Rotarian Idol Contestants Selected and Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Hickory Rotary Club has announced the 20 contestants selected by a panel of judges to compete in the club’s annual musical fundraiser, Rotarian Idol. The event will be held at 7:00 p.m. Saturday, March 12, 2016, in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Competing for $5,000 in total prize money will be:

Serena Cain	Cristin Cartwright	Courtney Chay	James Franklin	Angela Freeman
Tad Fulbright	Lauren Hart	Krystal Heffinger	Josh Killian	Jason Lee
Stephanie McClosky	Donald Lewis Mills Jr.	Tameka Morales	Summer Rahn	Jana Sales
Kendra Setzer	Savannah Spencer	Emily Stober	Lauren Wasmund	Johnny White

First Place wins $2,500; Second Place $1,500; Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes. The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event. The public will also be able to vote on-line before the event on March 12.

Hickory Rotary Club has hosted Rotarian Idol from 2010 -2015. In its year’s seventh year, the 2016 event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham and Mike Johnson.

“A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system. This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 percent of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County,” said Fotheringham. “Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales,” she said.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Mike Johnson – 828.328.5586 mjohnson@hickorytoyota.com

Vote for your 2016 Rotarian Idol Audience Favorite performer!

Click on the name of your favorite contestant (above) and “vote” for him/her by making an online donation (all proceeds go to support local education and other humanitarian causes of the Hickory Rotary Club). Use the link below to vote for multiple contestants. The contestant who raises the most money receives a $500 cash prize and the Audience Favorite title.

Audience Favorite Vote Link

Tickets for this year’s event are $20. One child, 12 and under, admitted with each paying adult. Each ticket includes a coupon for a free oil change and filter at Mike Johnson’s Hickory Toyota. Tickets may be purchased from any Hickory Rotary Club member or at three convenient locations.

Purchase Tickets On-Line or at the Following Locations

Hickory Public Schools Administrative Offices	432 4th Ave SW in Hickory	828-322-2855
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NE (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

 

Seventh Annual “ROTARIAN IDOL” Auditions Announced

The Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has announced dates for its musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, March 12, at 7:00 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Auditorium January 28, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm and January 30, from 2:00 – 3:30 pm. There is no limit on age or place of residence; however, professional singers (who received $600 or more salary or prize money between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2016) will not be allowed to audition and are not eligible to compete in the 2016 contest. A $5 entry fee is required.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $5,000 in total prize money. First Place wins $2,500; Second Place $1,500; Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals for the top three prizes. The Audience Favorite will be determined by the audience’s vote at the event.

Program ads are available for purchase. A full page ad is $500, a half-page ad is $250 and a quarter-page ad is $150. A limited number of event sponsorships are available. The cost of an event sponsorship is $1000 and includes front program cover recognition, a full page ad and recognition in all media releases.

Tickets to the event are $20 per adult ticket. One child (12 or under) admitted free with each paid adult ticket. Each ticket includes a coupon on the back of the ticket for a free oil change at Mike Johnson Toyota in Hickory, NC.

The event will be co-chaired by Rotarians Sandi Fotheringham and Mike Johnson.

“A key factor to the growth of our community is a strong education system. This is the only fundraiser for our club and 100 percent of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County,” said Fotheringham. “Our goal is to exceed the $70,000 raised last year through sponsorships, advertisements in the Show Program, and ticket sales,” she said.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, or contact Sandi Fotheringham – 828.320.9429 fotheringhamsa@hickoryschools.net ; Mike Johnson – 828.328.5586 mjohnson@hickorytoyota.com

2015 Rotarian Idol

All Photos Courtesy of Rose Mary Cheek Photography

On March 14, 2015 a near capacity crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in the Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory’s sixth annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives. Auditions in January and February narrowed the field of contestants to 20 finalists competing for $5,000 in total prize money. Saturday night’s finalists were: Mark Bodnar, Cristin Cartwright, Matthew Cook, Josh Costello, Wesley Curtis, Michael Donnelly, Autumn Garcia, Hannah Griffin, Linda Hagen, Amanda Harren, Ariana Harren, Krystal Heffinger, Benjamin James, Jordan Kirby, Phuong McKinney, Kendra Norwood, Marcus Phillips, Stephanie Priola, Savannah Spencer and Lauren Wasmund.

This year’s crop of talented contestants entertained the crowd for nearly two hours, from 7:00-9:00. Judging the competition was no easy task. Three judges, John Coffey, LaKeisha Ross and Nathan Hefner, were faced with the difficult task of selecting three prize winners from the twenty contestants who performed. While the judges deliberated, the crowd was entertained by local singer, songwriter and musician, Ulysses Long, who was among the 48 finalists in the seventh season of NBC’s hit show, America’s Got Talent.

Deliberations complete; the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory President David Moore and Rotarian Idol Chair Sandi Fotheringham. First prize of $2,500 was awarded to Wesley Curtis. The second place check for $1500 went to Benjamin James and the third place prize of $500 was presented to Savannah Spencer. Josh Costello also received a check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

The real winner again was education. In five previous Rotarian Idol competitions Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has raised $302,000 for local education initiatives and this year’s fundraiser is expected to raise an additional $70,000. All proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as other Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support Catawba County’s Partnership for Children Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program which provides children who live in Catawba County one free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday! Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory has contributed $87,000 to the Imagination Library making the purchase of 43,500 books possible.

Thursday Rotary Club of Hickory would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors included Catawba Valley Medical Center, Charter TV, FOCUS Newspaper, Graystone Eye, Hickory Daily Record, KICKS 103.3 FM, Sign Systems, WBTV Channel 3 in Charlotte and WHKY TV Channel 14 in Hickory. Also meriting special recognition are Hal Rowe, local radio personality, who served as Master of Ceremonies, Rose Mary Cheek of Rose Mary Cheek Photography whose outstanding photos documented the event, all the event program advertisers and volunteers, without whose contributions the fundraiser would not have been a success. And of course a special “thank you” to all the contestants and people who purchased tickets to attend the event.

Rotarian Idol Contestants Selected and Ticket Sales Locations Announced

Hickory Rotary Club has announced the 20 contestants selected by a panel of judges to compete in the club’s annual musical fundraiser, Rotarian Idol. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 14, 2015, in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University.

Competing for $5,00 in total prize money will be:

Mark Bodnar	Cristin Cartwright	Matthew Cook	Josh Costello	Wesley Curtis
Michael Donnelly	Autumn Garcia	Hannah Griffin	Linda Hagen	Ariana Harren
Amanda Harren	Krystal Heffinger	Benjamin James	Jordan Kirby	Phuong McKinney
Kendra Norwood	Marcus Phillips	Stephanie Priola	Savannah Spencer	Lauren Wasmund

Hickory Rotary Club has hosted Rotarian Idol from 2010 -2014. Rotarian Allen Finely says, “It’s exciting to know that we’ve already made a $300,000 impact on education for everyone in the county.” To view results and performance videos from previous Rotarian Idol contests visit: www.hickoryrotary.org

For more information about this year’s event, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, contact John Rambo, Chair, at 327-3855 x 113, via e-mail john@hickorytheatre.org or Allen Finley at 324-6700, or via email allen@finleyadvertising.com.

Vote for your 2015 Rotarian Idol Audience Favorite performer!

Click on the name of your favorite contestant (see above) and “vote” for him/her by making an online donation (all proceeds go to support local education and other humanitarian causes of the Hickory Rotary Club). The contestant who raises the most money receives a $500 cash prize and the Audience Favorite title.

Audience Favorite Vote Link

Tickets for this year’s event are $20 Adult and $10 Student (with a valid student ID). Tickets may be purchased from any Hickory Rotary Club member or at three convenient locations.

Purchase Tickets at the Following Locations

Allen Finley Advertising	42 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-324-6700
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NE (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

Also Lowes Food will be selling tickets at the following locations:

• 1405 29th Ave NE in Hickory (828-256-1905)
• 2631 NC Hwy 127 South in Hickory (828-294-1555)
• 260 14th Ave NE in Hickory (828-256-0104)
• 3010-A N Center St in Hickory (828-322-2888)
• 9441 NC Hwy 127 in Hickory (828-495-1105)
• 3035 Centennial Blvd in Claremont (828-459-1775)

Sixth Annual “ROTARIAN IDOL” Auditions Announced

Hickory, NC – Hickory Rotary Club has announced dates for its musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, March 14, at 7 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Auditorium January 8 from 5:30-7pm and January 10 from 2-3:30 pm. There is no limit to age or place of residence, but professional singers (which were paid $600 or more in 2014) will not be allowed to audition. A $5 fee is required.

100% of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County and other humanitarian causes that Rotary supports.

This year’s Title Sponsor will again be Lenoir-Rhyne University. The successful fundraiser will be co-chaired by Rotarians John Rambo and Sandi Fotheringham; Ticket Sales will be chaired by John Rambo; Advertising / Major Sponsor Sales chair will be Past-President Allen Finley. Other committee members are: President David Moore, Bruce Bumbarger, Jennifer Clark, John Olson, Lamar Mitchell, Lynn Loehr, Kathy Greathouse, Neill McGeachy, and Linda Lutz.

“Education is very important to our club, and has been since 1921”, “ROTARIAN IDOL” committee member Lamar Mitchell said.

Rambo expects this year’s auction to raise at least $70,000. In past years the Hickory Rotary Club has raised nearly $1 Million through live TV and silent auctions.

To reach this goal, the Rotary Club will sell adult tickets @ $20 each, and this year children and students with a valid student ID can purchase tickets for $10 each. Advertisements for the Show Program will be sold at $500 for a full-page ad, $250 for a half-page ad and $150 for a quarter-page ad. Major Sponsorships are $1,000.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $5,000 in total prize money. First Place wins $2,500, Second Place $1,500, Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Additionally, several door prizes will be given away to lucky ticket holders. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals. A popular feature was added to the event last year: The public will be able to vote on-line at www.hickoryrotary.org for their favorite contestant.

“ROTARIAN IDOL” replaces the popular “Education Alive” television auction, which the Rotary Club used to raise funds for education for five years. Students continue to utilize monies raised from the successful event.

“It’s exciting to know that we’ve already made a $300,000 impact on education for everyone in the county. Over 20,000 books have been distributed to needy children because of our donations to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library,” Finley said.

Rotarian Idol Audition information may be viewed and printed using this link.

Rotarian Idol Audition application may be viewed and printed using this link.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, call John Rambo, Chair, at 327-3855 x 113 or john@hickorytheatre.org. Allen Finley at 324-6700, or email allen@finleyadvertising.com.

 

2014 Rotarian Idol

A near capacity crowd at Lenoir Rhyne University’s P.E. Monroe auditorium greeted contestants competing in Hickory Rotary Club’s fifth annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser for local educational initiatives. Auditions in February narrowed the field of contestants to 20 finalists competing for $7,500 in total prize money.  Saturday night’s finalists were McKenzie Anderson, Mary Elisabeth Ballard, Lark Bodnar, Mark Bodnar, Serena Cain, Jennifer Canterbury, Jordan B. Cook, Matthew Duane Cook, Emily Cornett, MuSunday Cumberlander, Amber-lee Garcia, Krystal Heffinger, Lindsey Jones, John Randall, Virginia Rush, Savannah Michelle Spencer, Kristopher Wayne Stephens, Jordon Stone, Alex B. Swanson and Lauren Wasmund.

This year’s crop of talented contestants entertained the crowd for nearly two hours. Judging the competition was no easy task. Three judges, John Coffey, LaKeisha Ross and Nathan Hefner, were faced with the difficult task of selecting three prize winners from the twenty contestants who performed. While the judges deliberated, the crowd was entertained by local singer, songwriter and musician, Ulysses Long, who was among the 48 finalists in the seventh season of NBC’s hit show, America’s Got Talent.

Deliberations complete, the prize winners were announced and presented checks by Ronnie Thompson, Rotary District 7670 Governor. First prize of $5,000 was awarded to Jennifer Canterbury. The second place check for $1500 went to Virginia Rush and the third place prize of $500 was presented to Amber-Lee Garcia. Emily Cornett also received a check for $500 as the winner of the “Audience Favorite” vote.

The real winner again was education. In four previous Rotarian Idol competitions Hickory Rotary Club has raised $235,000 for local education initiatives and this year’s fundraiser is expected to raise an additional $70,000+. All proceeds raised go toward scholarships for area students, Hickory City Schools Teacher of the Year awards, and other local educational initiatives in Catawba County, as well as other Rotary International humanitarian efforts. Event proceeds also support Catawba County’s Partnership for Children Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program which provides children who live in Catawba County 1 free book in the mail each month until their 5th birthday!

Hickory Rotary Club would again like to acknowledge and thank this year’s title sponsor Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors included Catawba Valley Medical Center, Charter Media, Frye Regional Medical Center, Graystone Eye, Greer Allergy Immunotherapy, HEICO Fasteners, Hickory Daily Record, KICKS 103FM, Lowes Food, Mike Johnson Hickory Toyota, Roasted Tater Restaurant, and Shuford Credit Union. Also meriting special recognition are Hal Row, local radio personality, who served as Master of Ceremonies, Rose Mary Cheek Photography whose outstanding photos documented the event, all the event program advertisers and volunteers, without whose contributions the fundraiser would not have been a success.  And of course a special “thank you” to all the contestants and people who purchased tickets to attend the event.

All photos courtesy of Rose Mary Cheek Photography.

 

 

Rotarian Idol 2014 winner, Jennifer Canterbury sings “Don’t Rain on my Parade.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Rotarian Idol Contestants Selected Hickory, NC – February 18, 2014 – Hickory Rotary Club has announced the 20 contestants selected by a panel of judges to compete in the club’s annual musical fundraiser, Rotarian Idol. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15, in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Competing for $7,500 in total prize money will be McKenzie Anderson, Mary Elisabeth Ballard, Lark Bodnar, Mark Bodnar, Serena Cain, Jennifer Canterbury, Jordan B. Cook, Matthew Duane Cook, Emily Cornett, MuSunday Cumberlander, Amber-lee Garcia, Krystal Heffinger, Lindsey Jones, John Randall, Virginia Rush, Savannah Michelle Spencer, Kristopher Wayne Stephens, Jordon Stone, Alex B. Swanson and Lauren Wasmund.

Hickory Rotary Club has announced dates for its musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, March 15, at 7:00 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Auditorium from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Feb. 6 and from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. Feb. 8. There is no limit to age or place of residence, but professional singers [which were paid $600 or more in 2013] will not be allowed to audition. A $5 fee is required.

100% of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba county and other humanitarian causes that Rotary supports.

This year’s Title Sponsor will again be Lenoir-Rhyne University. This year’s title sponsor will again be Lenoir-Rhyne University. Other major sponsors are Catawba Valley Medical Center, Charter Media, Frye Regional Medical Center, Graystone Eye, Greer Allergy Immunotherapy, HEICO Fasteners, Hickory Daily Record, KICKS 103FM, Mike Johnson Hickory Toyota, Roasted Tater Restaurant, and Shuford Credit Union.

The successful fundraiser will be co-chaired by Rotarians John Rambo and Sandi Fotheringham; Ticket Sales will be chaired by John Rambo; Advertising Sales chair will be Past-President Steve Mull. Past-President Allen Finley will chair Major Sponsors. Other committee members are: Bruce Bumbarger, David Myers, Jennifer Clark, John Olson, Jonathan Waters, Lamar Mitchell, Lynn Loehr, Kathy Greathouse, Neill McGeachy, Mick Berry, Linda Lutz, Deborah Withey, Jill Patton and Rosemary Cheek.

“Education is very important to our club, and has been since 1921”, “ROTARIAN IDOL” committee member Lamar Mitchell said.

Rambo expects this year’s auction to raise at least $65,000. In past years the Hickory Rotary Club has raised nearly $1 Million through live TV and silent auctions.

To reach this goal, the Rotary Club will sell 1,450 adult tickets at $20 each, and this year children and students with a valid student ID can purchase tickets for $10 each. Advertisements for the Show Program will be sold at $500 for a full-page ad, $250 for a half-page ad and $150 for a quarter-page ad.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $7,500 in total prize money. First Place wins $5,000, Second Place $1,500, Third Place $500; and $500 is awarded to the Audience Favorite. Additionally, several door prizes will be given away to lucky ticket holders. Contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals. A popular feature was added to the event last year: The public will be able to vote on-line at www.hickoryrotary.org for their favorite contestant.

Rotarian Idol Audition Information

Rotarian Idol Audition Application

“ROTARIAN IDOL” replaces the popular “Education Alive” television auction, which the Rotary Club used to raise funds for education for five years. Students continue to utilize monies raised from the successful event.

“It’s exciting to know that we’ve already made a $200,000 impact on education for everyone in the county”, Finley said

Hickory Rotary Club has hosted Rotarian Idol from 2010 -2013. To view results and performance videos from previous contests use this link: Hickory Rotarian Idol 2010 – 2013.

For more information about this year’s event, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, call John Rambo, Chair, at 327-3855 x 113 or john@hickorytheatre.org. Allen Finley at 324-6700, or email allen@finleyadvertising.com.

Tickets $20 Adult, $10 Student (with a valid student ID) may be purchased and picked up at the following locations:

Allen Finley Advertising	42 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-324-6700
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Lowes Foods	Various Locations Hickory Area
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NE (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

 

Buy Tickets On-Line (for will-call pick up the night of the show)

Adult $20, Student (with valid student ID) $10

Ticket Type

Adult Ticket $20.00 USDStudent Ticket (School ID Required) $10.00 USD

Name of Ticketholder

Phone Number

2013 Rotarian Idol

On Saturday, March 16, 2013, The Hickory Rotary Club conducted its annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser to benefit local educational initiatives. The singing contest was held at P.E. Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir Rhyne University. The twenty finalists who competed for the top prize of $2500 were:

Contestant	Song	Contestant	Song
Elisabeth Ballard	Sittin’ on Top of the World	Collin Nixon	Standing Strong
Kevin Barlowe	Tonight	Summer Rahn	I Will Always Love You
Lark Bodnar	On My Own	Carolina Romero-Leon	One and Only
Michael Brown	T-R-O-U-B-L-E	Amanda Sigmon	If I Ain’t Got You
Leslie Cline	I Remember You	Shawn Snook	Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
Jonathan Dale	Felling Good	Hannah Stancil	Somethin’s Got Ahold on Me
Amanda Harren	Black Velvet	Curtisha Stephens	Summertime
Tim Lee	Shine the Light	Greg Suddreth	My Girl
Joni Marley	Hey Big Spender	Lauren Wasmund	The Way I Am
Jennifer Murray	Mama’s Broken Heart	Johnny White	Can’t Give Up Now

Click Contestant Name for Contestant Photo

The runner-up received $1500, and the “Audience Favorite” received $500. The contestants were judged by a panel of four music industry professionals who said the talent was so outstanding that the selection of a winner and runner-up was difficult.

A generous donation (autographed memorabilia) by country music star, Eric Church, was awarded as a door prize to Bryan Setzler whose ticket stub was drawn as the door prize winner.

The fundraiser, co-chaired by John Rambo and Sandi Fotheringham, and conducted with the participation of the entire club was an outstanding success, exceeding fundraising goals established by the board. A near capacity crowd was entertained for approximately two and a half  hours. While the votes were counted, Ulysses Long, a national finalist on America’s Got Talent, performed for the crowd.

At the conclusion the judges announced the winners. First prize and a $2500 check was awarded to Hannah Stancil. Runner-up and a $1500 check went to Jonathan Dale. The Audience Favorite as voted by those in attendance and on-line was Kevin Barlowe who received a $500 check.

View the 2013 Rotarian Idol Event Program here.

Rotarian Idol 2013 Results

1st Place Winner	Hannah Stancil
2nd Place Winner	Jonathan Dale
Audience Favorite	Kevin Barlowe

Contestant photos courtesy of Rose Mary Cheek Photography.

A few of the contestant’s performances may be viewed below:

2013 Rotarian Idol Runner-Up, Jonathan Dale

Summer Rahn – ‘I will Always Love You’ – Rotarian Idol 2013 from Bill Rahn on Vimeo.

Michael Brown

 

Leslie Cline

Tickets ($20) may be purchased and picked up at the following locations:

Allen Finley Advertising	42 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-324-6700
Hickory Community Theater	30 3rd Street NW (Downtown)	828-327-3855
Office Furniture USA	1427 2nd Street NW (Viewmont HWY 127)	828-345-6200

 

 

2013 On-Line Voting for Audience Favorite

Rotarian Idol 2013 will once again allow the audience to vote for their favorite contestant. This year, not only may you vote at the show, you may also vote on-line. A website site has been established for each contestant. Family, friends and neighbors may wish to use this site to cast their Audience favorite vote before the show. The cutoff date for on-line voting is 11:59 PM Friday, March 15, 2013. The 2013 Rotarian Idol Audience favorite will receive a cash prize of $500.

Use the Icon Link Below to Vote On-Line

Fourth Annual “ROTARIAN IDOL” Announced;  Auditions Set.

Hickory Rotary Club has announced dates for its 2013 musical fundraiser, “ROTARIAN IDOL”. The event will be held Saturday, March 16, at 7 pm in PE Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Auditions will be held at The SALT Block Auditorium January 31, 6-8 pm and February 2, 2-4 pm. There is no limit to age or place of residence, but professional singers will not be allowed to audition. A $5 fee is required. 100% of the money raised will be used to benefit educational needs throughout Catawba County.

Update: A record number 97 people (young and old) auditioned for  the 2013 Rotarian Idol contest. Thank you to all contestants who participated. Your efforts on behalf of Hickory Rotary Club assists local educational needs. A list of the twenty 2013 Rotarian Idol finalist appears below:

Elisabeth Ballard	Jonathan Dale	Collin Nixon	Hannah Stancil
Kevin Barlowe	Amanda Harren	Summer Rahn	Curtisha Stephens
Lark Bodnar	Tim Lee	Carolina Romero-Leon	Greg Suddreth
Michael Brown	Joni Marley	Amanda Sigmon	Lauren Wasmund
Leslie Cline	Jennifer Murray	Shawn Snook	Johnny White

The 2013 Audition Application may be downloaded using this link. Also Contestant Rules, Regulations  and Information may be downloaded using this link.

This year’s title Sponsor will be Lenoir-Rhyne University, and the successful fundraiser will be co-chaired by Rotarians John Rambo and Sandi Fotheringham; Ticket Sales will be chaired by John Rambo; Advertising Sales chair will be Past-President Steve Mull. Past-President Allen Finley will chair Major Sponsors. Other committee members: Bruce Bumbarger, David Myers, Guy Guarino, Jennifer Clark, John Olson, Jonathan Waters, Lamar Mitchell, Lynn Loehr, Kathy Greathouse, Neill McGeachy, Mick Berry and Rosemary Cheek.

“Education is very important to our club, and has been for decades”, “ROTARIAN IDOL” committee member Lamar Mitchell said. Rambo expects this year’s auction to raise at least $60,000.  In past years the Hickory Rotary Club has raised nearly $1 Million through live TV and silent auctions. To reach this goal, the Rotary Club will sell 1,450 tickets at $20 each. Advertising for the Show Program will be sold in $500 (full-page), $250 (half-page) and $150 (quarter-page) increments.

A total of 20 contestants will be chosen to compete for $2,500 First Place; $1,000 Second Place; and $500 Audience Favorite prizes, and several door prizes will be given away. The contestants will be judged by a panel of three music industry professionals. A new feature has been added to the event this year: The public will also be able to vote on-line for their favorite contestant.

“ROTARIAN IDOL” replaces the popular “Education Alive” television auction, which the Rotary Club used to raise funds for education for 5 years.  Students continue to utilize monies raised from the successful event.

“It’s exciting to know that we’ve already made a $150,000 impact on education for everyone in the county”, Finley said.

For more information, visit www.hickoryrotary.org, call John Rambo, Chair at 327-3855 x 113 or e-mail john@hickorytheatre.org.  Allen Finley at 324-6700, or email allen@finleyadvertising.com.

 

2012 Rotarian Idol

On Saturday, March 17, 2012, The Hickory Rotary Club conducted its annual Rotarian Idol fundraiser to benefit local educational initiatives. The singing contest was held at P.E. Monroe Auditorium on the campus of Lenoir Rhyne University. The twenty finalists who competed for the top prize of $2500 were: Mike Brooks, Leslie Cline, Jimmy Cooper, Molly Cummings, Tiffany Gray, Amanda Harren, Leona Hunter, Phuong McKinney, Thomas Michaels, Jordan Alexander Randall, Julia Rush, Christa Shuford, Savannah Spencer, Greg Suddreth, Alex Swanson, Destre Tashjian, James Matthew Taylor, Victoria Whetzel, Cristy White and Lauren Winkler. The runner-up received $1500, and the “crowd favorite” received $500. In addition one contestant won Honorable Mention. The contestants were judged by a panel of three music industry professionals. Contestant photos courtesy of Rose Mary Cheek Photography.

The fundraiser, chaired by John Rambo, and conducted with the participation of the entire club was an outstanding success, exceeding fundraising goals established by the board. A near capacity crowd was entertained for approximately three hours. At the conclusion the judges announced the winners

Rotarian Idol 2012 Results

1st Place Winner	Cristy White
2nd Place Winner	Jimmy Cooper
Audience Favorite	Amanda Harren
Honorable Mention	Matt Taylor

Congratulations to all the contestants for their outstanding performances. Everyone went home a winner. Thank you again to our title sponsor, Lenoir Rhyne University and to major sponsors: A SignCo, ABS Legacy Partners, Catawba Valley Medical Center, Charter Media, Century Link, Frye Regional Medical Center, Graystone Eye, Kicks 103.3 FM, Richard Anthony Hair and Sign Systems Inc. And a special thank you to everyone who purchased tickets and advertising in the event program.

2012 Rotarian Idol Review

 

2012 Rotarian Idol Winner Cristy White

 

2012 Rotarian Idol Runner-Up Jimmy Cooper

 

2012 Rotarian Idol Audience Favorite Amanda Harren

 

2011 Rotarian Idol

Hickory Rotary Club’s Second Annual Rotarian Idol was held Saturday March 19, 2011.

Hickory Rotary Club hosts Rotarian Idol to raise funds for Catawba County education through the competition. Hickory Rotary Club is the oldest service club in the Hickory area, chartered in 1921. Globally, our club participates in the initiatives of Rotary International, whose projects include Polio Plus, the world-wide effort to eradicate polio. Locally, our club focuses on education. Service Above Self scholarships are awarded to Hickory High School seniors each year. Hickory Rotary Club honors a Teacher of the Year from each of the Hickory City Schools with an award and an honorarium. Our members are active in the tutoring program at Southwest Elementary School in Hickory. The club also has made grants to schools within the Hickory Public Schools system.




Rotarian Idol 2011 Results

1st Place Winner	Alex Rogers
2nd Place Winner	Brooke Deleary
3rd Place Winner	Emily Auton

 

2011 Rotarian Idol Review

 

2010 Rotarian Idol

Hickory Rotary Club’s First Annual Rotarian Idol was held Saturday March 13, 2010.

 

Rotarian Idol 2010 Results

1st Place Winner	Carol Ann Hartman
2nd Place Winner	Stephanie Morgan
3rd Place Winner	Tresa Neal
Honorable Mention	Mark Bodnar

 

 

At a meeting of the Hickory Rotary Club, Carol Anne Hartman reprises her 2010 Rotarian Idol-winning performance with “Up to the Mountain” by Patty Griffin.

2010 Rotarian Idol Review

Thank you to our 2010 Major Sponsors: