College Idol builds NSCC community

Second-place winner in the 2009 College Idol competition, Benita Moore, shows off her award at the Nova Scotia Community College’s Waterfront Campus. Credit: Allison McCabe

Benita Moore has spent much of her life performing. To her, the stage feels like home.

"It's my turf," says the petite business administration student, remembering how her nerves settled as soon as she opened her mouth to sing Alicia Keys' "If I Ain't Got You" at the Kingstec Nova Scotia Community College campus last March.

Moore, 42, won second place in the NSCC College Idol competition, an event that allows talented students to showcase their abilities and brings together contestants and fans from the college's 13 campuses.

A few moments before stepping onstage, Moore, who has been singing since she was a teenager, wasn't quite so at ease.

"I was there and I said, ‘oh my God, I forget the lyrics of my song,'" recalls the soft-spoken mother. "I had to run to the dressing room to get my iTouch and just listen to the first two lines."

College Idol might be a small competition but for contestants and the college's community, it's a spectacular event filled with anticipation and a sense of celebrity. The show is based on the popular American and Canadian Idol television shows and organizers try to make it as professional as possible.

"We have a green room for the students with the gift bags and all that stuff," says Lori Foran, the college's student life coordinator. "We don't really do a whole lot of big events like this and it makes them feel special."

Students first try out at their own campus and one representative is sent to the province-wide competition, which a different campus hosts each year. Last year almost 300 people came out to watch in Kentville.

"To me it was all about creating an NSCC community event. Not just Kentville or Halifax. It was about NSCC as a college," says Foran.

"We have students from all the programs, from survey technology, from plumbing. They come with skill. Lots of skill."

James Ryan, a former electrical construction and industrial student at the Strait Area campus, placed third in the last competition.

"It's a good way for other students to see different campuses, it's good promotional stuff for the school," he says, "and it's just fun."

The 2010 competition isn't until the spring, but campuses are already vying for the honour of hosting College Idol and planning their try-outs.

"It is a big to-do for us," says Foran, and a big decision will be where to hold this year's finals. "It's our top secret committee that reviews the packages," she jokes.

First prize is $1,000. Last year's winner was Blake Smith.

Second and third place winners get $500 and $250 respectively. Asked what she did with her winnings, Moore laughs, "I told my husband I have a fund for my tuition."

Moore smiles as she recalls her 11-year-old son, Carlo, waving a poster and cheering her on last March. She's still undecided on participating again this year, but her love for performing is a strong influence.

"When you see that people appreciate the music that you do and they like you, that's my favourite part."

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