Relay Idol winners let tributes be their guides
By Steve Herring
Published in News on May 18, 2008 2:00 AM
There was no acid-tongued Simon to provide commentary on their performances -- and the performers did not seek fame or fortune.
Rather, the eight contestants in the Relay Idol contest were there to honor relatives, friends and neighbors who have been touched by cancer.
"We had one five years ago when we were at Eastern Wayne High School, and we decided to bring it back to add some more excitement and fun to our event," said Stephanie McCloud, entertainment/activities chairman.
Ms. McCloud said organizers had not been able to fit the Relay Idol into the schedule in recent years despite strong interest in it.
The threatening skies, though, didn't hold off for the whole competition, forcing judges Kim Best and Susan Outlaw, both of Goldsboro, and Emily Taylor, a student at East Carolina University, to seek shelter under umbrellas as they tallied the scores.
Hailey Kornegay, 15, of Goldsboro, won first place for her rendition of "I Believe."
Ms. Kornegay said she sang the song in memory of her mother, Angie Kornegay, who died of cancer in 2007.
"I just think it (song) has a good meaning to it," she said. "I also chose this song because I really wanted to dedicate it to the people who were losing hope. Because if I have hope, they can have hope, too."
It was the first time that first runner-up Tiffany Albertson of Grantham, who is a medical assistant in the chemotherapy department at Southeastern Medical Oncology, had participated in a Relay.
"I'm here to support our patients and our staff," she said.
Karen Howell of Fremont, second runner-up and a member of the First Free Will Baptist Church of Goldsboro team, said she settled on her selection, "How You Live," as a way to remember her grandfathers.
"I chose it because both my grandfathers died of cancer, and they both taught me that how you live and if you live for the Lord, you will go far," she said.