RALEIGH, N.C. (November 7, 2015) - Student Rifine Pongo is this year’s Wake Tech Idol! Pongo defeated nine other finalists at the singing competition’s grand finale tonight and won a $1,000 scholarship from the Wake Tech Foundation. The event took place in the NE Building Lecture Hall on the Northern Wake Campus, and was broadcast live via Periscope. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Pongo has lived in the United States for two years, and hopes to pursue a career in dental hygiene. Runners-up Meghan Chung and Leah Zoe Wiggins each took home a $250 scholarship.

 

Dozens of Wake Tech students auditioned for the competition over a two-week period, and the top 10 were selected to compete in the grand finale. Celebrity judges were Caroline Sullivan, Wake County Commissioner; Valonda Calloway, host of My Carolina Today; and DeMar Neal, a Wake Tech instructor who competed on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. They chose the top three finalists, and the audience helped them choose the winner. The event was emceed by Wake Tech’s Dean of Student Development, Mark Gibson.

 

Wake Tech Idol engages the college community in friendly competition that highlights student talent as well as fine arts courses and programs at the college. The annual event is sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA).