American Kids Inc. names 2009 winners of national finals membership talent contest

11-year-old singer, Koryn Hawthorne of Abbeville, La., wins AllStar title

BRANSON, Mo. - Koryn Hawthorne, 11, of Abbeville, La., was the top winner in the non-profit American Kids Inc. 2009 National Finals membership talent competition in Branson, Mo. The recent week-long competition included 169 kids presenting 253 acts.

Hawthorne sang Never Would Have Made It and was named Performer of the Year to win a $1,500 cash prize and an invitation to guest star on the Penny Gilley Show on RFD TV. The song also took the top prize in the gospel vocal category. Hawthorne also placed first in the popular vocal category with I Surrender and first in the serious vocal category with A Change Gonna Come.

Winners in 24 talent categories were awarded more than $9,000 in cash prizes, trophies and medals along with two college scholarships, the Performer of the Year title and American Kids Member of the Year. The top 25 acts of the week competed in a special show for the AllStar honor. Young performers from Illinois, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas and Missouri took home top honors.

Brittany Morvant, 17, Lafayette, La., was the recipient of the fourth annual Carolyn Snow Memorial $1,000 College Scholarship. Snow, the late wife of the organization’s founder Dr. Dale Smith, served as American Kids executive director until her death in 2005 following a short battle with cancer.

Devyn Thompson, 17, of Choctaw, Okla., received the Taco Mayo $1,000 College Scholarship. Taco Mayo Restaurant’s co-founder Randy Earhart of Oklahoma City serves as a board member and is a former chairman of the board of American Kids Inc.

Division Winners

Gospel vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, Never Would Have Made It; Lindsay Mendez, 13, Marrero, La., runner-up, I Believe I Can Fly.

Musical theatre solo: Ammmarie Grassle, 14, Rogers Ark., first, Children Will Listen; Kayla Gray, 8, Springfield, Mo., runner-up, Little Girls.

Popular vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, I Surrender; Ezrah Cheek, 5, Kingfisher, Okla., runner-up, You Made Me Love You.

Country vocal solo: Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Trouble is a Woman; Nikki Chenoweth, 12, Frisco, Texas, runner-up, Bless the Broken Road.

Serious vocal solo: Koryn Hawthorne, 11, Abbeville, La., first, A Change Gonna Come; Christina Hera 11, Kennes, La., runner-up, Somewhere.

Dance solo: Jocelyn Pullin, 14, Edmond, Okla., first, To the Moon; Nick Rivera, 16, O’Fallon, Ill., runner-up, Distortion.

Specialty act solo: Devyn Thompson, 17, Choctaw, Okla., first, You Ain’t Woman Enough, ventriloquism; Kallie Clark, 13, Poteau, Okla., runner-up, Over the Rainbow, harp solo.

Gospel vocal group: Framed with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., first, Battle Hymn.

Musical theatre group: Alaska and Madison with members Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., and Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Anything You Can Do; Grace Haven with members Ammmarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassley, 17, Rogers, Ark., runner-up, Legally Blonde.

Country vocal group: Alaska and Madison with members Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., and Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., first, Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love; Destined for Glory, Jonathan Fair, 12, Sarah Fair, 13, Daniel Fair, 17, and Nathaniel Fair, 18, Rogers, Ark., runner-up, My Wish.

Dance group: Jocelyn and Kristen with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, and Kristen Albertson, 17, Edmond, Okla., first By Your Side; Jocelyn, Josie, Payton with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, of Edmond, Okla., Payton Doss, 11, and Josie Doss, 13, Yukon, Okla., runner-up, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Specialty act group: Organized Chaos with members Sarah Wilkerson, 9, Bethel Heights, Ark., Carter Andrews, 10, Addison Sowers, 12, and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., Evan Chronister, 10, and Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kyler Mahar, 10, Springdale, Ark., Nicholas Roark, 11, and Lori Emerson, 16, Bentonville, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., and Theresa Stoll, 17, Bella Vista, Ark., first, Deconstruction; Anna, Sarah and Luke with members Luke Wilkerson, 5, Sarah Wilkerson, 9, and Anna Wilkerson, 11, Bethel Heights, Ark., runner-up, Guitarzan.

Serious vocal group: Strong Black Coffee with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Ammarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassle, 17, Rogers, Ark., first, Seasons of Love.

Popular vocal group: Boxer Babes with members Allison Forbes, 11, Gretha, La., Briana Bonvillian, 12, and Roxy Comardelle, 13, Westwego, La., Rebecca Lombas, 13, and Alexsa Morgan, 13, Marrero, La., Rebecca Francis, 15, Terrytown, La., and Brittany Ratke, 16, Bridge City, La., first, Hit Me with Your Best Shot; In Unison with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., and Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., runner-up, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.

The 2009 Illinois Kids Member of the Year Nathaniel Bittner, 13, of O’Fallon, Ill., was named 2009 American Kids Inc. Member of the Year. The honor is based not only on talent capabilities, but also on community service and willingness to share their God given talents in helping to lift others. Bittner won a trophy and a 2010 competition grant. In his essay he wrote “I have grown as an individual and want to continue to help grow Illinois Kids. I want to continue to grow so that I can share my gift with people that we sing for and what I learn with other American Kids. God has given me a gift and I intend to use it every way that He allows me to.” He credited the program, “When I came to American Kids I finally found what I had been looking for: I was home.”

Nominees for member of the year came from the states that are fully developed in American Kids. The 2009 state members of the year are Colton Shaver, 14, Monticello, Ark.; Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla.; Kaitlyn Thibodeaux, 15, Westwego, La.; Jolean Hackney, 12, Lockwood, Mo., and Adam Hobbs, 14, Palestine, Texas.

From soloists to groups, from dancers and singers to ventriloquists and harpists, performers in the top 25 AllStar Show included, in addition to Koryn Hawthorne, Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla.; Brittany Morvant, 17, Lafayette, La.; Lindsay Mendez, 13, Marrero, La.; William Grassle, 17, Ammarie Grassle, 14, Jonathan Fair, 12, Sarah Fair, 13, Daniel Fair, 17, and Nathaniel Fair, 18, Rogers, Ark.; Ezrah Cheek, 5, Kingfisher, Okla., Christina Hera 11, Kennes, La., Kayla Gray, 8, Springfield, Mo., Allison Forbes, 11, Gretha, La., Briana Bonvillian, 12, and Roxy Comardelle, 13, Westwego, La., Rebecca Lombas, 13, and Alexsa Morgan, 13, Marrero, La., Rebecca Francis, 15, Terrytown, La., and Brittany Ratke, 16, Bridge City, La., Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., Jocelyn Pullin, 14, and Kristen Albertson, 17, Edmond, Okla., Sydney Mathews, 11, Forgan, Okla., Mattie Fortenberry, 13, Woodville, Texas, Olivia Vanderhoeven, 10, Pineville, La., Nikki Chenoweth, 12, Frisco, Texas, Kallie Clark, 13, Poteau, Okla., and Devyn Thompson, 17, Choctaw, Okla.

Young performers traveled from as far away as the Gulf coast and Florida for Nationals, according to Brenda Hoffstatter, director of national programs. A panel of distinguished judges from the entertainment industry critiqued the young performers and selected the winners.

Dr. Dale Smith, founder of American Kids Inc. presents AllStar winner Koryn Hawthorne, 11, of Abbeville, La., a trophy and $1,500 with the help of Louisiana State Co-director Mike Hymel, and AllStar judges, Deana Martin, singer, actor and performer and daughter of Dean Martin, and Mike Stanglin, producer and manager, and former regional country promotion manager for Capitol Records and Columbia/Epic Records.

Koryn Hawthorne, 11, of Abbeville, La., is the top winner in American Kids Inc. 2009 National Finals membership talent competition. She sang “Never Would Have Made It” and was named Performer of the Year to win a $1,500 cash prize and an invitation to guest star on the “Penny Gilley Show” on RFD TV. The song also took the top prize in the gospel vocal category. Hawthorne also placed first in the popular vocal category with “I Surrender” and first in the serious vocal category with “A Change Gonna Come.”

Madison Metcalf, 13, Jenks, Okla., and Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., make up the duo, Alaska and Madison, that took first place in two categories: country vocal group, “Heaven, Heartache and the Power of Love,” (pictured) and musical theatre group, “Anything You Can Do.”

Ammarie Grassle, 14, Rogers Ark., wins first in musical theatre solo with “Children Will Listen.”

Anna, Sarah and Luke with members Luke Wilkerson, 5, Sarah Wilkerson, 9, and Anna Wilkerson, 11, Bethel Heights, Ark., place runner-up with “Guitarzan” in the group specialty act category.

The group, Grace Haven with members Ammarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassley, 17, Rogers, Ark., wins runner-up with “Legally Blonde” in the group musical theater category.

Boxer Babes with members Allison Forbes, 11, Gretha, La., Briana Bonvillian, 12, and Roxy Comardelle, 13, Westwego, La., Rebecca Lombas, 13, and Alexsa Morgan, 13, Marrero, La., Rebecca Francis, 15, Terrytown, La., and Brittany Ratke, 16, Bridge City, La., win first place with “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” in the popular vocal group category.

Christina Hera, 11, of Kennes, La., places runner-up with “Somewhere” in the serious vocal solo category.

Kallie Clark, 13, Poteau, Okla., places runner-up with “Over the Rainbow” in specialty act solo.

In specialty act group, Organized Chaos with members Sarah Wilkerson, 9, Bethel Heights, Ark., Carter Andrews, 10, Addison Sowers, 12, and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., Evan Chronister, 10, and Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kyler Mahar, 10, Springdale, Ark., Nicholas Roark, 11, and Lori Emerson, 16, Bentonville, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., and Theresa Stoll, 17, Bella Vista, Ark., place first with “Deconstruction.”

In the country vocal group category, Destined for Glory with members Jonathan Fair, 12, Sarah Fair, 13, Daniel Fair, 17, and Nathaniel Fair, 18, Rogers, Ark., place runner-up with “My Wish.”

In specialty act solo, Devyn Thompson, 17, Choctaw, Okla., places first with “You Ain’t Woman Enough.” Devyn, a senior, also received the Taco Mayo $1,000 College Scholarship.

Ezrah Cheek, 5, Kingfisher, Okla., is runner-up with “You Made Me Love You” in the popular vocal solo category.

Gospel vocal group, Framed with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., and Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., place first with “Battle Hymn.”

Dance solo first place is Jocelyn Pullin, 14, Edmond, Okla., with “To the Moon.”

The group, Jocelyn, Josie, Payton with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, of Edmond, Okla., Payton Doss, 11, and Josie Doss, 13, Yukon, Okla., place runner-up with “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

In the dance group category, Jocelyn and Kristen with members Jocelyn Pullin, 14, and Kristen Albertson, 17, Edmond, Okla., win first with “By Your Side.”

Kayla Gray, 8, Springfield, Mo., places runner-up with “Little Girls” in the musical theater category.

In country vocal solo, Alaska Holloway, 14, Broken Arrow, Okla., places first with “Trouble is a Woman.”

Lindsay Mendez, 13, Marrero, La., is runner-up with “I Believe I Can Fly” in the gospel vocal category.

Strong Black Coffee with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Ammarie Grassle, 14, and William Grassle, 17, Rogers, Ark., wins first with “Seasons of Love” in the serious vocal group category.

Nick Rivera, 16, O’Fallon, Ill., places runner-up with “Distortion” in the dance solo category.

Nikki Chenoweth, 12, Frisco, Texas, runner-up, “Bless the Broken Road” in the country vocal category.

In Unison with members Gabrielle Chronister, 12, Centerton, Ark., Alex Andrews, 13, Rogers, Ark., and Kaylin Cripps, 14, Gentry, Ark., place runner-up, with “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” in the popular vocal group category.