Golden Idol: Event showcases talents for Miracle Children

Alfredo Aparicio/Life! Editor

In 1997, a 25-hour Dance Marathon began. Since then, not only has it become the biggest student philanthropic event on campus, but it has also collected over $600,000 in donations to the Miracle Children’s Network.

The Golden Idol, which took place on Sept. 21, showcased the talents of six contestants who took to the stage and sang for two rounds. After the initial audition period, the final six participated in round one of the contest, which consisted of singing a full song of their choice for the judges, who chose the top three. Round two consisted of singing a sample of another song while the judges chose the winner.

“We do this to create awareness,” said junior Evelin Urdaneta, a criminal justice and psychology double major and executive director of DM. “I was tricked two years ago when friends told me that I was signed up as a volunteer but was really a dancer. When I met the Miracle Children, however, I fell in love with DM.”

Ray Soria, a sophomore and business major, not only went home a winner but was also the viewers’ choice. Soria found out about DM through his brothers at Pi Kappa Phi, who have been involved with DM before, and his friends, who encouraged him to do his part and join the Golden Idol competition. The event served as the extra push Soria needed to continue to pursue a career in music.

“I never thought I would win, but it made my day,” Soria said. “I sang in high school, but when I came to FIU, I stopped. It’s been a long time since I have sung, but [Golden Idol] has given me the courage to keep going.”

Senior Giovanni Correale, a psychology major and recruitment chair, found out about DM in Panther Camp and signed up. “I was one of those happy people that pushed everyone to keep dancing even though I had to go to art class four hours after the event ended.”

Correale’s experience with DM touched home when his niece went to Miami Children’s Hospital for an inflamed appendix that later burst. “I’m a naturally altruistic person to begin with, but if I can use my able body to help someone who needs it, I feel like I did something, that I used my time to help people.”

So far, DM has registered 191 dancers for the official event and has collected $5,969 in donations.

“I saw the impact DM has on campus and wanted to get involved last year but sadly couldn’t,” recounted junior Gabriela Franqui, a bio-medical engineering major, volunteer and alumni liaison chair. “I’m excited for the actual event; I wanted to have a bigger experience on campus and work for a charitable event. In the end, it’s a lot of work, but we are all fundraising for DM.”
Franqui was also a part of the DM line dance, the 15-minute song DM dancers learn for the marathon, with the children in a past baseball game. “Even though it rained and the game was postponed and we couldn’t do it, we got to talk to the moms of these kids. We got to see what they feel.”

One of the judges, Korrin Stanek, associate director for orientation, has been immersing herself in DM since her days as an undergrad. “I was a dancer back then and always judge the audition part of Golden Idol. This year, I was part of the actual event.”

Stanek is always happy to help and put her musical background as an undergrad vocal performance major to use. “Some of my friends and family have suffered from cancer, and my best friend’s little sister died from it. Since then, I dance and do this in her memory; she was like a sister to me.”

Dance Marathon takes place officially on Jan. 29 in the Recreation Center. Students and faculty can go online at http://www2.fiu.edu/~dm/  to look at upcoming events, get involved or donate.

“I don’t think the day will hit me until I am there,” Franqui said. “So far, it has been a fulfilling experience. I hope it only gets better.”