Contestants

Meet the contestants competing in this years’ Spotlight.

Chris Brown

My full name is Charles Christopher Brown. I am a 21 year-old senior music
performance major with a minor in communication. I hail from Corbin, Ky where I
was born and raised. I have a loving family, my mother Rose, my step-dad Burt,
and my two beautiful sister’s, Analyssa and Bethany. My girlfriend is awesome
too, her name is Michelle! I have 5 dogs, Wiener (MY wiener dog), Ernie a 7 year
old black lab, Pig an overweight chihuahua, mousie (her baby), and last but most
certainly not least Hairy a mix breed of awesome. I love people, I love to make
music, and most importantly, I love God. Thanks to all of the people in my life
who support me no matter what!

Hannah Roehrborn

Hey everyone! I’m Hannah Roehrborn, a senior here at UC. I’m from Palatine, IL,
a town north of Chicago, and I am an English Education major. Although I will be
student teaching in Fall of 2013, this will be my last semester on campus, so I
hope Spotlight helps to make it my most fun semester yet! I can’t wait to work
with all the contestants, judges, and everyone in CAB who helps make this
happen. As a returning contestant, I hope to make it further in the competition
than I did last year, but mostly I’m just excited to have fun and make music!

Autumn Williams

My name is Autumn Williams, I’m from Lexington, Kentucky and I’m a sophomore
here at UC. I am a goal keeper on the women’s varsity soccer team. I love to
sing and have been singing since I was old enough to talk. I’m an elementary
education major with an emphasis in math.

Stephany Mix

Born in Japan, live in Arlington, South Dakota. Favorite color is yellow;
favorite animals are elephants and hippos; favorite holiday is Halloween;
favorite movies are Les Miserables, Pitch Perfect, and Despicable Me; favorite
TV show is Glee. I love to hang out with my best friends Whitney and Valerie;
jam out to Les Miserable and Adele songs, and go shopping. Majoring in Music
Education, and want to teach kids when I grow up

Tim Smith

My name’s Tim Smith and I’m a freshman here at UC. I’m a 19 year old Biology Major and hope to become a Physicians Assistant once I finish going to school. I’ve lived in Corbin my entire life and music has been apart of my life since I was child. My mom put me in piano lessons for a total of eight years but I’ve only been singing for the past year. Winning this competition would be a blessing because I could use the $1,000 prize to help pay off my tuition. I thank God for the talent he has given me.

Kyla Edmondson

My name is Kyla Edmondson and I am a Sophomore music major studying voice. I am also a
cheerleader and Jesus is a huge part of my life! I enjoy hanging out with
my boyfriend and my puppy, Duke.

Sara Donahue

Hey guys! I’m Sara. I’m a Junior here at UC. I’m from Harlan, Ky. I am a Human Services major and a Religion minor. I listen to a lot of different types of music but if you were to scan my iPod you would find a lot of John Mayer, the soundtrack form Wicked, Train, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood,  and a lot more country.

Jake McPheron

I’m Jake McPheron, I am a Junior majoring in Youth and Family Ministry. I have been singing since I was old enough to speak, and I have been playing music and writing songs since I was 15 years old. I play 5 instruments, guitar being my best. My passion is leading worship, and it will always be the biggest part of me.

Austen Anderson

My name is Austen Anderson I am a sophomore at the University of Cumberlands and
I am a public health major.  I have never done any kind of music or vocal
performance in my life but I thought I might give this a try and see if there
was any kind of potential there. I play baseball here and I am really passionate
about fitness and nutrition. I eat really healthy and love staying active. I
hope everyone enjoys what I have to offer and I hope we can put on a good show!

Ryan Coots

I’m Ryan. I’m from Harlan, KY.  I like to sanga, about da moona and da june’a and
da springa. Um…I’m a senior this year at our fine university, and I am pretty
excited about competing in UC Spotlight this year! The group looks (and sounds)
great and the themes are exciting. Hope to see you there!!!

Whitney Johns0n

My name is Whitney Johnson. I am a second semester freshman and my major is
Music Education. I’m an instrumentalist and I play the oboe in concert band and
the mellophone in marching band. In chorale, I’m a soprano. I come from Dry
Ridge, Kentucky; which for those who don’t know, that’s around thirty minutes
south of Cincinnati, Ohio and two and a half hours north of Williamsburg. My
family consists of my mom, dad, older sister, younger sister, and three cats.
Yes, I am the middle child. I auditioned for Spotlight because I want to get the
most out of my college experience, but keep in mind, I only sing in public if it
consists of the showers in Gillespie Hall. I’m just a girl who works hard in
school and hangs out with my friends if there’s spare time. I’m never really in
the spotlight, but that’s okay. I love to have fun. I love to sing. And I love
God. That’s what I’m hoping this experience will all include.

Nathan Duncan

My name is Nathan Duncan. I just came back from a semester off. I’m a
music major, and I’m just trying to enjoy what I can in life.

Wesley Hale

I’m Wesley. I’m a Music and English Ed major. I’m very big on my family and I love to bake cakes.

My mom is my best friend and my cat’s name is Biggie Smalls. I hope you enjoy watching the show as much as I love being in it!

Andrew Root

My name is Andrew Root and I’m a sophomore at UC and play line backer for the
football team. I’m majoring in phys. ed. and plan on coaching football after
college. I enjoy anything music or sports. I play acoustic guitar and write my
own music. As far as music goes, I would love to make a career out of it but
we’ll just have to see how that goes!

Courtney Hixson

Hi! My name is Courtney Hixson, and I’m a senior biology major/chem minor
at UC from Lincoln County, Kentucky. No, I’m not related to the Turtleman.

Emily Scott

Hello my name is Emily Scott I am a 20
year old Junior here at University of the Cumberland’s. My major is Psychology
with a minor in Music. Someday I hope to be a Music Therapist! I am from a
little town called Paris KY, just right outside of Lexington. I have two sisters
and two brothers who all live around KY. I am in the Marching band (color guard)
and Chorale here as well. I hope everyone enjoys this season of
Spotlight!

Jasmine Minke

My name is Jasmine Minke. I am a second semester freshman here at UC. I am a Criminal Justice major with an Applied Music minor. I am the second of four girls, and I currently hail from Bellingham, Washington. Besides my two younger sisters, I live with my parents and my two dogs.  I decided to do Spotlight because it’s something that is outside of my comfort zone and I feel taking personal risks is a part of what a rounded college education is about.

Tyler Bird

Hi! My name is Tyler Bird, I am a Junior/Senior here at the University of the
Cumberlands. I am currently completing my degrees in Ministry and Human
Services. I am originally from Oakhurst, CA and I currently reside in Somerset,
Ky. I love Jesus Christ, He is my everything and I have given my life to follow
where ever He leads me. I love music and to me it is one of the ways I can share
the love of God. I am really excited to be doing Spotlight and I hope I am able
to get to know a lot of new people!

Starr Williams

I am a freshmen at The University of the Cumberlands. I love to wrestle and enjoy singing in the
shower, because I’m always too nervous to sing in front of people. If I win the
thousand dollars, it’s all going into my tuition; because I don’t have time to
work at the cafe. I love to draw and write poems. I have a very big family which
consists of six brothers and six sisters and we all get along just fine. I always
dreamed of becoming a “STARR” on American Idol. Maybe this is the closest I’ll get
to it. I hope and pray that all good comes out of this competition. Also,
that I get all the support that is needed.

Andrew Clouse 

I am a freshman here at Cumberlands. I have been entertaining all my
life whether I was acting, singing, or playing guitar. In 2010, I was selected to
the United States Army Soldier Show, one of twenty that was able to travel the
world to boost morale and entertain Army families. Now you can find me Monday
through Thursdays in the Grill as the night time supervisor. I consider it an
honor and a privilege to be on stage to entertain you tonight.

Dillon Proctor

Hello my name is Dillon Proctor. I am a junior at the University of the Cumberlands with a Biology major with focus on optometry and a music performance minor on alto saxophone. I auditioned for Spotlight as a way to show people what I can do and to give a performance each night.

Franco Holguin

Hello! My name is Franco Holguin De la Torre (I know it is a long name; in my country we use the name of both parents). I was born in a place called Gomez Palacio, Durango, which is in the northwest of Mexico. I am a sophomore. My majors are communications and theater.  I love to act and sing. I am on the tennis team at UC, so if you read this, you should come watch our matches. I also love to play ping pong and soccer. I hope you enjoy the show.