BPC names new Baron Idol

2011 Baron Idol judges, (l-r): BPC Acting President Dr. Mike Simoneaux, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach Jana Baggett, Associate Professor of History Dr. Ian Crowe and Pastor Adrian Bell of First Baptist Church of Uvalda. (Photo by Raymond Minks)

By Kelley M. Arnold

Director of News and Public Information

MOUNT VERNON— Brewton-Parker College’s Baptist Collegiate Ministries raised $3,128 at the fifth annual Baron Idol fundraiser talent competition Thursday, March 24 in Saliba Chapel. These funds will be used to support BCM’s involvement in the Georgia Baptist Convention’s
“Summer Missions” program across the globe.

Andrew Tucker performs his version of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison”, “Thompson Prison” at Baron Idol 2011. Thompson is one of the college’s male residence halls. (Photo by Raymond Minks)

Eleven entries competed for the coveted campus title, demonstrating their talents in dance, song and stand-up comedy. In the end, only one Baron Idol act could be named, and this year’s winners are the Tillery Brothers, Jonathan and Carson. The Tillery Brothers sang the folk song “Wagon Wheel” by Bob Dylan and Old Crow Medicine Show, with Jonathan providing guitar and harmonica accompaniment.

This was the first year the college has opened the competition up to the community. The Tillerys are members of the First Baptist Church of Vidalia. Audience members voted for the 2011 Baron Idol winners.

O.T. Burden performs an interpretive dance at Baron Idol 2011. (Photo by Raymond Minks)

Stephen Hall received a standing ovation for his dance routine of popular dance songs from the 1950s to present day. Baron Idol participants included the solo acts of Dale Wilkes (comedy), Andrew Tucker (sing/guitar), O.T. Burden (interpretive dance), Suzanna Moye (sing), Sedric Barlow (sing), Tori Simpson (sing) and Hall, and the duos of Joshua Fletcher and Caleb Crews (comedy/sing/guitar), the Tillerys, and defending Baron Idol champs, Bryan Mauldin and Williams Braswell (sing/guitar). Girl group Marissa Brown, Tori Frazier, Casey Harrell, Courtni Fritts, Lauralee Price, Ashley Wise, Tiffany Knowles and Lindsey Collins performed a dance routine.

Jonathan Tillery (right) and his brother, Carson, perform at Baron Idol 2011. (Photo by Raymond Minks)

Baron Idol judges provided comic relief and encouragement, when merited, throughout the program. This year’s judges were Dr. Ian Crowe, associate professor of history; Pastor Adrian Bell of FBC Uvalda; Dr. Mike Simoneaux, acting president; and, Jana Baggett, assistant women’s basketball coach.

Tori Simpson performs at Baron Idol 2011. (Photo by Raymond Minks)

According to BCM advisor and BPC campus minister Lauren Parnell, hundreds of students have the opportunity to participate in “Summer Missions”, which is funded through campus events like Baron Idol. This program, organized by the Georgia Baptist Convention’s State BCM, allows students to serve alongside ministries within the state, the nation and across the world. Another similar program is “Hands On”. This program allows students to go on mission trips for an entire semester and sometimes longer. Brewton-Parker currently has three students serving with “Hands On”.

Affiliated with the Georgia Baptist Convention, Brewton-Parker College is the only accredited four-year Christian college in south Georgia.

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