Move aside, American Idols. Some talented Job Link students are poised to take your place on the stage.

A dozen Job Link students--plus several LEAP staff members, volunteers, and parents--traveled to Columbus March 27, where three of the students participated in the ASL (American Sign Language) Idol competition and two took home prizes.

On the way to the competition, the group stopped at the Columbus Colony Elderly Care, a nationally renowned facility that serves the needs of seniors who are deaf, deaf/blind, and hard of hearing. Students have been making and sending holiday and other cards for the residents at the home for several years, and the visit gave them the opportunity to meet their pen pals in person and to offer a dress rehearsal of their performances. Next the group toured the Ohio School for the Deaf.

Three students competed in the ASL Idol competition that evening. Leroy Woods performed a song named “Speedin.’”

Narvelle Smith, who aspires to a career in modeling and performing arts, took a student prize for his poem “I’m Lonely.”

Because she strongly believes that everyone needs to be aware of the tragic aftermath of Haiti’s earthquake, Matilda Patterson performed the song “Are You Listening?” by Kirk Franklin, which relates to that event. Patterson, who is considering competing in the Miss Deaf USA competition, won the 2010 Musign Award.

During intermission, Christopher Beard-Respress entertained the crowd by performing his rendition of Michael Jackson’s dances.

Financial support from South High School and from an anonymous donor made the trip possible and covered the cost of transportation, meals, and tickets to the ASL Competition show.

“These kids had never socialized much outside their own circle,” said Tammy Diamond, Job Link program coordinator. “Except for one student who attends Valley Forge High School, all the students attend South High School. Columbus is a Mecca for deaf culture, and this trip educated the students on the deaf community and deaf culture. We hope it will help them become more involved.”

“It was great to see them enjoying the competition,” Diamond continued. “It was an amazing experience for them to see 500 deaf people all in the same room.”

NOTE: After meeting the group from LEAP at the competition, members of the Ohio Association of the Deaf visited South High School on May 24 and presented a workshop on Leadership to South students.