RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Sixty-two active duty Airmen - singers, dancers, musicians and technicians - converged on Lackland Air Force Base, Nov. 5 -13, for the annual Worldwide Talent
Contest.
By the end of the grueling week, 11 emerged as the best, taking home "Roger" awards for first place and "Wilco" awards for second place.
Among the winners was Staff Sgt. Keith Loudermill, a Team Randolph member who works at the Air Force Personnel Center officer's assignments section. He was awarded the "Wilco" award in the male vocalist category.
"It was a true honor to win at the World Wide Talent Contest this year," Sergeant
Loudermill said. "There were a lot of great performers, with extraordinary talent."
Air Force Worldwide Talent is a lot more than vocalists and musicians battling it out
for the coveted Roger award. Behind the scenes a whole other type of competition
was going on. This was the first year that contestants competed for "Best Tech."
Technicians were brought in just like the contestants, but instead of performing on
stage, they did their work backstage. They were stage hands, audio or video technicians, even lighting techs.
The contestants also participated in a program called "Giving Back," where they were coached by a prior Tops In Blue cast member and visited local area nursing homes, child development centers and hospitals.
In addition to competing for Worldwide Talent Contest honors, the Airmen also were auditioning for a spot on the famous Tops In Blue roster.
Sergeant Loudermill was selected to join the 60th Anniversary Tops in Blue 2007 tour.
"I feel that I have grown vocally and as a performer since my first tour with Tops In Blue in 2002," he said. "I am proud to have been selected."
Sergeant Loudermill reports to Lackland AFB in January for next year's tour and begins traveling in the spring.
Other winners in the Worldwide Talent competition were: Male Vocalist: First place, Senior Airman Rick Rosales, Osan Air Base, Korea. Female Vocalist: First, Senior Airman Alicia Tucker, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio and second, Staff Sgt. Graciela Diaz,
Schriever AFB, Colo. Instrumentalist: First, Senior Airman Steve Froeber, Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz. and second, Staff Sgt. Michael Methven, Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
Vocal Self-Accompanied: First, Capt. Alexander Ruiz, Malmstrom AFB, Mont. and second, Staff Sgt. Rodney Mays, Aviano AB, Italy Specialty: First, Airman Katrina Soler,
Dyess AFB, Texas and second Airman 1st Class April Vollm, Dyess AFB Top Tech: Airman 1st Class Matthew Armijo, Ramstein AB, Germany Best of Show: Captain Ruiz, Malmstrom AFB.