The Pioneer Student Center had spectators crowded onto both floors March 6 to watch contestants compete for firstplace in UW-Platteville’s Pioneer Idol.

Contestants consisted of nine UW-P students, four females and five males. Contestants ranged from sorority members, to a brave freshman, and even a duet by two brothers. The performers played a variety of music including; Rihanna, Bob Dylan, Matchbox 20 and even self-written songs.

Along with the performers, comedian Adam Ace humored the crowd between acts while the winners were being selected. He had members of the crowd on stage for “booty-dancing” and even a bit of cross-dressing.

“I was inspired to do this because I enjoy working with the students and seeing how different campuses do things,” Ace said.

After eight acts and nine performers, judges deliberated while Ace entertained the crowd and finally selected the winners. Ben Wians, freshman engineering major won first place, winning a video camera, with a song he wrote himself.

“It feels great,” Wians said after winning and before his crowd-encouraged encore.

Second place went to the Barlow brothers, general engineering major Benjamin and math major Rudy, who played a duet, winning a digital picture frame.

In third place was music education major Emily Hackl, who won a digital media player.

“Putting everything together only took about a week or so,” Hackl said. “I was nervous getting up in front of everybody but it turned out to be a great experience.”

“I was extremely nervous but my friends and family were very supportive and helped me through it,” communications major and contestant Christine Verseman said.

Pioneer Idol is funded by Campus Programming Relations every March.

“There was a lot of variety in the music performed,” said Jessica Weber, English and Spanish education major. “Pioneer Idol was a fun way to spend Saturday night.”