SARASOTA – With her renditions of the songs “Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend” and “Top Of The World,” Pine View School junior Kaitlyn Terpstra captured the title of High School Idol in the sixth annual competition televised by The Education Channel. Terpstra won second place in High School Idol 5 in 2009.

The final round of High School Idol 6 was held Jan. 18 at the Players Theatre in Sarasota. Emily Mounce at Venice High School won second place singing "Over Me" and "Astonishing." Josie Fleming at Booker High School took third place with her interpretations of "My Immortal " and "Caught A Touch Of Your Love."

The competition was sponsored by the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, which provided $400 and $200 scholarships, respectively, to the second and third-place winners; and philanthropist Omar Cooper who funded a $2,000 scholarship to Terpstra as the first-place winner. The first prize also includes a year of professional mentoring with Players Theatre artistic director Jeffery Kin, who also served as a judge for High School Idol 6.

Gift cards were provided to the contestants by a number of local merchants, including New Balance Sarasota/University Park, Oaks Open Pit BBQ, Double Edge Media, West Coast Interiors of Siesta Key, Inc and Bryn-Alan Photography.

High School Idol is The Education Channel’s most popular series. More than 300 students from across Sarasota County have sought the High School Idol title in the past six years. Through several rounds of competition, the event culminates in a live production as the finalists sing to an audience.

The final competition airs beginning Monday, January 25 on The Education Channel (Comcast 20, Verizon 33), a service of Sarasota County Schools. The complete schedule for the High School Idol 6 finals and other station programming is available under PROGRAMS on this website.