Want to tell everybody you went to school with a star? Your chance may be coming very soon. Former Sinclair Community College student Sherrie Portis is a top-9 finalist competing to win a $20,000, year-long contract on WBDT-TV’s “Dayton CW Star.”
In addition to the money and year-long opportunity, the winner will be provided wardrobe and makeup while on air and making appearances in the community.
All 10 of the finalists have been selected.
“I’m so excited.” Portis said. “Sinclair really gave me the confidence that I needed to get up and go to the audition.”
Portis is now attending Wright State University. Shasta Scarberry, the brand manager for WBDT-TV, said that the contestants will be monitored at Wright State during an event to determine how well they interact with crowds.
“One of the main things the winner will be doing is going into the community spreading information and excitement about upcoming Dayton events,” Portis said. “The competition is about a lot more than looks and writing skills. It’s very much about how well we interact.”
Scarberry describes the competition as “a great opportunity for building a resume and resume tape because the talent that we select will be on air and in the community as the face of WBDT-TV.”
Therefore, Portis said she saw it as a huge accomplishment that she was selected by the judges to automatically advance into the competition, and not have to fight for the 10th and final position as a contestant.
“I was so scared to call and find out whether or not I had been selected that at one point I decided I wasn’t going to call at all,” said Portis. “I just couldn’t take being told I hadn’t been selected. On a Tuesday, they called me and told me I had been selected and I screamed so loud that I didn’t even hear whether or not I was in the top 9, or would be one of the 24 semi-finalists who would compete. All I knew was this was a major opportunity for me and my family.”
Portis said she has a very supportive husband and daughter.
“I always told my daughter not to allow fear to lead her. For me, this was leading by example. Eventually, I want my own talk show, but until I have one, I will be ambitiously seeking work at a newspaper and taking any opportunity that comes along. I already told them if I don’t win this time around, I will be back next January,” Portis said.
This is WBDT-TV’s first year running the competition, and they are planning to hold open auditions every following January, according to Scarberry.
“The best advice I can give anyone is to do research about the station before applying. It’s not about how cute you are,” Portis said. “Don’t sell yourself. Be yourself.”
To follow and show your support for Sherrie Portis, please visit the WBDT website or tune in to the WBDT station. The winner of the season will be announced the week of March 21.