Magdalena Nguyen has won the title of 2024 KC SuperStar, the top spot in The J’s high school singing competition and largest fundraiser, which raised over $1.2 million this year.
The finals event, held on Aug. 25, also included comedian Matt Friend as celebrity host and performer. WDAF Fox 4 television anchor Abby Eden served as emcee for the evening. Carol and David Porter served as co-chairs of KC SuperStar.
With the theme, “Put Your Records On,” the 10 finalists performed some of the top hits of the recording industry. To honor the 10th anniversary of the 2014 shooting outside of The J and Village Shalom which took the lives of Reat Underwood, his grandfather Dr. William Corporon and Terri LaManno, and the subsequent founding of SevenDays, the finalists performed “Free Bird,” an original music piece written by Michaelah Weaver, KC SuperStar co-music director. Weaver won the 2015 SevenDays songwriting competition with “Free Bird.”
“Everyone at The J and on the KC SuperStar team was pleased to see such a great crowd attend and cheer on the 10 finalists,” said Tammy Ruder, KC SuperStar producer. “A sense of community is felt throughout the evening which is so inspiring and is a reflection of one of The J’s values of ‘kehillah,’ building community, in practice.”
In addition to Friend’s comedy set, 2023 KC SuperStar winner Brett Oplotnik returned to perform for the audience.
The group of 10 finalists was whittled down to the top four singers by a three-judge panel of entertainment professionals: Richard McCroskey, Millie Edwards Nottingham and Amanda Flynn. The audience then voted for the top prize winners. Magdalena Nguyen, a graduate of Blue Valley Northwest, took the title of 2024 KC SuperStar and was awarded a $10,000 scholarship. Janelle Marshall, a Blue Springs High School senior, was chosen as the second place winner of a $5,000 scholarship. Third place went to Bennett Chapman, a Liberty High School graduate receiving a $2,500 scholarship. Fourth place winner went to Jenna Holland, an Oak Park High School graduate, who received a $1,000 scholarship. The remaining finalists each received $500 scholarships.
In its 15 years, KC SuperStar has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships for individuals and families. Because of community generosity, The J has been able to provide more than $1.4 million in financial assistance and subsidies to families and individuals in need.
