‘Idol’ celebrity wows local day campers

William Hung
greets young fans at
North Brunswick facility
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer

PHOTOSBY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff “American Idol” contestant William Hung greets Kawshik Dhanyamraya of North Brunswick and Frankie Troncosco of Monmouth Junction, both 9, after Hung performed at the Mill Road Day Camp in North Brunswick last week.

NORTH BRUNSWICK — William Hung may not have a great singing voice, but he does have a lot of heart.

"It is great to do something and make a lot of people happy at the same time," Hung said during a recent appearance at the Mill Road Day Camp in North Brunswick.

Hung, who became a national celebrity after a failed audition for Fox Television’s "American Idol," performed in front of the camp’s approximately 650 students and 200 staff members to kick off the annual Colors Contest.

According to Susan Glazer of Manalapan, associate camp director, the contest consists of two teams — red and white — that take part in a variety of athletic and "wacky" events to become the champion for the year.

Above, a very excited crowd gathered to hear Hung sing. At right, Hung poses with campers, including Eric Lebovitch, 12, of East Brunswick, and Scott Berlin, 13, of Monroe.

"It is all about winning the contest," Glazer said.

Glazer said that while there is no prize for the winner, bragging rights for winning the contest have become a tradition at the camp.

Mill Road Day Camp has been operating since 1972 and has had the same owners for the past 29 years, according to the camp’s Web site.

Burt Blittner of Marlboro, one of the owner-directors, said he worked for the past month with Jerry Waldron, an administrative coordinator at the camp, to get Hung to the facility to start the contest event.

Hung became nationally known for his less-than-smooth rendition of Ricky Martin’s "She Bangs."

A Berkeley University student who studies civil engineering, Hung said that he had no professional training in music but wanted to try to make a living at it.

While Hung’s audition did not move him into the "American Idol" competition, he developed a following of loyal supporters throughout the nation and now makes personal appearances.

"I want to thank everyone for their support. It is great," Hung said.

The campers and staff cheered his performance and joined in singing "We Are the Champions" during his visit.

While Hung took pictures with campers and staff inside the stage, campers outside spoke about their excitement meeting the celebrity.

"He is my American idol. He is funny. The real [American] Idol contestants are not funny. William has talent," Edison resident Leah Goldberg said.

Craig Pollack, 13, of East Bruns-wick enjoyed the surprise guest as well.

"It was a very good performance. He was unsophisticated," Pollack said.

Daniel Heitner, 12, of Marlboro, knew who Hung was before his visit and was surprised to actually meet him.

"I thought, ‘Oh my, it’s William Hung!’ He was funny," Heitner said.

South River camper Koral Novack, 13, said she didn’t think it would really be him.

"I thought it would be someone impersonating him," Novack said.

Rachel Friedrich, 14, of Monroe, agreed.

"I didn’t actually think we would meet him," she said.

Four campers from East Brunswick thought that Hung delivered a great performance and that he should have moved ahead in the "American Idol" competition.

Arjun Adarkar, 15; Jordan Pease, 13; Deanna Roberman, 14; and Ellen Kupferberg, 15, said that Hung was "awesome" and had great moves on stage.

"He should’ve been the idol," Kupferberg said.

Shari Nobile, 13, of Plainsboro, agreed.

"William Hung is the best. Better than the rest. Shut up, [Idol judge] Simon [Cowell]," Nobile said.