Next Monday, Georgia Southern students will have the opportunity to attend the Student Government Association’s annual singing competition, GSU Idol, to kick off the homecoming week festivities.

The event will be held in the Russell Union ballroom at 7 p.m., and all proceeds will be donated to United Way.

GSU Idol, inspired by the popular show “American Idol,” is an annual singing competition on campus where students can compete while giving back to the community at the same time. Contestants have been choosing their songs and preparing since the end of October.

“I’m nervous, really nervous actually,” Tyler Kennedy, a GSU Idol contestant, said “But I think I’m ready for it.”

The show will be comprised of an opening number performed by all of the contestants followed by a first round in which contestants will each perform a song from the Billboard Top 100 that they have chosen.

“Four judges will pick one person each to move on, and the highest audience vote will pick the fifth person to go to the second round,” Josh Martin, SGA publicity coordinator said “The last five will have to sing a circus-themed or abstract song, and judges will pick the final two from that.”

GSU Idol is adopting the circus theme from homecoming week and applying that to not only the show’s music but also its atmosphere.

“Expect to be amazed when you walk into the ballroom,” Bonesya Bonner, a member of the GSU Idol committee, said, “It’s going to be transformed almost into a real circus. The decorations are going to be crazy.”

Circus-style concessions will be sold outside the ballroom, including peanuts and popcorn.

The finalists will perform “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson, and the winner will be voted for by the audience. Attendees may use their ticket stubs to cast their votes or pay $1 for each additional vote.

“I’m excited that we’ll be able to raise money for United Way because it’s SGA’s philanthropy,” Martin said “I’m also excited because these are all really talented people and are all really good at singing, so I am eager to see how they sing their songs and how the audience responds.”

United Way is a non-profit organization that works with 1,300 United Way offices throughout the country which are responsible for fundraising and supporting the community.

Its main focuses are on raising money for education, income and health. GSU Idol is SGA’s biggest fundraiser for United Way every year.

Contestants and SGA members alike are confident about the turnout and the quality of the performance itself.

“Expect to be amazed from the beginning to the end. It’s going to be a night to remember,” Bonner said.

Tickets will be sold all week at the Russell Union Rotunda for $5 or will be $7 at the door. For more information stop by the Russell Union or visit the Georgia Southern website.