Local teens win 'American Idol' trips

Will the next American Idol be a Flathead Valley resident?

Will the next American Idol be a Flathead Valley resident?

Thanks to help from Eagles Aerie 234, three local teenagers will have the chance at national media exposure.

On Sunday night, Kerri Javorka won the Eagles' Flathead Idol competition (a local version of the hit FOX television show, "American Idol").

Kaci West was the runner-up.

Javorka, 18, won an all-expenses-paid trip to "American Idol" auditions in San Francisco and $500. West received $250 - and was surprised with the Eagles' offer to pay for her transportation to auditions for the TV show in Boston.

Third runner-up Liz Helder will accompany Javorka to San Francisco from Aug. 16 to 20.

"We made this pact before everything with the competition got started," Javorka said. "If one of us won, we would take the other."

The Eagles heard of that plan and passed around a hat at the end of the show to collect money to help Javorka and Helder and to collect extra cash for West to use in her venture. That effort brought in $737 that the two winners split.

Helder, 19, and Javorka have long been "kindred spirits" while in music and theater programs at Flathead High School, Helder said. They wanted to travel together to have mutual support while auditioning and navigating San Francisco.

"If you don't have anyone with you, you'll never be able to share that exact experience with someone," Helder said. "You can only tell people about it."

Helder is the daughter of Bob and Cathy Helder. Her mother trained both her and Javorka to sing. Javorka is the daughter of Michael and Joy Javorka.

The teens' friend Kirsten Suarez will join them on the trip, though she won't try out for "American Idol."

Javorka won the Flathead Idol competition with her vocal rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough."

Reporter Camden Easterling may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at ceasterling@dailyinterlake.com