And the Bluffton Eighth Grade Idol is...
There’s American Idol and then there’s Bluffton Eighth Grade Idol.
And the final round of the Bluffton contest was Friday with a packed house of middle school students cheering on their friends as four final contestants competed.
PHOTOS OF ALL CONTESTANTS AT BOTTOM OF STORY
Courtney McLaughlin came out on top with her performance of “Set Fire to the Rain,” by Adele.
Other finalists were Sean Casemier who performed “See You Tonight,” by Scottie Mccreery.
Damien Amsler performed “Come as You Are,” by Nirvana.
Zoe Kramer and Kaitlyn Montgomery performed “My Church,” by Maren Morris.
Judges were Megan Sycks, Conner Dawson, Patrick Rhone us and Alton Burkholder.
Following the four contestant performances, the judges performed and also the Bluffton High School show choir.
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, November 6, 2026
Thursday, November 5, 2026
Wednesday, November 4, 2026
- Klausing graduates from Ohio Bankers League Bank Management School
- Joellen Kay Lehman, 46, owned and operated Folly Faces
- Dec. 4-5 Messiah performances continue holiday tradition at Bluffton and Findlay
- Future Beaver Saturdays invite students to experience Bluffton University
- Ellie Bogart named BHS Student of the Month for October 2026
- Walter "Steve" Suter, 73, worked at Kirtland’s Auto Repair
- Grab an afterschool snack at the Bluffton Public Library