Evie sings like a super star for Rotorua

By CHERIE TAYLOR in Rotorua
Evie AshtonTessa Marks was glued to her television set last night in preparation for voting.
No, it wasn't the elections. She was watching the first of the latest New Zealand interactive, reality, entertainment shows - Sing Like A Super Star - because contestant Evie Ashton has chosen Rotorua's School for Young Parents to take the cash if she wins.
An ex-Rotorua Girls' High School student, Evie Ashton is a former Flipside and Good Morning presenter and is currently a presenter for The Edge radio station in Auckland. She was joined on television by 11 other celebrities including TV and sporting stars, radio announcers and a couple of beauty pageant winners. Tessa, 18, who is the mother of 4-month-old Johdeci Te Kani, said she and her classmates were intent on supporting Ms Ashton who would be giving any winnings to the School for Young Parents for an education scholarship. "We all want to see how well she does. It's going to be good to have a scholarship we can rely on in the future."
Rotorua School for Young Parents teacher Wendy Robinson said any money raised from Evie's performance would be commandeered for a scholarship fund for students.
"This is just amazing for the school. We couldn't believe our luck. This will help to remove some of the financial barriers so students can continue their education," she said.
Sahar Thomson, 19, said it wasn't easy to find the money for further education with two-year-old twins Jason and Vincent to take care of.
"I think we deserve to be chosen because we have put a lot of work into being here with our children and finding an education. It's hard for us to find money for tertiary studies," she said.
However, Evie had confided in the teachers that she wasn't a great singer, Ms Robinson said.
"She said she couldn't sing that well but we said that was okay because Tim [Shadbolt] wasn't much of a dancer either," she said of the Dancing With The Stars idol.
Ms Ashton said she had chosen the Rotorua school because of her past links with the community and her desire to see young people achieve.
It hadn't been an easy choice.
"There are so many worthwhile charities out there but I think these schools are great and I wanted to encourage the cycle of success. Success begets success, I believe," she said.
She admits to not being a solid gold star but is prepared to "give it a go" for the girls."