A handful of recent graduates, along with a number of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, spent much of the 2007-08 academic year volunteering at Spectrum for Living in Teaneck. Nicole Kellemen, Karen Martinez, Melissa Mendoza, Ashley Ramirez and Natalie Rincon, all members of the Class of 2008, were joined by underclassmen Jane Lim, Chrisanne Kellemen, Paola Martinez, Michael Murphy, Frinee Rincon and Alicia Distafi.

Some of the students hadn’t heard of Spectrum until Lim mentioned it to her classmates. Lim, who had just transferred to Bogota from the Northern Valley Regional School District, told her classmates she had been volunteering at the New Jersey-based not for profit organization, and the idea quickly grew on the other students.

According to Ramirez, the group visited Spectrum in Teaneck and was quickly hooked. There, they shared the same mission that Spectrum promotes: to give clients regular things to do at any given level.

Spectrum for Living is a New Jersey-based not-for-profit organization that allows the individuals with developmental and/or physical disabilities are given the opportunity to live healthy, safe and enjoyable lives. Spectrum clients can create loving relationships with people whom they care about and who care about them and have freedom from physical and institutional barriers that prevent them from living independent lives.

According to Marie Hacker, volunteer coordinator at Spectrum, the organizations for years sent letters to schools seeking student volunteers but to no avail. When the group from BHS stepped forward, it was a match made in heaven.

Hacker said the Spectrum clients immediately attached to the volunteers, who also developed a close-knit bond with each adult.

"The volunteers were wonderful, mature and compassionate. They did an excellent job," Hacker said.

While working with the Spectrum clients, Ramirez and her friends developed the idea of Spectrum Idol, a spin off of the popular "American Idol" television singing contest. To train the clients for the event, the BHS students spent Monday and Wednesday afternoons at Spectrum.

"We couldn’t let the clients down," Ramirez said, who referred to her time volunteering at Spectrum as "amazing."

"To see people gain such confidence over such a short period of time has been truly amazing."

That confidence translated into last month’s Spectrum Idol performances, which the BHS volunteers worked one on one with the clients to arrange. The show, which took place at the Teaneck center, wowed friends, family, Spectrum workers and a panel of five judges.

Spectrum Idol contestants performed a variety of songs, including Keith’s "Here and Now," Robert’s version of "Walk the Line," James’ rendition of "Yesterday," and John’s show-stopping "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious."

Though judges awarded medals to contestants in several categories (Best Country Vocal, Best R&B Vocal, among others), the board recognized Keith’s moving routine as the best overall performance.

Confined to a wheelchair, Keith was floating on air when his name was announced. Tears rolled down his face as he delivered his acceptance speech.

Again, most of his words were muffled.

But there was no misunderstanding his confidence and joy.