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When they left Thursday night for the 2008 International Gospel Choir Olympics, Ben L. Smith High's Gospel Choir was still pulling together the donations to make the trip.

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"We barely reached our goal, but people stepped it up for us," said the choir director, Deon Clark. "We were literally raising money up until it was time to go, but we were determined to get there."

That determination paid off. The choir returned early Monday with Gospel Choir Olympics's top prize, plus top honors in the youth division of National Pathmark Gospel Choir Competition, a separate competition in New York City.

"We were really excited just to be a part of it all, so to go up there and actually win it all was even bigger for us," Clark said.

The 30-year-old Gospel Olympics, sponsored by the Black Music Caucus of New York, also awarded Smith honors for gospel selection with accompaniment, a cappella gospel selection, gospel selection with choreography, original gospel composition by student and musically inspired dance ensemble.

Dominique Wharton, who helped start the choir a little more than a year ago, took home top honors as male soloist and student director.

"I am honored, truly. I still can't believe it," Wharton said.

Wharton was especially excited about the group's award for original gospel composition.

"Tracy Bell, the young lady who helped get this choir started, helped me work on this song for the group," Wharton said. "When we performed it in New York, we did it perfectly,"

Clark said that the group couldn't have ever gotten to New York without the help of the community. In January, the group was about $8,000 short of its $20,000 fundraising goal for the trip.

To show their gratitude to the community, Clark said the choir plans a free concert sometime in March.

"We are thankful for those who believed in us and hope that we have made our community proud," Clark said. "I know that I am proud of them."

The choir will begin rehearsals as early as next week in preparation to record a live CD in the spring.

Clark said the prize money the group won from the competitions will go toward the production of their album.

"We're definitely going to keep on going. This has shown that all things are possible, and we are moving forward," he said.

Contact Adria Hairston at 883-4422, Ext. 244 or adria.hairston@news-record.com