Garrett Vogel of Staten Island, a May 2006 graduate, has won the Red Carpet correspondent competition for MTV’s Video Music Awards. The show will take place August 31 at Radio City Music Hall.

He was one of three finalists for the this prestigious award. There were also three MTV2 behind-the-scenes control room finalists from which a winner was to be selected.

As the Red Carpet correspondent, Vogel will attend special concerts prior to the show, have backstage access to celebrities during the show and interview all who grace the red carpet the night of the show. To select a winner for the MTV Red Carpet correspondent and a winner for the MTV2 control room competitions, interested individuals had to go to http://www.jcpenney.mtv.com to watch the audition videos the week of August 14-18 and to cast their vote.

Vogel initially read about open try-outs in “The Staten Island Advance.” Nearly forgetting about it, he saw a try-out sign the next week while walking in the Staten Island Mall and decided to try-out that day. As part of the audition process, he read from a cue card on stage into a camera as if he was reporting from the red carpet at the Video Music Awards program. He also had to improvise, pretending to interview celebrities who arrive for the show.

The judges for Vogel’s try-out were MTV personalities such as Tyler from “Real World Key West,” Randy from “Real World San Diego,” and an MTV executive. “I was lucky enough to fall into the range of 18-24 and had the “high energy” they were looking for that day,” said Vogel.

“I have always wanted to pursue a job in the entertainment field,” said Vogel. “I know that I have to be involved with something that allows me to reach a mass audience. Rider has prepared me well to work in the industry. I especially enjoyed learning from such amazing teachers as Dr. Barry Janes, Dr. Rick Turner, Dr. Myra Gutin, Dr. Jonathan Millen and Shawn Kildea.”

While at Rider, Vogel was a member of the Student Entertainment Council (SEC). He also worked as a disc jockey for the University’s Pub. A graduate of Monsignor Farrell High School, he is the son of Fred and Maureen Vogel.