Cook Named Outstanding Alumnus during Fantastical Campus Concert

In a year filled with exceptional music achievements, 2008 American Idol and UCM alumnus David Cook has added the University of Central Missouri Outstanding Recent Alumni Award to a growing collection of honors.

Cook was visibly emotional after receiving the award from Margaret Herron, president of the UCM Alumni Association, and Becky Klein, association vice president. The presentation followed Cook's sold-out UCM concert, part of his nationwide college and university tour.

Cook's long-anticipated homecoming was one for the records. Imagine several generations of alumni and fans, spanning 80-plus years in age, crammed into Hendricks Hall, screaming and applauding the ear-splitting blast of Cook's contemporary rock. Today caught up with Cook prior to his evening performance to ask about his life.

Today: What's it like coming back?

Cook: It's really cool for me. This was the one I really had in mind when the college tour was brought up. Everybody says they found themselves in college, and I'm no exception.

Today: Do you think fame has changed you?

Cook: To be on talk shows and all this stuff, don't get me wrong, it's fun. But in the end, it doesn't matter a whole lot; I just want to go out and play music. I want to entertain people and put out good records. So I guess I just don't get caught up in it.

Today: Is there anything you would want to say to our audience of 75,000 alumni and friends?

Cook: I don't think the experience would have been the same without my class and my teachers and the university itself and the alumni and the investments they have put into the university, so just a thanks across the board. I don't know that any other experience would have allowed me to do what I am doing now.

Today: Current love interest?

Cook: Music, that's about it!

Listen to our complete interview with Cook online in the sidebar on the left.

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