Neal Boyd to attend Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming activities

"America's Got Talent" winner Neal E. Boyd will ride in the Southeast Missouri State University Homecoming parade on Saturday and accept a Distinguished Service Award from the university, a university news release sent out today reported.

University officials had previously thought the Sikeston, Mo., native wouldn't be able to attend Homecoming activities due to a hectic schedule. Boyd, a tenor who received a $1 million prize for winning NBC's "America's Got Talent" earlier this month, told the Southeast Missourian in an interview recently that a hectic schedule may keep him from coming back to the area for some time.

"… My schedule, and the new people in my life, the handlers, are really, are taking advantage of the moment, and it's important that they do, or it could all go away real quick, as quick as it came," Boyd said.

But university officials were recently notified that Boyd would indeed be able to attend the events on Saturday, today's news release said.

Boyd earned his bachelor’s degree in speech communication from Southeast in 2001. At the same time he was taking classes at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where he had transferred in 2000 to receive more vocal training. While taking classes at both school’s Boyd won the 2000 National Collegiate Artist Voice Competition of the Music Teachers National Association.

The university started the Distinguished Service Award in 2002. An internal committee selects recipients based on nominations.

Recipients are people who have "brought distinction to the university. They really stand out and put Southeast in the spotlight," said Shad Burner, director of alumni services.

Other recipients this year are Three Rivers Community College basketball coach Gene Bess of Poplar Bluff, Mo. and educator Dr. Jerry Waddle of Cape Girardeau.

The last television star to be recognized by the university was Cedric "The Entertainer" Kyles, who received the Alumni Merit Award last year.

Burner said Boyd is not scheduled to sing. He said Boyd has been an

"advocate" for Southeast.

"He has degrees from other institutions as well, but he has worked hard to come back to Southeast. I think he thinks of us as home. That he's putting so much effort to make it back really means a lot to us," Burner said.

The Distinguished Service Award will be given at an All-Alumni Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. at the Wehking Alumni Center, 926 Broadway. Tickets for the breakfast are $10, and a limited number are available by calling 651-2259.

The parade begins at 9:30 a.m. at Capaha Park.

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