Elise makes a surprise visit to CCU

By Diane Fabiano, Office of Alumni Relations

On Friday afternoon, May 4, Elise Testone called to say she was in town and wanted to stop by to visit CCU. She even offered an interview to "Coastal Today," CCU's cable TV show, while she was on campus. She had just been voted off "American Idol" the previous week and felt it was the least she could do after all of CCU’s support throughout the competition. 

Elise pulled up to Atheneum Hall and stepped out looking just like the star that she is. It has become difficult for her to go anywhere anymore where she is not recognized! She greeted me and close friends David Bankston, Nelljean Rice and Dan O’Reilly with smiles and hugs. (Bankston and O'Reilly were her voice professors when she was a music student here. Rice's late husband Paul was her mentor, and Nelljean is a close friend.)

I had not seen her since she left to be on the show, but we immediately started cracking jokes and making fun of one another as usual. Elise then graciously posed for photos with President and Mrs. DeCenzo along with some CCU faculty and staff, signed autographs and gave an interview to Martha Hunn for the "Coastal Today" show. Since it was the day before May Commencement, Senior Celebration was already in full swing outside on the Blanton Lawn, so Elise joined me and Nelljean Rice as we walked over to the event.

She was immediately recognized by many CCU soon-to-be graduates and their families who were also fans. Once again she happily posed for photo after photo and spent time chatting with each person who came up to her. It was clear how much her fans and everyone’s support means to her. Nelljean and I were beaming with pride even though she was still just “the same old Elise” to us.

Though she was just in South Carolina for a few days before returning to Los Angeles for the "American Idol" finale show, Elise, being the kind person that she is, took time out of her busy schedule to make at stop at her alma mater. Next on Elise’s agenda will be the "American Idol Live Tour," which will perform all over the country. The tour kicks off July 6 in Detroit and finishes up Sept. 11 in Milwaukee. You can see her perform in concert when the tour stops in Charleston on Aug. 6, so get your tickets! Although Elise may not have won the title of American Idol, she is still going places and will continue to make the CCU family proud!