Kevin Covais: Now a Robodawg

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It's official! American Idol's Kevin Covais is now a member of the Island Trees Robodawgs.


Covais returns home an idol

BY MIKE KOEHLER
Newsday Staff Writer

April 1, 2006

Kevin Covais, the 16-year-old "American Idol" finalist from Levittown, may have been nicknamed "Chicken Little," but there was nothing diminutive about the pep rally his school threw for him on Friday.

Several hundred students and faculty members filled a gymnasium at Island Trees High School to celebrate the return of Covais, who made it to the final 11 on the show.

There was no shortage of local bigwigs to congratulate him, either, including Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray, Island Trees Superintendent James Parla, principal William Kealy and representatives of Assemb. Joseph Saladino and state Sen. Kemp Hannon.

None revved the screaming crowd as Covais did when he was introduced.

Marie Murray Mango, who represented Saladino, gave Covais a citation as well as an ego boost. "Kevin, you're not only an American Idol but you're an American dream," she said.

Murray handed him a giant CD with his name on it.

"I hear all the ladies cheering for you, Kevin," Murray said. "I heard on Fox 5 News that you didn't have a girlfriend yet."

Without hesitation, someone in the crowd volunteered.

Covais received a plaque from the school district, an honorary membership from the robotics team and a stack of "Idol-grams" -- fan mail -- collected from patrons of the school's recent performance of "Anything Goes."

"I can't thank you guys enough," Covais said.

After the rally, friends, teachers and autograph-seekers surrounded Covais for an hour before he excused himself.

"I set up the microphone he sung into, and now he's a star," said Mike Lambrogio, 18, who has known Covais for six years. "He's gonna end up being on the cover of a CD someday, and he deserves it all."

As the crowd departed, Marissa Giambellua, 17, captured the sentiment of the afternoon: "We love him!"