Last modified: Thursday, January 17, 2008 1:08 PM PST Steve Cook (from left), former American Idol contestant Bucky Covington and Ducky Medlock performed ‘Good to be us’ at Vale High School Tuesday. The concert was made possible after Vale High School won a fundraiser competition through a Boise-area radio station. A touch of fame By Brielle Kennington Argus Observer VALE — A Vale High School student’s love for country music, desire to help children, combined with a lot of help from the community, led to a visit and mini-concert at the high school by a former American Idol contestant. William Joel “Bucky” Covington III and his band performed before a packed house at Vale High School Tuesday. Covington hit the fame train when he placed eighth during the fifth season of the popular Fox Network show. The TV show proved to be a big break for Covington, who was relatively unknown until his appearance on American Idol. In January 2007 he released the single “A Different World” and released a self-titled album last April. That album hit Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart at No. 1. At first glance it would seem Covington and Vale would have very little in common. Enter Vale High School senior Hillary Garred, 17. One day Garred, a country music lover, was on her way home from school and listening to Boise’s KIZN 92.3 FM. As she listened she heard the station was promoting its “Keep Kids Warm,” program and offering a special prize to any school in the Treasure Valley that raised the most money in January: A live, mini-concert by Covington. All a school needed to do to participate was give the station a call and gather some details. The more Garred thought about it, the more the idea gained momentum. Garred also said she initially thought about taking on the “Keep Kids Warm,” effort as her senior project but the effort did not fit into her career path of nursing. She said she decided to do it anyway because she wanted to help children and because she loves country music. Garred proposed the idea to her senior project teacher, Jeri Schaffeld, and her English and leadership teacher, Shannon Dobney. They both agreed to help her and gained the OK from VHS Principal Les Keele. The race to bring an emerging country star to rural Vale was on. The competition, Garred said, was intense because Vale was up against larger schools from the Boise metro area. Garred posted fliers and asked businesses in the community to help. Slowly, the effort began to pay off. Students at VHS, for example, raised $300 just within the school, plus  were other donations from local merchants and organizations. “There is a lot of Viking pride, so everybody helps,” Garred said. KIZN 92.3 FM employees Steve Shannon said despite Boise’s size, the station felt it would probably be a smaller school that claimed the top prize in the competition. “We kinda thought it would be an outlying school because small communities pull together,” Shannon said. In Vale’s case, he was right. The school claimed first place among a number of schools, paving the way for Covington’s visit. Garred heard the good news during lunch Monday along with 300 other Vale High School Vikings. The students were so ecstatic about Covington’s appearance they made posters and a banner that reads “We’re lucky 4 Bucky.” Tuesday, Garred said the school was excited about Covington’s visit. “There are a lot more people wearing cowboy boots today. I get to introduce him to the assembly,” Garred said Tuesday. When Covington appeared at the VHS gym, students roared with excitement and applause. He and his band performed “Good to be Us” followed by “My Hometown.” Covington was unable to sign autographs because of an injury he suffered while camping. Covington apparently suffered a grease burn on his hand. “If you ever burn yourself, I’ll tell ya, mayonnaise,” Covington said. Even though Garred was unable to count this as her senior project, she said the effort was well worth the pay off. Garred ended up choosing to do a seminar for seventh- and eighth- grade girls in the middle school on human papillomavirus. After she graduates with her class of 89 fellow students she said she is hoping to attend Eastern Oregon University in La Grande and enter its nursing program. Along with her high school diploma, Garred will also receive her associates of arts from TVCC in June. In the future, she said she wishes to live in the area with her family. If that is not possible, she said any small town will do.