St. Cyprian's Episcopal School students got a treat Thursday morning as one of the school's own, now on the fast track to a record deal, returned to give a performance and talk to the kids about "dreaming big."
When "American Idol" contestant and Lufkin native Kendall Beard walked the halls of St. Cyprian's as a small child, she said she never imagined she'd be back talking to students about her music career.
"It's so great to come back and talk to these kids who are sitting where I used to sit as a small child. It's like I'm having little flashbacks of coming in, in my uniform," Beard said. "They have the whole world in the palm of their little hands.
Delivering that message to the attentive group of students, Beard talked about the impact nine years at St. Cyprian's had on her life and the importance of education.
"This is the first place I remember singing," Beard said. "I used to sit in chapel every morning and sing. I haven't been back since everything has happened. I went off to college, graduated from college and then went to 'American Idol.' Getting my degree from University of Texas was really important to me — something that I'll always have to fall back on."
Beard then took questions from the eager audience as hands shot up across St. Cyprian's gym. One student asked about the record Beard is currently working on under the Revel Records label. Beard was just recently released from her "American Idol" contract, allowing her to return to recording and performing.
"This is my second album, but it will be my first full album," Beard replied. Revel Records, formerly known as Rough House Records, sold its naming rights to Sony but not before helping some big acts get started, Beard said.
"They helped artists like Lauryn Hill, Kris Kross and Aerosmith get started," Beard said. "I've been flying back and forth between Austin and Philadelphia a lot to write and record."
After the question and answer session wrapped up, Beard performed "Amazing Grace," "Our God is an Awesome God" and "Jesus Loves Me," asking the students to join in with her. Five-year-old Lauren Gentry said Beard sang really pretty. "It was really good," Gentry said with a shy shrug. Beard closed with words of encouragement. "Dream big," she said. "Always keep dreaming and keep working hard."