Cape Girardeau first in online contest to bring Mandy Moore to graduation

Cape Girardeau Central High School is ranked first in an online competition to win an appearance by pop singer Mandy Moore at graduation.

The competition is offered through Eventful Inc., a San Diego-based Web site that allows users to discover, promote, share and create events worldwide.

"It's a cool way for big artists to connect with their fans," company representative Brianne Pins said Wednesday.

Fans visit the Eventful Web site, create "Demands" for any performer and use Eventful's viral, grassroots tools to spread the word and get other fans to join in and attract the performer to their city. According to Pins, Moore was contacted by Eventful when the artist announced her new CD, "Wild Hope," would be released this summer. Moore also begins her "Extraordinary" tour this summer.

Pins said Moore agreed to participate in Eventful's "Demand" service to connect with local fans. The competition started Monday and will end April 6.

To participate, high school students visit www.eventful.com and log requests on the Mandy Moore Demand section. Pins said each of the 10 finalist high schools will have until April 30 to submit a video explaining why their school is the best choice.

Moore will appear at the graduation ceremony of the winning high school, which will be announced in May.

"We are so excited to help Mandy Moore's fans win the chance to have her perform at their high school graduation," said Eventful CEO Jordan Glazier. "Eventful Demand is all about connecting the fans with their favorite artists and this in an extraordinary way to do it."

As of Wednesday, 407 people had logged onto the site requesting Mandy Moore's appearance at Central's graduation.

Since her first CD, "So Real," was released in 1999, Moore has starred in movies such as "The Princess Diaries," "A Walk To Remember," "Saved," "Chasing Liberty," "American Dreamz," "How To Deal" and "Because I Said So." She also released her own clothing line, MBLEM, which is sold in stores across the country.