"American Idol" star Clay Aiken returned to his alma mater to present a $20,000 donation to the school and perform during halftime at a men's basketball game.
The game between the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and East Carolina on Saturday was the first sellout of the season, and hundreds of teenage fans were waving signs in Aiken's honor.
Aiken, wearing jeans and a green No. 49 Charlotte basketball jersey with Aiken on the back, performed "The Way" and "Invisible" at halftime of Charlotte's 81-65 win over East Carolina.
"It's great to be back here," Aiken told the crowd of 9,105. Aiken waived his appearance fee in exchange for the donation, which was paid by private sponsors.
Aiken, who was runner-up in the popular "American Idol" television show last year, graduated from Charlotte in December.