Evan Ruggiero, a senior Musical Theatre major at Montclair State University was recently featured in the Season 12 opening episode of the national television hit series, American Idol. For his audition, Ruggiero sang for the judges while accompanying himself on the guitar. Although his performance was well received and the judges offered encouraging remarks and expressed admiration, he did not move on to the next round of American Idol in Hollywood.

A cancer survivor who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma at the age of 19 in his sophomore year at Montclair State, Ruggiero’s story and appearance on American Idol has been an inspiration to many and has even garnered national media attention including a mention in the Today Show’s “The Clicker.”

Watch the video of Evan Ruggiero on American Idol.