NORWOOD PARK — Teen pop star Shawn Mendes on Friday met students and performed at Resurrection College Prep High School, 7500 W. Talcott Ave., after students won a contest to bring him to the school.
"This is really cool for me, because you get lost in this world where you're performing these big shows across the world," Mendes told the students. "So to come to a school and perform for a school of 500 people, it feels like coming back to what started everything for me."
Earlier this year, textbook company Chegg and the anti-smoking organization Truth co-sponsored a promotion to bring Mendes — plus a $10,000 check for music education — to whichever school voted online the most times.
Senior Shannon Borner launched a massive campaign in August to claim the "Treat You Better" singer for Resurrection, calling him "inspiring to young people across the world," school spokeswoman Kathleen Heneghan said.
"The girls saw the opportunity and they just worked hard and made this happen," Heneghan said. "The fact that they beat out so many big high schools and universities shows how much they wanted it."
The school's Facebook page posted videos of the concert, which was followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer session between Mendes and students.
Chegg also presented the school's staff with a $10,000 check for its music department.
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