As students across the country return to their colleges and universities at the end of their winter breaks, they should be on the look-out for one famously familiar face: rock musician David Cook. The winner on the seventh season of “American Idol” has announced plans for a spring 2009 tour that will hit many of the nation’s institutions of higher learning.

The 36-date Declaration Tour kicks off February 13 at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, and wraps April 25 at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, OK. Stops include a February 20 show at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay, WI, and a March 24 gig at Penn State’s York campus in York, PA.

Most concert dates will be open to the public as well as students, but for show-specific information, check with the venue. The circuit also includes a few regular venue performances, as well, including a February 14 concert at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, MS, and a March 20-21 two-night stand at Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa in Atlantic City, NJ.

Previously announced shows for March 23 at Musica Theater in Akron, OH, and April 18 at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, IN, have already been removed from the itinerary. The March 23 concert has been rescheduled to Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, PA, but no new concert has been booked for April 18.

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“There’s something inherently nostalgic about playing college shows. So many amazing acts used to do it, so it’s nice to be able to bring that ideal back, in some small way,” Cook said in a statement about the upcoming jaunt. “Besides, touring on a bus beats what we used to do, which was cram five guys into a seven-passenger van for one show, 13 hours away.”

Cook is touring behind his eponymous major label debut and sophomore album. The disc, which hit store shelves in November 2008, peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. The record is a follow-up to his self-produced and independently released album “Analog Heart.” The singer-songwriter won the title of “American Idol” in the reality music show’s seventh season against competitor David Archuleta.


David Cook itinerary:
(Dates are subject to change.)

February 13 Tallahassee, FL Florida State University
February 14 Biloxi, MS Beau Rivage Resort & Casino
February 15 Oxford, MS University of Mississippi
February 18 Eau Claire, WI University of Wisconsin
February 19 Cedar Falls, IA University of Northern Iowa
February 20 Green Bay, WI University of Wisconsin
February 21 Valparaiso, IN Valparaiso University
February 23 Waverly, IA Wartburg College
February 24 Fulton, MO Westminster College
February 25 Conway, AR University of Central Arkansas
February 27 Portsmouth, OH Shawnee State University
March 1 Newburgh, NY Mount St. Mary College
March 3 Carlisle, PA Dickinson College
March 6 Morgantown, WV West Virginia University
March 8 Willimantic, CT Eastern Connecticut State University
March 10 Poughkeepsie, NY Marist College
March 13 Niagara Falls, NY Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel
March 14 Elkins, WV Davis & Elkins College
March 16 Bloomsburg, PA Bloomsburg University
March 19 Mansfield, PA Mansfield University of Pennsylvania
March 20 – 21 Atlantic City, NJ Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
March 23 Selinsgrove, PA Susquehanna University
March 24 York, PA Penn State York
March 26 Buies Creek, NC Campbell University
March 27 Pemberton, NJ Burlington County College
March 30 New London, NH Colby Sawyer College
March 31 New Haven, CT Southern Connecticut State University
April 2 Wilmington, NC Azalea Festival @ Wilmington University
April 3 Towson, MD Towson University
April 5 Radford, VA Radford University
April 8 Macon, GA Mercer University
April 14 Macomb, IL Western Illinois University
April 21 Searcy, AR Harding University
April 22 Kansas City, MO Ameristar Casino @ Star Pavilion
April 25 Tulsa, OK University of Tulsa
May 30 Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach Patriotic Festival @ 5th Street Stage