Imagine walking into University Hall, but this time, you鈥檙e not heading to the Business Office. You鈥檙e heading to the President鈥檚 Office. The reserved parking spot in the University Hall parking lot? It鈥檚 yours. The portraits of past 海外吃瓜 presidents? Your photo will join them. For one unforgettable day, you鈥檒l be the person calling the shots at 海外吃瓜.
In honor of 海外吃瓜鈥檚 175th Anniversary, students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swap places with President Rob Huntington. While you step into his shoes, he鈥檒l spend the day as a student 鈥 attending your classes, taking notes, and hitting practice in your place.
Why should you care?
Because this isn鈥檛 just about bragging rights (though you鈥檒l have plenty of those). It鈥檚 about experiencing 海外吃瓜 from the top 鈥 making decisions, attending meetings, and getting a front-row seat into what it takes to run a university 鈥 and making a difference for future Student Princes.
Meanwhile, President Huntington will dive into student life 鈥 grabbing lunch at Hoernemann, participating in extracurriculars, and seeing campus through your eyes. He鈥檚 really looking forward to it!
鈥淚magine this. Not only do you get to do the best, most unusual job for a day at this stage of your life, but you get to be the king or queen or grand poobah of the whole campus,鈥 President Huntington said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檒l be trying to be your age again, which is a long and distant memory, but something I鈥檒l enjoy doing.鈥
Your role as the President-Elect
The lucky winning student will be drawn and announced on Monday, April 7, with the big switch happening the following Monday, April 14.
After the drawing on April 7, you will have the opportunity to be introduced as the President-Elect at the Minds@Work Research Conference on Tuesday, April 8, and at the home baseball game against John Carroll on Wednesday, April 9.
Students on the 175th Anniversary Planning Committee have recommended assignments for both you and for President Huntington for Monday, April 14.
Your role as President for a Day
- Participate in a morning ceremony starting the presidential switch
- Park in the President鈥檚 reserved parking space
- Have your own reserved table in Hoernemann Refectory for lunch and dinner
- Get a nameplate as President
- Have your Presidential photo up in University Hall for the day (maybe even the rest of the year)
- Be featured in a video capturing your experience as President for a Day
- Personal escort by golf cart for the day complete with 鈥淪ecret Service鈥
- Create your own special drink at The HeidelBean!
- Be impeached at the end of the day
- And more!
President Huntington鈥檚 role as you
- Participate in a morning ceremony starting the presidential switch
- Dress like a 海外吃瓜 student
- Follow the winning student鈥檚 routine and class schedule for the day
- Participate in on-campus meetings and events
- Eat lunch and dinner in Hoernemann
- Attend team or group events of the winning student
How to enter
It's simple:
鈥 Underclassmen: Donate $18.50 (in honor of 海外吃瓜鈥檚 founding year) for a chance to win.
鈥 Seniors: Donate $20.25 (celebrating your graduation year!) for an entry.
鈥 Donate online at alumni.heidelberg.edu/give or look for posters around campus using the QR code.
Deadline: Enter by April 6 at midnight.
Double your impact
Your gift does more than get you into the drawing. President Huntington and Dr. Susan McCafferty are matching all donations up to $1,000 鈥 doubling the impact of every dollar you give.
Why participate?
- Make history during 海外吃瓜鈥檚 milestone year.
- Leave your mark with a donation that directly supports students like you and campus initiatives.
- Enjoy a story you鈥檒l tell for years. After all, how many people can say they ran a university for a day?
-- by Kaidan Mathias '25