Meet Brian Hickey, a nominee for 2013 Homecoming King! Prepare to vote for your King and Queen starting October 15th.
Alexa: What are you involved in at UMass?
Brian: I joined the Student Alumni Association as a freshman and became more involved with it as time went by. Last year as a sophomore, I was elected to be Director of External Relations, which entailed public relations and communications for the organization. This year, I am the Vice President for Recruitment and Engagement at SAA, where my main focus is to boost membership and to promote the organization on campus and in the public eye. I am also an ambassador for the organization, and assist with events involving the University Chancellor both on and off campus. Last year, I also served on the Student Homecoming Committee and played a large role in the planning and execution of the campus’s homecoming ceremonies.
Alexa: Why do you think you would be a good representative of UMass?
Brian: As an engineering major and business management minor, I am well connected with many students from the College of Engineering and the College of Natural Sciences as well as the Isenberg School of Management. My role in the Student Alumni Association has also led me to branch out and connect with a lot of students studying liberal arts on campus, as well. Because I have had the opportunity to interact in this manor, both my tastes and interests on campus mirror those of the many groups of people that I represent. I have also been able to experience UMass from an administrative standpoint as part of the Student Alumni Association’s ambassador program, and as a result would be able to embody the interests of both the UMass faculty and student population in one fell swoop.
Alexa: What is your favorite UMass memory?
Brian: Attending the UMass Rising Campaign Kickoff Night last spring, where Alumni Donors and administration came together in style to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the university in addition to the official launch of the campus’s capital campaign to raise a record amount of money for the school’s students, programs, and academic buildings.
Alexa: What’s your favorite spot at UMass?
Brian: The top of orchard hill overlooking the entire campus.
Alexa: What is the most useful thing you have learned at UMass (in or outside of the classroom)?
Brian: That it takes a lot more teamwork to make things happen than a lot of people acknowledge. Students develop as individuals while in high school, but college places you in an environment where you must learn to live and work with a lot diverse students that probably have upbringings that vary greatly from your own. You’ll get along with most people but maybe not everyone. That beind said, this aspect of working together to solve larger problems was probably one of the first lessons I learned while at UMass.
Alexa: What is your favorite activity during UMass Homecoming week and why?
Brian: The UMass Football game at Gillette, because it gives both faculty and students an opportunity to show their pride in the university by coming together to cheer on our team.
Alexa: If you were to be crowned UMass Homecoming King 2013 what would your reaction be?
Brian: I would be definitely be honored and probably a bit surprised, too. I have always felt that I do a good job of representing our university from the perspective of both faculty and students, and I would be pleased to know that a lot of people on campus agree with that.
Alexa: If you could give one piece of advice to UMass underclassmen that are aspiring kings and queens, what would it be?
Brian: I would encourage anybody going for the position to be confident in who they are as a student on campus. The job of homecoming king or queen entails a great deal of responsibility, but it’s also important to step back and take a deep breath in order to beas good a representation of yourself as possible. People will vote for you if they believe you will flourish as a leader on this campus, and the best way to demonstrate your ability to take on such a position is to continue moving forward in your role at UMass (whatever that might be), regardless of the pressure to be chosen as king or queen.