The 13th-and-a-half president of Ripon College? The 13th President II?
On Wednesday, as part of the College’s Homecoming Week festivities, Sara Driebel ’16 of New Berlin, Wisconsin, will attempt to fill some big shoes as she trades places with President Zach Messitte for the day. She will be acting as Messitte in meetings with Administrative Council and the Board of Trustees, and conduct College business.
Messitte, in turn, will hit the classroom again as he attends her history classes with Professors Rebecca Matzke and Sarah Frohardt-Lane, suit up for swim team practice and attend a Greek Council meeting in place of Driebel.
“We had numerous applications from students who thought they could do my job,” Messitte says. “Just one prevailed and will be put to the test. When we announced this cool initiative, I made it clear that I would not be joining the dance team or the football team. However, it looks like I will be donning a swim cap!”
If Messitte filled in for all of Driebel’s campus activities, he would be kept on the run. She is a history major; member of the varsity swim team; new member coordinator and member of Spirit Committee for Alpha Delta Pi sorority; philanthropy chair on Greek Council; travel chair for the Student Media and Activities Committee; a Day Committee Leader on the Orientation Committee; a lacrosse player; president of the Student Education Association; volunteer in Admission; and student philanthropy intern in Advancement.
The primary issue she hopes to address as President for the Day is how to increase school spirit on the campus. She’ll have to work mighty fast. Her term ends Thursday.
Driebel’s and Messitte’s unique experiences will be included in a video of Homecoming Week events shown at 9 p.m. Friday in Great Hall.
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