Imagine walking into University Hall, but this time, you’re not heading to the Business Office. You’re heading to the President’s Office. The reserved parking spot in the University Hall parking lot? It’s yours. The portraits of past Heidelberg presidents? Your photo will join them. For one unforgettable day, you’ll be the person calling the shots at Heidelberg University.
In honor of Heidelberg’s 175th Anniversary, students have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swap places with President Rob Huntington. While you step into his shoes, he’ll spend the day as a student – attending your classes, taking notes, and hitting practice in your place.
Why should you care?
Because this isn’t just about bragging rights (though you’ll have plenty of those). It’s about experiencing Heidelberg from the top – making decisions, attending meetings, and getting a front-row seat into what it takes to run a university – and making a difference for future Student Princes.
Meanwhile, President Huntington will dive into student life – grabbing lunch at Hoernemann, participating in extracurriculars, and seeing campus through your eyes. He’s really looking forward to it!
“Imagine 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,” President Huntington said. “And I’ll be trying to be your age again, which is a long and distant memory, but something I’ll enjoy doing.”
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’s 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 “Secret Service”
- Create your own special drink at The HeidelBean!
- Be impeached at the end of the day
- And more!
President Huntington’s role as you
- Participate in a morning ceremony starting the presidential switch
- Dress like a Heidelberg student
- Follow the winning student’s 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:
• Underclassmen: Donate $18.50 (in honor of Heidelberg’s founding year) for a chance to win.
• Seniors: Donate $20.25 (celebrating your graduation year!) for an entry.
• 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 – doubling the impact of every dollar you give.
Why participate?
- Make history during Heidelberg’s milestone year.
- Leave your mark with a donation that directly supports students like you and campus initiatives.
- Enjoy a story you’ll tell for years. After all, how many people can say they ran a university for a day?
-- by Kaidan Mathias '25