Get to know your candidates:
Shaelin Sweet
Baron Green
Name, hometown, year, major:
Shaelin Sweet: I am a senior from Salina, Ks., studying English with a concentration in writing and minor in history.
Baron Green: Oberlin, KS
What is your sign:
Shaelin Sweet: I’m a Virgo, but everything I’ve ever read about my star sign has been wrong. I don’t believe in astrology.
Baron Green: Aquarius
What do you want to be after college and why?
Shaelin Sweet: I hope to work in public administration. I’d like to work at a university, for a non-profit organization, or in city or state level government.
Baron Green: I want to be a mid-sized western Kansas town similar to Hays. I grew up in a very small town, and I would like to live a larger city but one that still has the small-town feel.
What are your long-term goals?
Shaelin Sweet: I hope to be working in a public administration position that allows me to make a positive change in my community and my country.
What are your short-term goals?
Shaelin Sweet: I’m currently working on a lot of new initiatives with my organization, Fort Hays Honor Society. My goals for the semester are maintaining my GPA and doing everything I can to ensure the future success of FHHS.
Baron Green: My short-term goals are to balance academics, student organizations, extra-curricular activities, and work while still having a social life.
What are some of greatest strengths?
Shaelin Sweet: I’m an incredibly passionate person, which is one of my greatest strengths and weaknesses. I am not a neutral person, and there are very few things that I feel passive about. In everything I do, I try to make a positive impact on those around me. If I participate in an organization, class, or event, I absolutely give it my all.
Baron Green: My greatest strengths are my work ethic, integrity, and respect. I would also like to think that my sense of humor and charisma are also some of my strengths, but who am I to judge!
What is one thing people do not usually know about you?
Shaelin Sweet: I love the outdoors! The mountains are my happy place, and I’ll hunt and fish every chance I get!
Baron Green: My younger sister, who has Down’s Syndrome, inspires me each and every day. She loves everybody without hesitation and is the happiest person I know. Even though she is younger than me, she constantly inspires me to be a better person.
What are you most excited about when it comes to homecoming?
Shaelin Sweet: Honestly, I’m thrilled to even have the opportunity to be a candidate. Being on Homecoming court is a dream come true for me, and I am so excited to participate in the bonfire and the parade!
Baron Green: I am most excited for Homecoming Saturday in general! I particularly enjoy the parade because it is an amazing demonstration of community support for FHSU. I love seeing all the organizations represent themselves and the school in the parade. It a tremendous demonstration of all the things that make FHSU so great. I also can’t wait for the Football game. It’s amazing to watch hundreds of students, alumni, and community members come out and show their support for the Tiger football team. Plus, the football team is undefeated this year, and I can’t wait to see everyone cheering the Tigers on to another Victory! Homecoming in general is just an awesome time of celebration and unity among the community and the university. It makes me proud to be a Tiger.
What has been your greatest memory at FHSU?
Shaelin Sweet: My fondest memories at FHSU have been with the Fort Hays Honor Society and the FHSU Honors College. These organizations have shaped me into the leader that I am today, and they’ve given me more love than I could ever attempt to give back. FHHS and the Honors College are truly my family, and my FHSU experience would have been completely different without them. I hope that everyone finds organizations that give them the support that these organizations have given me.
Baron Green: No matter how hard I try, I cannot identify one singular memory from my time here at FHSU as my favorite. I’ve made so many unforgettable memories here at Fort Hays, that it would almost do the rest of my memories a disservice to say one was my favorite. I’ve met some of the greatest people I know here at FHSU and had countless memorable experiences. Whether it’s laughing until I cry or crying until I laugh, I’ve shared so many memories with friends and comrades, I won’t soon forget a single one. It’s hard to pick one memory as the greatest, and so I would rather make every memory from here on going forward the greatest.
Do I have any tips, words of advice to other aspiring student leaders?
Shaelin Sweet: My advice to aspiring student leaders is this: College is a choose-your-own-adventure experience. You’ll have to pick and choose what you’re involved in, but find what your passionate about and pursue it relentlessly. You have an opportunity to leave your mark on this campus and community: don’t waste it and don’t take it for granted.
Baron Green: My biggest piece of advice to others is to work hard to pursue your goals. I always say that “In order to achieve what other can’t, you must be willing to do the work that others won’t.” I would encourage anyone and everyone to get involved as much as they can. Getting involved has been the best decision I’ve made at FHSU. Find something you are passionate about and put all of your effort into it. Be active and get engaged in the world around you. I promise that you will be rewarded ten-fold. Find your path and don’t let anyone or anything stop you from pursuing it.
Random Questions
Hilary Duff or Lindsay Lohan?
Shaelin Sweet: How could I possibly choose? I identify with Lizzie McGuire on a spiritual level, but I’ve always had a soft spot for LiLo. She’s a phenomenal actress and I wish she was in more current films.
Baron Green: Linsay Lohan
If you could have any superpower what would it be and why? (I swear to Aunt Jemima, you better not say flying!)
Shaelin Sweet: If I could have any superpower, I’d choose to be super smart, like Iron Man. Tony Stark was left in a cave with minimal resources and created incredibly innovative technology. I’ll take that over super strength or telepathy any day.
Baron Green: The ability to control time!!! Think about all the things you could do with the ability to rewind, pause, and fast forward through time. There’s no limit to what you could do. Plus, think of all the naps you could take and not miss out on anything!
What is your least favorite Disney movie?
Shaelin Sweet: Fantasia frightened me so much as a child that I still will not watch it to this day.
Baron Green: Alice in Wonderland. As a kid, I always felt like Alice in Wonderland was just too eccentric for me. Some of the characters creeped me out, and the whole story itself was just so unusual. I felt like I never really knew what was going on in that movie.
Favorite genre of music?
Shaelin Sweet: I listen to everything from country music to showtunes! I don’t think I could ever pick a favorite genre!
Baron Green: One look at my Pandora stations and you would realize I like just about all kinds of music! I listen to everything from Rock to Rap, and Country to the occasional Classical Piece. However, growing up, I always listened to Classic Rock. The first concert I ever went to was a KISS/Aerosmith/Saliva concert when I was in just the second grade! Classic Rock always has been and still is my favorite genre of music.
Favorite holiday and why?
Shaelin Sweet: My favorite holiday is absolutely Christmas. I love everything about it: lights, cookies, time with family. I’m the kind of person who listens to Christmas music in July. I might actually be an elf.
Baron Green: Thanksgiving. I love the fall and time of year around Thanksgiving. It’s a very laid back and enjoyable holiday and a great way to spend time with family and friends. Plus, as a college student, how can you not like the idea of weekend-long all you can eat free buffet with some of the best food on the planet!
Which building on campus would you go to first in a zombie apocalypse?
Shaelin Sweet: Rarick. There’s no way zombies could make it up those stairs.
Baron Green: I would go to Albertson Hall first! It’s a stout building with some good view points. Plus, you could replace the telescope with a pretty mean turret gun!
Be sure to vote for your Homecoming King and Queen Candidate Wednesday, October 4, to Friday, October 6, on TigerLink!