Most students cannot imagine the effect that being named Homecoming king or queen in front of more than 90,000 screaming fans would have on their lives. Melanie Hebert and Mark Higgins II share their stories of being on top.
By Aaron Bayham, etc. Writer
Melanie Hebert, Homecoming queen 2001, said her time spent on Homecoming court made a distinct impression on her life after LSU.
“It gave me a lot of self-confidence,” Hebert said. “To stand on the field of one of the largest college stadiums in the world – it reminds you to be humble but it’s also a boost of confidence.”
Hebert said the title helped open up doors for her.
“The LSU fans are die-hard and that’s very impressive for a Tiger fan,” Hebert said. “I had it on my resumé and I got plenty of comments about it.”
After graduating from LSU in 2001 with a degree in broadcast and minors in dance and photography, Hebert moved to Los Angeles to work at a syndicated news magazine, she said.
Hebert said she soon found her way back to Baton Rouge, where she now works as a morning anchor for “Morning Baton Rouge” on WVLA. She also coaches the Tiger Girls and is director of publicity at the Baton Rouge Ballet Theater, she said.
While Hebert was a Golden Girl for four years and involved in a variety of organizations, being elected queen was a surprise, she said.
“I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Herbert said. “With everyone coming together and supporting me, it gave me a reassuring feeling that I made a difference at LSU. It made me feel like people appreciated me.”
Herbert stays involved with LSU by coaching the Tiger Girls and keeping in touch with old professors, she said.
“I still have some great mentors there,” she said.
By Aaron Bayham, etc. Writer
Mark Higgins II, an ISDS senior, took the throne of Homecoming king in 2002.
Higgins said the experience left a permanent mark on him.
“The moment they called my name out was one of the greatest things,” he said. “When I’m old and senile, it will definitely be something I remember.”
Having the title also gave Higgins an interesting credential to list on his resume that may give him the edge when looking for a job, he said.
“It seems like people really eat that kind of stuff up,” he said. “I’ve had interviews where that’s all they wanted to talk about.”
Since being named, Higgins said he is “enjoying being a student” but is not sure about his future.
“It’s amazing how you can go to school for four years and not have any idea of what you’ll be doing in a year,” Higgins said. “It’s kind of exciting for me to not know where I’ll be a year from now.”