Ranging from painted faces to fluttering pom-pons and flags in various shades of Laker blue, the Grand Valley State University community showed up in droves Saturday, Oct. 15 at Lubbers Stadium to celebrate the end of GVSU’s homecoming week.

After much cheering and screaming at Lubbers Stadium, senior nursing student Brandon Fitzgerald was crowned as GVSU’s 2016 homecoming regent.

Jaw dropping, Fitzgerald laughed as he was hugged by Darian “Dee” Farrell, GVSU’s 2015 homecoming regent, and beamed when she placed the sailor hat – GVSU’s equivalent of a crown – on top of his head.

“It’s bittersweet because I miss Grand Valley so much, but just being here is like being back at home,” Farrell said.

Going through weeks of interviews and various voting polls online, Fitzgerald was nominated to be represented by GVSU’s student senate due to his involvement as vice president for diversity affairs at GVSU.

“It honestly feels great that an organization that I feel like I’ve put a lot of myself into the past few years of my time here (nominated me),” he said. “The fact they’ve acknowledged me enough to say that they wanted to put my name out there with all these other great student leaders to stand up for all of our campus.”

Fitzgerald, a Detroit native, indicated his role in the student senate as a “catch-all,” as he works closely with the five centers on GVSU, including the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Division of Inclusion and Equity to represent students who do not feel like they have a voice on campus.

It’s significant, he said, being able to speak on the behalf of students as he has always wanted to help people.

“I want to be a person who can make someone feel like they’re whole again,” he said. “I want to specifically work with children who have cancer, families that are losing children, to help them be themselves again and be put back together.”

With student senate and nursing, Fitzgerald emphasized how while he is honored to speak on other students’ and future patients’ behalf, he hopes to use his newfound position as homecoming regent to further expand positivity and openness on campus.