Paige takes the win

Paige Byrnes was voted the 2023 homecoming ambassador

Representing the Sigma Alpha Tau sorority, business administration senior Paige Byrnes was voted the 2023 Homecoming ambassador.

Byrnes has been a consistently active member of the Ferris community ever since she got here. She is currently a member of Sigma Alpha Tau, but also took part in the club volleyball team and the homecoming committee in previous years.

“I honestly didn’t expect this,” Byrnes said. “I just feel so honored and special that the student body has supported me so much throughout this week.”

The support for Byrnes was very noticeable at Saturday’s festivities, when a cheering section of friends and family roared when her name was called. Diagnostic medical sonography junior Olivia Szyszko, Byrnes’ friend and roommate, was jumping up and down with excitement for her friend.

The 2023 homecoming ambassador candidates Telsa McBride, Paige Byrnes, Keonie Russell and Imari Carl await the winning announcement. Photo credit: Jordan Wilson l Multimedia Editor

“She is the most caring girl ever,” Szyszko said. “Whenever I am having a bad day I will just go lay on the floor in her room, and somehow she will always find a way to make me feel better.”

Some of Byrnes’ fellow sorority sisters attended Saturday’s game to cheer her on as well. Sorority sister construction management sophomore Paige Sornig was one of the first down by the field waiting to congratulate Byrnes after her name was announced.

“She has been beyond helpful to me,” Sornig said. “If I ever have any questions about anything I always know I can count on Paige to help me out.”

Running for ambassador was an amazing experience for Byrnes, but the most memorable part for her was meeting and becoming friends with the other candidates. Paige was one of four candidates for this year’s ambassador campaign, and during the events she got the opportunity to get to know the other candidates.

“Meeting the other candidates was amazing,” Byrnes said. “I am astonished that the student body chose me, and I really hope to maintain my connection with them and I am so blessed to have gotten to run alongside them.”

President Pink with Homecoming ambassador Paige Byrnes. Photo credit: Jordan Wilson l Multimedia Editor

Now that the campaigning is over, Paige is beyond excited to represent the student body. She wants to encourage everyone on campus to get involved in some capacity.

“I want to continue to support our athletic teams, our RSO’s, and all of the other organizations here on campus.” Byrnes said.

 Paige feels that she couldn’t have done this without her sorority, Alpha Sigma Tau. She is so grateful for their endorsement and support that they have given her throughout her candidacy.

“The only reason I am here right now is because I always say yes to things,” Byrnes said. “I am so grateful for the support system that I have here at Alpha Sigma Tau. Whenever I ask them if i should do this they always enthusiastically say yes.”

Paige would describe running for ambassador as both a “fun and rewarding experience.” She encourages anyone that is thinking about running for ambassador in the future to do it.