Ric Beard, Staff Writer

For one day, Appalachian State University senior Brandon Frye had a taste of power.

A contest sponsored by Appalachian’s Student Ambassadors allowed Frye to switch places with Chancellor Francis T. Borkowski, who acted as a student while Frye took over the B.B. Dougherty Administration Building.

Borkowski and Frye switched places at B.B. Dougherty. They posed for pictures, and the chancellor talked to Frye about his duties as chancellor for the day.

During his day, Frye attended several meetings and an award ceremony, and was treated to lunch by members of the chancellor’s staff.

“I had a blast,” said Frye. “His staff was so kind, and they went out of their way to make me feel welcome.”

Frye said both he and Borkowski wanted to dress appropriately for their respective positions.

Borkowski wanted to look the part of a student. “He was wearing hiking boots, blue jeans, a sweatshirt and a book bag,” said Frye.

Frye wore a suit and an overcoat for his day as chancellor.

As Frye handled administration concerns, Borkowski lived Frye’s daily schedule.

Activities included shooting pool, doing library research and taking notes in one of Frye’s classes, which impressed Frye.

“Notes he took for my microeconomics class were better than mine,” Frye said.

Frye said  he owes winning the contest to his fraternity brothers of Pi Kappa Alpha. His brothers donated canned goods and put them in Frye’s name.

The chancellor sat with Frye’s fraternity brothers during lunch the day of the switch.

Frye said that Pi Kappa Alpha brothers enjoyed spending the time with the chancellor and discussing fraternities on campus over lunch.

The Chancellor for a Day contest marked an effort by the Appalachian Ambassadors to raise food and money for the Watauga County Hunger Coalition. Contributions were distributed to those in need during Thanksgiving.

The ambassadors collected 250 cans of food and $100.

Ambassador Charity Greene coordinated the event. Her duties involved scheduling times and being present when the chancellor and student switched roles.

Greene was happy with the contest and hopes it will continue. “I hope each year it will be more successful,” she said.

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