Altough Kelsie Huth missed more than two weeks of classes this semester, she isn’t exactly a slacker. The UT Senior is the Student Government president, an international business major and minor in Spanish. This semester she took a trip to South Africa.
This trip was no vacation safari; Huth helped plan the first stock car race in South Africa with ASA Racing.
“We were getting three to six hours of sleep a night, and I was at the track planning the logistics of everything from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. everyday. It was crazy,” said Huth.
Huth worked hard from Jan. 21 to Feb. 3 with ASA racing, marketing, event planning and logistics of the large-scale event.
“I was even helping with the preparations for the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa’s arrival at the race,” says Huth. “It was a once in a lifetime experience… just unbelievable.”
Her trip left Student Government Vice President Chris McCarthy in charge in her absence.
McCarthy assumed the responsibility to greet the executive guests in Huth’s place when President Obama and Vice President Biden paid a visit to UT’s campus on Jan 28.
“Kelsie left on Thursday and I got a call Saturday morning telling me I was getting a background check, and no other details other than someone was visiting the school,” McCarthy said.
The UT junior had a hunch something big was in the works.
“I Googled ‘Obama Tampa’ and saw the headlines about his slated visit. I walked into Stephanie Holtz’s office and told her I figured it out,” McCarthy said smiling.
While Huth was thousands of miles away experiencing the event of a lifetime, McCarthy was having his own unique experience.
“I was waiting with President Vaughn and saw the motorcade pull up. That’s when it hit me that this was really happening.”
Reality set in when President Obama walked through the door and spoke to McCarthy.
“He asked me about my major and we talked. I mentioned Kelsie being in Africa.
He said ‘Oh really?’ And I [said], ‘Yeah, so I’m your guy,’” McCarthy said laughing.
Originally, McCarthy was assigned to sit next to President Vaughn during Obama’s speech, but through a seating change he was moved to the audience next to the White House Staff.
“I asked one of them what it was like to fly on Air Force One, and the guy smiled and said ‘it doesn’t suck.’ That was so much cooler than being on stage,” McCarthy said laughing.
In South Africa, Huth’s trip wasn’t all work and no play. She was able to visit the Savannah Cheetah Foundation through one of ASA Racing’s business partners.
“I saw giraffes out in the range, and the cheetahs while they were being fed. That’s when it really felt like I was in a different country.”
At the end of her trip, the organization had a Zooloo party, with children from a local daycare performing a traditional song.
“Their voices were really the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. It was such a fun way to end one of the most memorable experiences of my life.”
Huth and McCarthy have worked hard for UT student community, implimenting new programs such as the Blockbuster Express and Connect by Hertz for students all over campus to access.