2008 Woodie Awards
With 59 percent of the vote, Melissa Cirino, a junior speech communications and sociology double major from Hattiesburg, was voted University of Southern Mississippi's 2008-2009 student body president.
Jayson Newell, a junior political science major from Ridgeland, was elected attorney general. J.R. Robinson, a sophomore administration of justice major from Bolton, was elected election commissioner.
There will be a runoff for vice president today between Luke Smitherman, a senior marketing major from Biloxi, and Deborah Quave, a junior tourism management major from Gautier.
Before the results were announced, Cirino had already begun planning for her potential presidency.
"We have to be prepared now," she said after the announcement. "By May I will have my Cabinet picked and in order.
"The first thing I plan on doing is booking the SGA retreat," she continued. "I already have that planned out. Cabinet applications will also be coming out soon so that we can get that straight."
For Newell, the day went as smooth as possible.
"I feel really good. I had a good group of friends to help me along," he said. "I still plan to do what I said on my platform. I will start with platform one and continue the leadership the position has held."
After the announcement, Robinson was relieved to see the end of the tunnel.
"It was a long day," he said. "I am glad to see it come to an end.'
However, for Robinson the job is just beginning.
"I hope to jump right into my platform," he said. "I don't want to be the guy who said he was going to do something and not follow through with it."
The newly elected officers will begin their positions March 31.
