Fanshawe had two new presidents on February 16 as Deborah Mates and Christine Budden assumed the duties as presidents for a day.

Both women won the positions from draws, which were part of the United Way fundraising campaign.

Mates, the major gift coordinator for the Fanshawe College Foundation, tagged alongside Scalia, acting as the FSU president and learning the ins and outs of the student union.

On the agenda for the day was a college council meeting, an FSU executive meeting and a student open forum, as well as the mayor's economic council, which they were invited to by Fanshawe president, Howard Rundle.

Mates did not make any major decisions as president but she was welcome to participate in meetings, said Scalia.

During her day, she was looking forward to learning more about students. Mates, a Fanshawe alumni and the mother of a current first-year student, was interested in the student open forum to hear their concerns and the issues affecting them. "It was interesting to see things from the other side," she said.

Budden won the opportunity to be Fanshawe College's president for a day. She participated in meetings, interviews, a college council meeting and took a bus tour of the London campus.

"It was a neat way to learn things about the college that I might not otherwise," she said.

Budden already had some firsthand presidential experience — she was the FSU prez in the 2006/07 academic year.

"It's been a lot of fun," said Budden. She said one of her favourite parts of the day was switching parking spots with the college's full-time president, Howard Rundle. "(I parked) right out front, and (Rundle) had to walk 15 spots!"

After experiencing Fanshawe as a student, faculity member and president, she said, "I think Fanshawe College is a great place to work, and it's a great place to be a student. It's just a great place to be."