UPDATE: After vote by the Marshall University student body, Hannah Fetty has been named to the top five candidates for Miss Marshall 2017 and she is a member of the MU Homecoming Court, activities taking place throughout the week and culminating with Saturday's football game against Old Dominion, during which time the homecoming queen will be crowned. 

 

Orignial Post: From the time Hannah Fetty stepped onto the campus at Marshall University, she loved everything about it.  After two full years as a member of the Thundering Herd, the 2015 Bridgeport High School graduate knows the feeling is mutual.

 

Fetty - who while at Bridgeport High was crowned homecoming queen, voted by faculty as Miss BHS and was a basketball standout - is in the running for Miss Marshall.

 

“I love Marshall, so I would be honored to represent the university, but more importantly, I would love to bring honor to God through this opportunity,” she said.

 

A psychology major, Fetty is one of 15 candidates selected by university faculty based upon a submitted application. After student voting takes place this weekend, the pool will be narrowed to five, all who will be members of Marshall University’s homecoming court. The top vote getter will be crowed homecoming queen at the Oct. 14 football game against Old Dominion University. This coming week, daily activities will take place in conjunction with the university’s homecoming. Included is a Unity Walk, pep rally, bonfire and the annual homecoming parade.

 

Fetty, who has adopted the slogan “Putting the Fun in FunFetty,” has been busy campaigning on campus. Many of her friends are supporting her in her efforts. It’s all a bit humbling, she said.

 

“I’m so thankful for my sweet friends who have been by my side all week - baking cupcakes, hanging up flyers, campaigning and just being my encouragement and support,” she said.

 

In addition to maintaining a 4.0 grade point average, Fetty is quite busy on campus. For the second year, she serves as resident assistant of her dormitory; a paid position which suits her perfectly.

 

“I love being able to invest in people; helping them with anything they need,” she said. “I like to be here for them and it’s a growing experience for me, helping me to become more responsible.”

 

During her sophomore year, she was RA at a dorm occupied by upperclassmen. This year, she is stationed at a freshman dorm.

 

“It’s been complete culture shock as they’re completely different,” said Fetty, adding that she particularly likes working with the freshmen, helping them adapt during their first year of college life.

 

She also serves as president of the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship, an organization which leads students to a relationship with Jesus Christ and helps them fulfill God’s will for their lives.

 

Fetty feels, without a doubt, that her education at Marshall coincides with God’s will in her life.

 

“It’s honesty crazy how I ended up here,” she said. “While in high school, I was so focused on playing basketball in college and really wasn’t planning on going to Marshall at first. But through a bunch of different circumstances, the Lord guided my path. I didn’t even visit Marshall until May of my senior year.”

 

She said from the first time she walked on the Marshall campus, she felt a divine peace.

 

“I knew it was the Lord calling me here,” she said.

 

Being three hours away from her family and friends was an adjustment and there were some struggles during her early days at MU. It took some time to find the right field of study and she changed her major until she decided upon psychology.

 

“It was hard at times, but having those experiences helped mold me into who I am,” she said. “Even my times of struggle made me fall more in love with Marshall. I love the people here and have the most wonderful professors. Everyone is so kind and friendly. It’s been an awesome experience.”

 

Fetty said she particularly loves the campus during autumn and has been spending a great deal of time outdoors, training for the university’s marathon which takes place Nov. 5.

 

“Last year, I ran the half marathon, so I thought this year I might as well double it,” she said.

 

Fetty, who is thinking about adding a second major to her studies, ultimately wants to work fulltime in the ministry.

 

“It’s something the Lord put on my heart – especially over the past few years,” she said. “While in high school, I always loved Jesus, but never pictured myself in the fulltime ministry.  I didn’t think it was for me. But now He has geared my heart toward ministering and it is something I can see myself doing.”

 

Fetty will likely graduate in the spring of 2019, but she’s not in any hurry. She’s loving every step of her journey at Marshall University.