Just a couple of weeks ago, Auburn crowned a new Miss Homecoming, Francie Harris, who was nice enough to sit down with me and answer some questions so everyone can get to know Harris a little better.            

Harris is a senior from Vestavia Hills, Ala. Both of her parents went to Auburn, and Harris was raised bleeding orange and blue. She not only followed in her parents’ footsteps by coming to Auburn, but she also followed in her dad’s footsteps by becoming an Auburn cheerleader. Harris is a head cheerleader.

Cheerleading has given Harris some incredible opportunities, like cheering in the infamous Rose Bowl, and being in Southern Living magazine, which did an article on the intense rivalry between Auburn University and the University of Alabama. Harris not only got to be in a photo shoot for the magazine, but she also had one of the only quotes in the article.

Although Harris has a lot of love for cheering, it is very clear that her passion is for helping children. She is a child life major, hoping to turn her passion for helping children into a career. Her passion for children began her junior year of high school when she got the opportunity to work with Magic Moment which is, basically, Make A Wish Foundation in Alabama. Harris' high school was able to raise the funds to grant three children’s wishes. This is where Harris got the idea for her platform to help end childhood cancer.

Through her campaign leading up to the Homecoming game, Harris helped raised $6000. She got huge support from her sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, by buying each sorority member a campaign t-shirt. This $6000 was also raised by other students on campus purchasing campaign t-shirts and making other donations. Harris' own sorority little sister helped run a bake sale to also raise money. Harris said her favorite part of her campaign was when they held a candle light vigil for children fighting pediatric cancer. Those who attended got to hear the stories of incredibly strong Auburn students who have fought pediatric cancer. Harris also got other Auburn students who have fought, or are fighting, cancer to make videos about their journey and these videos were shared throughout the week.            

When Francie Harris talks, it is clear how passionate she is about helping children and how much she has already done.