Two Auburn students seeking a hug from Taylor Swift have created a Web site and uploaded videos targeting the Grammy award winning singer-songwriter, shockingly receiving a response from Swift via YouTube.
Swift's video response requested a challenge for the two men, Michael and Ryan. They successfully completed their first challenge, helping an old lady across the street, and now Swift has issued challenge No. 2: creatively incorporate the number 13 in their next video.
The initial response from Swift to the Web site, A Hug From Taylor Swift, came as a complete shock to Michael Wekall and Ryan Leander.
"We were both completely shocked and still are to this day," said Wekall, senior in history. "When we started, I think we thought it was a possibility that we would get this to happen, but when she came out with that video and challenged us, it was beyond my wildest imagination. It is pretty cool to say that you get to play a game with Taylor Swift, with hundreds of thousands of people watching."
Leander, senior in biblical studies, said the first time he heard there was a response from Taylor Swift he said he basically had a wave of emotions, everything from laughing to crying and laughing again.
Swift said in her YouTube video that Wekall and Leander went completely over and beyond what she expected of them for their first challenge.
She said she and her band watched their video of helping an old lady across the street over and over, amazed by the dedication.
"Challenge No. 1 experience was amazing," Leander said. "Everyone helping out with videos from around the world and then having everyone at Toomer's Corner was just awesome. It meant a lot to me that people would show up to support us and I really enjoyed meeting the people there and then on top of that having Aubie come and be a part of it as well! It was all around a blast and I wouldn't have changed a thing."
The feedback they have received from A Hug From Taylor Swift has escalated since the day they received a response video from Swift.
"We have had people from all over the world join our group; we have had radio interviews in North Dakota and Michigan," Wekall said. "It has just been very surreal and so much fun."
Nicole LaMontagne, senior in public relations, said she is friends with Wekall and Leander and offered to help them with any media publicity they may need. She has been helping out with the campaign by promoting A Hug From Taylor Swift in various ways.
"I have written an article about A Hug from Taylor Swift on my Auburn Family blog, tweeted Taylor on Twitter, tweeted and Facebooked about their efforts and contacted Star 94 (a popular radio station in Atlanta)," LaMontagne said. "Also, my roommate and I have contacted the Ellen Show, Regis and Kelly, Oprah and Good Morning America. We are all hoping that one of these will pull through!"
The Auburn family has pulled together throughout this challenge receiving help from PR majors and Web site designers.
"Our friend David helped build the Web site," Wekall said. "I am the video person. I love to shoot and edit videos, and so that is why this whole idea really came about. It is something that I would love to do the rest of my life."
Those interested want to know if Swift is going to issue this perfect hug when Wekall and Leander complete all challenges.
"I don't know exactly when the hug might happen but so long as we are completing the challenges I think we are going to get the hug," Wekall said. "I'm thinking it might happen at one of her concerts since she is on tour right now, but honestly I have no idea when and how it is going to happen."
Leander said he doesn't plan for his hug to be anything like what they showed in their first video, but possibly something in between the two extremes.
"I am aiming for one not too short and not too long to avoid awkwardness, but I will treasure the moment and just have to play it by ear," Leander said.
The second challenge was issued from Swift April 1. Michael and Ryan continue to brainstorm on how to incorporate the number 13 for their second challenge, while hosting a contest for others to submit videos of their ideas.
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