By Andrew Porter

Affectionately known as GameDay Hosts and GameDay Guides, the students on the field in red dresses and gray polos at Sanford Stadium are not your average bunch of students.

You can see them on the field smiling on Saturdays as the sun beats down on Sanford Stadium. But, to what organization does this diverse group of students belong? The answer is the R.O.S.E. Society.

An acronym for Recruiting Operations and Special Events, the R.O.S.E. Society is a team of university students who serve as ambassadors for the University of Georgia football program. Members of the R.O.S.E. society are responsible for hosting prospective students and their families during their visits.

The Game Day hosts are extremely important to the football program, because often, they are the first people the recruits come in contact with.

“We are more than just smiling faces on Saturday,” third year public relations major Jasmine Johnson said.  “We have an influence on the experience these football players have while they are at the football games and while they are visiting the school.”

The R.O.S.E. Society isn’t just a female organization. The GameDay Guides also play a big role in the recruitment process. The females host the recruits and the males serve as the guides who handle the behind the scenes logistics: following NCAA regulations, making sure everyone is having a good time, and answering any questions the families may have.

Both positions are equally important and work together to make the R.O.S.E. Society run smoothly. GameDay hosts and guides alike all speak highly of the experience and recommend it to everyone. Junior GameDay guide Jamari Jordan even describes Sanford Stadium as a magical place.

“I’ve been a Georgia football fan since I was five years old so for me, this is a dream come true,” he said.

The R.O.S.E. Society is seeking diverse members and is currently accepting applications until February 28th. Some of the perks of being a host include free admission to all home games, and the opportunity to meet the staff, and experiencing the Georgia Way.

Participating in the R.O.S.E. Society extends beyond the realm of an extracurricular activity.  You learn about professionalism, how to deal with people, and how an athletic association on the collegiate level operates.

It isn’t often that you find an organization with such great members as that of the R.O.S.E. Society. The friendship and camaraderie is visible to participants and spectators alike, which can be seen in the increase in membership from year to year.

“I’ve been doing this for two years, and it never gets old,” Jordan said.

To apply to become a member of the R.O.S.E. Society, or to find out more information, visit the website, http://ugarosesociety.strikingly.com/