Issue date: 4/9/07 Section: News

Wade Barker - THE BATTALION SBP candidate Derek Devine celebrates with a supporter after the results of the primary election were announced on March 30. Devine went on to lose in a runoff election Friday to Conner Prochaska by 121 votes.

Now that the chaos of campaigning for student body president is finished, Derek Devine can get back to doing what he loves: spending time really getting to know people. After all, he said that's why he decided to run in the first place.

"I wanted to deal with some real issues, but I really wanted to get involved with people and help people communicate with student government and vice versa," Devine said.

Devine, a junior marketing major from Katy, followed the footsteps of his father, Class of 1979, and older sister, Class of 2004, to Texas A&M. His involvement in Fish Camp, Fish Aides and Parent's Weekend Committee introduced him to a new side of A&M and a variety of new people.

"I have been blessed and humbled by my experiences at Texas A&M," Devine said. "The people here have touched me and changed my life and made me the man I am today."

Devine said he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing disc golf, developing his photography skills, surfing Wikipedia, the movie "Ben-Hur," listening to live music and reading books.

"I'm not a fan of big crowds," Devine said. "I hate small-talk, and I'd really rather meet people and get a chance to actually talk to them and get to know them. I'm also the guy who's read three books at Barnes and Nobles without buying them. I'm kind of nerdy."

Instead of "nerdy," his parents Frank and Jeanine describe Devine as "genuine and loving."

One aspect of Devine's daily life requires constant planning - managing his diabetes. Diagnosed in high school after losing 30 pounds, Devine gives himself four insulin injections a day to maintain his blood-sugar levels. However, not even diabetes has dampened Devine's spirits.

"It was one of the scariest things a parent can go through, but by that night he said, 'Dad, it's going to be just like brushing my teeth. It's just something I have to do,'" Frank Devine said. "He has extremely deep faith and has always been mature beyond his years."

Devine's ability to plan has also impressed his friends.

"I was in New York this summer, and he came to visit and hang out," said Micah Nance, a senior finance major. "He's a big planner, so he saw more in one weekend than I did the whole summer."

Devine made the run-off election for the 2007-08 SBP, but was defeated by Conner Prochaska in one of the closest races in A&M history, losing by 121 votes. Devine said he wants to remain involved in student life at A&M.

"I just want to get involved and give back to this University wherever I can," Devine said. "If not as SBP, I'm going to seek out a means for doing so."

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