Today Show
The Today Show, NBC, may 6, 2003, interview by Katie Couric:
Katie: This Saturday you can take part in a food drive without even leaving your home. The drive will benefit America's Second Harvest and here with all the details and some news of her own is figure skater and Olympic gold medallist, Sarah Hughes. Hey Sarah! Nice to see you!
Sarah: Good morning!
Katie: Welcome back. Before we talk about your news, tell me about this National Association of Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger food drive that's happening on Saturday. How does it work?
Sarah: Well all you have to do is leave food outside for your letter carrier and they will take the food on Saturday, May 10 and the food will benefit local food banks across the whole country, all a part of America's Second Harvest, and it's basically just to feed the hungry and it's a really easy way for a lot of people to help.
Katie: Now, you got involved because of your association with Campbells Soup? Is that right?
Sarah: Yeah it is.
Katie: Gee, maybe! (points to Sarah's shirt with "Campbells" on it & they both laugh)
Sarah: Do you like it? (laughs)
Katie: Is that sort of what got you interested in this? Cause Campbell's, I guess, is involved in the drive?
Sarah: Yeah, well I originally started with Campbells as their Ambassador for the Labels for Education program. Yeah, my picture on the soup can. And what it does is we collected labels from schools across the country which they can redeem for educational products such as computers or paper or pencils and that was really exciting to be a part of because my school took part in the program also.
Katie: Oh, that's neat.
Sarah: And for this Stamp Out Hunger program, see on this thing? (holds up SOH postcard)
Katie: Yeah, yeah, here I'll hold it like that. There you go.
Sarah: This actually went to 100 million homes.
Katie: Wow.
Sarah: To try to raise awareness for this program to have people leave food for their mailmen.
Katie: And we should mention that they should leave it outside next to their mailboxes or outside their front door.
Sarah: Yes.
Katie: Otherwise the letter carriers can't pick up the food. Unless they break into homes and that…
Sarah: Yeah not a good idea, not a good idea. But I actually filmed a public service announcement with my own mailman, George.
Katie: Oh, you did?
Sarah: Yeah, so it should be playing now or soon. George and I are showing how it works. Just, you leave food and your letter carrier will take it!
Katie: Oh that's great! So George is a big star now? He's probably pretty excited about that.
Sarah: Yeah! His first commercial.
Katie: Alright, well let's talk about you for a moment and what you're going to be doing in the future. I know that you've made a decision about where you're going to go to college. And I just want you to know that a lot of people go to their safety schools and it works out. It's not, you know, they usually adjust. Sarah's going to…go ahead Sarah.
Sarah: I'm actually going to Yale. And I'm extremely excited and really looking forward to it.
Katie: You got into Yale, Harvard, where else? Princeton. Did you apply to Princeton as well? Columbia.
Sarah: Yeah, well, you know, I was looking at several schools and you know basically I was looking for a school where I could learn in a comfortable environment and be part of the student atmosphere while being able to continue to skate because, you know, I love to do both so much and I don't think there's something I'd rather do than be a student athlete. It's something I've done my whole life and something I hope to continue to do. It's always just finding a balance and when I can also have time to spend with Campbells and promote programs such as Stamp Out Hunger, it's really rewarding.
Katie: So what was it about Yale that finally sort of made you decide 'this is where I want to go'. Cause I know it really came down to Yale, Harvard, and the University of Virginia (both laugh). But Yale won out. Why was that? Just sort of all the pieces seemed to fit together?
Sarah: Yeah, I felt really comfortable there. The students there seem to really really enjoy being there and enjoy learning and enthusiastic about their classes.
Katie: The president's daughter, Barbara, I know, showed you around Yale. That must have been pretty cool, huh? You must have gotten a lot of looks that day!
Sarah: Yeah, it is really cool. But something that I noticed is that she really seemed to take part also in the student activities. I think that's great if someone with her level of notoriety in this country can be part of a school and can have the college experience.
Katie: And blend in, and not be sort of like "oh my gosh there's so-and-so". And you want to do the same thing.
Sarah: Yeah, no one was pointing or something.
Katie: So you're still going to compete in terms of figure skating during college or are you going to just see what happens?
Sarah: There's a great rink on the campus and there are rinks nearby but I think right now there will be ice available at the rink on campus and I'll be able to have practice before or after the hockey teams and I think it will be cool to be able to cheer each other on.
Katie: Well, you've some exciting times ahead. I know you're going to be pre-med. You're such an impressive person, I mean, you are going to be pre-med, aren't you?
Sarah: Well, I haven't decided yet, of course I want to start.
Katie: But I mean you're thinking about it.
Sarah: Yes, I was thinking about pre-med and I still am.
Katie: Don't worry, I won't make you commit to that major!
Sarah: OK, I felt a little nervous, some pressure there! (laughs)
Katie: Well, listen, I know you didn't get into UVA, partially because you never applied. But, we wanted to make you an honorary Wahoo nonetheless. Our executive producer and I both went here and, well frankly, we think you made the wrong choice. But good luck to you anyway! (hands Sarah a UVA hat) We're kidding. Good luck at Yale.
Sarah: Thank you.
Katie: I hope you have a great time in college. Thanks for stopping by Sarah and we'll remind people about the hunger drive on Saturday.
Sarah: Thank you.
Katie: Tell your whole family I said hey.
Sarah: I will.
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