Southeastern Alumna and Good Morning America host Robin Roberts returned to Louisiana for the first time last week since her bone marrow transplant in September. Southeastern students traveled to New Orleans on Thursday, Jan. 31 to welcome Robin with open arms while cheering with excitement for her return. Roberts graduated with honors from Southeastern in 1983 and has inspired the students and community of Southeastern through her career success, and fight of breast cancer and most recent diagnosis of Melodysplastic Syndrome (MDS). Following her diagnosis Roberts was honored as a Hall of Fame inductee in June of 2012 where she announced the news to Athletics Director Bart Bellairs and Vice President for University Advancement Wendy Johns-Lauderdale, who showed support in their attendance at the ceremony. There she stated that she wanted her Southeastern family to know before the message was presented to the media. Roberts’ sister Sally Ann Roberts was a match for Robin and agreed to be her bone marrow donor. After helping her father overcome acute lymphocytic leukemia, Whitney Christie teamed up with the “Be the Match” Foundation to launch the “Swabbin’ for Robin” campaign, which served to recruit students to join the national bone marrow registry. Christie explained that Robin’s illness hit close to home as her father had to undergo the same procedure. “A lot of people aren’t aware of signing up for the bone marrow registry and what it takes,” said Christie. “Donating bone marrow is not hard. A lot of people have false information and think that giving bone marrow is painful. There’s so many different blood cancers and people need to have a bone marrow transplant. So it’s just amazing how people are finding more in common just to help out with this cause.” The “Swabbin for Robin” campaign allowed students to get involved and support Roberts as a member of the Southeastern family. Since her announcement, the number of registered donors doubled. Students were transported by the Lion Traxx shuttle services and volunteered to participate in the welcoming ceremony. Although her plane was delayed two hours, the anticipation did not dwindle as students congregated in the airport lobby awaiting her arrival. “She’s been a really big inspiration for our program over the summer,” said Bernice Cashman, orientation leader and student worker. “We are just so proud of her and excited that she’s coming back. All four of us are definitely glad to be here.” The cheerleaders, lionettes, athletic training program and members of the Lady Lions basketball team all came out to support their follow Lion, and presented her with a basketball signed by the students in attendance. “The program believes in taking a lot of initiative and leading by example so this is the first time we’ve been a part of the “Swabbin’ for Robin,” said Dave Williams, a sophomore in athletic training. “We’re just here to promote health. We don’t know how healthy she is, but we really just want to show her that we’re still here for support. We do as much as we can with the time we do have.” Roberts was in awe as she stepped off the plane immediately embracing mascot, Roomie, with a hug and expressing her pride in Southeastern. “It’s so good to be a Lion,” explained Roberts as she headed to greet the students, show her appreciation and take photos. For more information and video coverage of Roberts’ journey home visit abcnews.go.com/GMA.