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Draft:Purdue Golden Girl

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  • Comment: I reckon that too much of this draft is based on non-independent sources. --Johannes (Talk) (Contribs) (Articles) 16:45, 20 September 2024 (UTC)

Photograph of Juanita Carpenter, Golden Girl #1

The Purdue Golden Girl is one of the featured twirlers associated with the Purdue All-American Marching Band. Since the position was first created in 1954, 32 individuals[1] have held the title, all being among the best twirlers in the United States during their tenures.

In addition to performing in Ross-Ade Stadium, the Golden Girl frequently appears as a special guest at public events in the West Lafayette area. In some instances, she will perform at other Purdue sporting events,[2] usually surrounded by her other twirling team members. She is one of the spokespersons for the band and Purdue University as a whole, meaning that availability with the media and public is not uncommon.

History

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During the summer of 1954, Dr. Al G. Wright contemplated adding a featured twirler to his band. He did this in an effort to transition the "All-American" Marching Band into a new era, moving away from its ROTC roots. During his search, Colorado-based twirler Juanita Carpenter caught his eye. She was recruited by Purdue, and given a gold sequin uniform that stood out from the rest of the band. Dr. Wright's wife Gladys was the first to coin the name "Golden Girl," stemming from the combination of her outfit and bleached blonde hair.[3] Additionally, the name painted her as a counterpart to Purdue football star quarterback Len Dawson, Purdue's "Golden Boy."[4][5]

In the years since Carpenter relinquished her role due to marriage at the age of 19, there have been 31 others to take up her golden mantle. Up until 1995, every Golden Girl had sported blonde hair, with Dawn Vardaman being the first brunette to fill the role.[6] June Ciampa is the only Golden Girl to have had the role in separate stints, once in 1961-62 and then later in 1964-65. She was also the first "International Twirler", now known as the "Girl In Black," during the 1962-63 season.[7]

List of Golden Girls

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Sandra Hutchinson, Golden Girl #2, performing at the Indianapolis 500
Addie Darling, Golden Girl #3, standing with Purdue Pete
June Ciampa, Golden Girl #4, posing on a bass drum
Number Name Tenure
1 Juanita Carpenter 1954-1956
2 Sandra Hutchinson 1956-1958
3 Addie Darling 1958-1960
4 June Ciampa 1961-1962, 1964-1965
5 Teddy Darling 1962-1964
6 Sherry Carden 1965-1966
7 Valerie Brown 1966-1969
8 Selita Sue Smith 1969-1973
9 Linda Hughes 1973-1976
10 Kathy Burkle 1976-1979
11 Susan Fron 1979-1982
12 Sally Batina 1982-1983
13 Valerie Ludwick 1983-1987
14 Candice Nagle 1987-1988
15 Dawn Beck 1988-1989
16 Kim Ratcliffe 1989-1990
17 Holly Fehrman 1990-1994
18 Alisha Bane 1994-1995
19 Dawn Vardaman 1995-1996
20 Ann Loppnow 1996-2000
21 Abby Moore 2000-2001
22 Erin Ansfeld 2001-2002
23 Robyn Andrews 2002-2003
24 Christy Jayne Stallings 2003-2006
25 Meghan Lamontagne 2006-2007
26 Tierney Brown Spring 2008
27 MerrieBeth Cox 2008-2013
28 Alexa Phillips 2013-2017
29 Olivia Zugai 2017-2018
30 Katie Schleis 2018-2020
31 Amanda Coy 2020-2022
32 Emily Cowette 2022-Present[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Golden Girl - Purdue University Purdue Bands & Orchestras". purdue.edu.
  2. ^ "26th Golden Girl Makes Debut". purdueexponent.org. 18 February 2008.
  3. ^ "The Purdue Golden Girl - Purdue University Purdue Bands & Orchestras". vintage-baton-twirler.org.
  4. ^ "Stallings retains Golden Girl crown for third straight year". www.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
  5. ^ "Selina Smith to be Golden Girl at Purdue U." The Call-Leader. West Lafayette, IN: The Call-Leader. September 12, 1969. p. 10. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
  6. ^ Norberg, John (2011). Heartbeat of the University: 125 years of Purdue bands. West Lafayette , Ind: Purdue University Press. p. 200. ISBN 9781557535962.
  7. ^ "Girl In Black- Purdue University Purdue Bands & Orchestras". purdue.edu.
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