I Friday, Nov. 13, 2009 Blue Sapphire to twirl last home game baton From Page 1. missed an opportunity to perform. She’s marched in five homecoming parades, per formed at 36 home games, four bowl games, numerous basketball games and the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon. “It’s really hard to even try to condense or even think of a favorite [memory],” Maierhofer said. “I think every time I get to step on that field with the Blue Band, the majorettes and the silks is my favorite memory. It’s not until you’re about to do your last [show] until you realize how special each and every one is.” Most students aren’t able to count per forming in front of Paris Hilton and Kelly Clarkson as one of their best college expe riences, but during Maierhofer’s freshman year, only weeks after being chosen the 13th Blue Sapphire in school history, she got the opportunity to perform at a Marc Jacobs fashion show in New York. It was a spur-of-the-moment perform ance that Blue Band Director Richard Bundy asked if she would be interested in going to, Maierhofer said. “We hopped on a bus, went to New York City and that night performed,” Maierhofer said. “That same night, we drove back to Penn State, got back at 5 in the morning I had an 8 a.m. class went to class and was like, ‘Did that really just happen?’ ” Maierhofer began twirling when she was 3 years old after watching her mom, who is a baton coach, teach her older sister. She started getting serious at the age of 10 and left high school a year early to come to Penn State. “I was ready to move on educationally,” Maierhofer said. “But [being the Blue Sapphire] was a good point.” Each spring, Maierhofer has had to re audition for her spot as feature twirler in the Blue Band, and each spring she has beaten out the twirlers hoping to take her place. This spring, Band Front Coordinator Kathy Bamat expects between 10 and 15 girls to try out for the Blue Sapphire posi tion. Those candidates have big shoes to fill. Both Bamat and Bundy had nothing but high praise for Maierhofer’s tenure as Penn State’s Blue Sapphire. “I think one of the factors for PJ is that she projects her personality through her twirling,” Bundy said. “She’s engaging to the audience.” Last weekend’s record-breaking audi ence was captivated by Maierhofer’s abili ty to juggle three batons, each engulfed in flames on the ends. NCAA.** Women's Soccer Come support your 2009 Big Ten Champions (12 years in a row!) Friday, N0v.13 -- First Round “If you’ve watched her twirl, she’s very fast,” Bamat said. “She’s a very high level of difficulty in tricks, everything is very difficult. Her presence, her play to the audience is both amazing. It doesn’t matter what she’s doing, it looks fantastic.” Much to Maierhofer’s dismay, Bamat said the current Blue Sapphire probably won’t be able to help judge during this April’s auditions it would be too intimi dating to have the person “leaving office” judge the other candidates. But Bamat, Bundy, at least one former feature twirler and a certified judge will be there to make sure they find a suitable replace ment. “We’re looking for a candidate who has exceptional twirling skills,” Bundy said. “Someone who really truly is a feature twirler.” Previous Blue Sapphire and Maierhofer’s long-time friend Bobbie Jo Solomon spoke to her last night to tell her what to expect at Saturday’s game. “I said, ‘Cry when you need to cry’,” Solomon said. “ ‘Even when you’re per forming. Just take every little second in, look around and take it all in, because it’s the performance that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.’ ” Solomon recalled the feelings of her final performance as the Blue Sapphire. “That whole entire week was very, very emotional there were a lot of tears.” She said. “It is such a prestigious position at Penn State, and I just remember thinking, ‘What am I ever going to do in life that’s ever going to top this?’ What people don’t understand is that twirling kind of ends for people that are on PJ and I’s level after col lege and after competition. So it’s kind of like a whole chapter in your life that’s clos ing, and it’s just really emotional and very sad.” But Maierhofer’s career as a Penn State twirler will extend past this Saturday and even the Nittany Lions’ likely bowl appear ance. After winning College Miss Majorette of America last summer, she has the oppor tunity to travel and promote baton twirling at different tournaments throughout the country. At nationals in July, she will per form with the Touch of Blue for the last time, giving her farewell performance at the big show, the grand finale of the week. “After that, I don’t know,” Maierhofer said. “I’ve thought about doing some stuff professionally, maybe something for the NBA or something like Cirque du Soleil. More importantly, I just really want to put my education to good use and see what else I’m good at.” LOCAL Vtur Student: Friday, Nov. 13 CREATIVE CRAFTS - Decorate a Milk Carton Radio! - 9PM -1 AM. Ground Floor TRIVIA NIGHT - Test your knowledge of current events based on articles from the New York Times, USA Today, Centre Daily Times and Daily Collegian! - Prizes for winners! - 10 PM, Ist Floor (Sponsored by The Student Newspaper Readership Program) GEARS OF WAR 2 VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT - Prizes for winners! - 10 PM, Ist Floor (Sponsored by Penn State’s Computer Store) GAPS GAMING - 9:30 PM- 1:30 AM, Ist Floor OPEN GAMES NIGHT - Monopoly, Risk, Jenga, Scrabble and more! - 10 PM - 1 AM, Ground Floor LATENIGHT BILLIARDS - 9 PM - 1 AM, Corner Pocket ARHS MOVIE: FUNNY PEOPLE- 8 PM &11 PM, Auditorium (Note show times) FRIDAY LATENIGHT FOOD SPECIALS: Ground Floor Carts: $1 Nathan’s Hotdog, $1.29 Soft Pretzels, Cookies & Milk featuring 4 varieties of David’s smaller cookies at 690 or 2 for $1.09, and 500 Box of Popcorn - 9 PM - 1 AM Sbarro: $1.99 Meatball Hero or Pasta Special and $l.OO slice of Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza - 9 PM - 2 AM WHITE BUILDING ACTIVITIES: Late Night Basketball League- 7:30 PM start Table Tennis Tournament- 9 PM start Open Recreation - 9 PM start Ballroom Dancing - 10 PM start Open Pool Recreation* - 9 PM-12 AM (Closed if no lifeguard) Fitness Center* -9PM -1 AM (‘Requires Fitness Pass/ID) Saturday, Nov. 14 SWING DANCE- Featuring the Brooks Tegler Quintet! - 10 PM -1 AM, Alumni Hall (Sponsored by Swing Dancing Club) CREATIVE CRAFTS - Decorate a Milk Carton Radio! - 9 PM - 1 AM, Ground Floor HALO 3 VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT - 4-on-4 competition using MLG v. 7 rules- Prizes for winners! - Bring your friends! - 10 PM, Ground Floor (Sponsored by Minor League Gaming) OPEN GAMES NIGHT - Monopoly, Risk, Jenga, Scrabble and more! - 10 PM - 1 AM, Ground Floor LATENIGHT BILLIARDS - 9 PM - 1 AM, Corner Pocket ARHS MOVIE: FUNNY PEOPLE- 8 PM, &11 PM, Auditorium (Note show times) SATURDAY LATENIGHT FOOD SPECIALS: Ground Floor Carts: $1.99 Fruit Smoothies, $1.29 Soft Pretzels, Cookies & Milk featuring 4 varieties of David's smaller cookies at 69$ or 2 for $1.09, and 50$ Box of Popcorn -9PM- Nathan’s: 59$ Mini- Hamburger, 99$ Nachos, $l.OO Nathan's Hotdog, and 5 Kenny Rogers Roasters Wings for $1.99-9PM -2 AM WHITE BUILDING ACTIVITIES: Penn State World Cup 3-on-3 Soccer Tournament - 9 PM start (Sponsored by RPTM 356) Open Recreation - 9 PM start Open Pool Recreation* - 9 PM-12 AM (Closed if no Lifeguard) Fitness Center* - 9 PM - 1 AM (‘Requires Fitness Pass/ID) Sunday, Nov. 15 ARHS MOVIE: FUNNY PEOPLE- 9 PM, Auditorium (Note show time) PSU-UPark Student ID required at most events All events are in the HUB- Robeson Center unless note www.latenight.psu.edu Check out Union St. and get < great deal on late night food o Friday and Saturday nights! students? Then stop by the UPAC office located in 229 HUB Robeson and pick up a form, fill it out, return it to the UPAC office as early as possible but no later than the week before the event. We will be happy to publish your information in our weekly meeting section. The Meeting List is published each Monday in the What’s Going ON page. Events are published Monday and Fridays! This service is free j and provided by UPAC! Your Student Activity Fee at Work! otherwise. ARHS Movies Presents FUNNY PEOPLE Special show times this week only! Friday & Saturday: BPM& 11 PM Sunday: 9 PM PSU Student ID required. All ARHS movies are shown in the HUB Audito rium. All ARHS movies are free & funded by UPAC! Your Student Activity Fee @ work! SPA Noontime Concert Series presents... The Makeup Call Friday, Nov. 13,2009, Noon • 1 PM, Ist Floor Lounge, HUB Robeson Center Free admission Penn State Vegetarian Club Presents Peter Singer: The Ethics of What We Eat Nov. 13, 2009,4 PM, 10 Sparks Bldg Princeton professor Peter Singer, the “world’s most influential living philoso pher” and author of the groundbreaking book Animal Liberation will speak about the ethical implications of our dietary choices. The talk will be followed by a question and answer period. Come with your questions and bring your friends! Free! 16th Annual Penn State- Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge Nov. 13, 2009, 10 AM - 4 PM, HUB, Alumni Hall Nov. 15, 2009, 12 PM - 5 PM, Pollock Rec. Room Nov. 16, 2009, 10 AM - 4 PM, HUB, Alumni Hall Nov. 17, 2009, 9 AM - 7 PM, HUB, Alumni Hall Nov. 18, 2009, 9 AM - 7 PM, HUB, Alumni Hall Nov. 19, 2009, 9 AM - 7 PM, HUB, Alumni Hall VISIT psuredcross.org to make an appointment to donate Does your organization have a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly meeting? 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