Alyssa McLaughlin of Derry has been selected as a senior representative and Twirler Section leader of the 300-member University of Connecticut marching band for the 2008-2009 school year.
McLaughlin graduated from Pinkerton Academy in 2005 and is going into her seventh semester at UConn as a mathematics and psychology major. McLaughlin, 21, is a member of the Twirler Section of the UCMB, and is in her fourth season with the band.
Senior representatives are the four members of the senior class who are selected by their peers in the UCMB to represent them at the band council meetings. As a senior representative, McLaughlin is responsible for preserving senior traditions and helping the communications coordinator in developing the yearly band roster.
While serving the band as a senior representative, McLaughlin will also be responsible for the Twirler Section as a section leader. Section leaders of the UCMB are those individuals in each section of the band who are selected by the band directors who exemplify the overall spirit of the UCMB. As a section leader, McLaughlin will lead her section from Day One of preseason until the final performance of the season. McLaughlin will also set the example both musically and visually for her own section, as well as all others.
"The success of the UConn marching band can be attributed, in great part, to its dedicated members and tremendous student leaders," said Dr. David Mills, professor and director of bands. "There is a strong sense of community in the band, and band members sustain this feeling through an intense schedule of football games and exhibition performances at band competitions throughout the fall semester."
