Mary Ann Wallace '68 was awarded the title of Illinois Twirler of the Year at a twirling contest in Aurora in November.

This is not the first honor to fall upon the pert, blue‑eyed blond. Last autumn Mary Ann was named Des Plaines Twirling Champion. This competition enabled her to advance to the state semi‑finals and from there to her title as state champion. Sometime in July or August she will travel to California with the Jo‑Gaye Twirling Corps for national competition.

In her 13 years of twirling Mary Ann has accumulated an extensive collection of awards and honors. During the summers before her freshman and sophomore years she entertained at the Singer Bowl Pavilion at the World's Fair. She has also twirled in the past three V-Shows and at this year's Senior-Faculty Tea.

Mary Ann, who is captain of the Maine West Twirlers, admits that she spends a good deal of her time practicing. "About two and a half hours, I guess!" During the football season she practices a period and a half with the band each day. She also

works with her twirling corps on Saturdays and has a solo lesson once a month.

Since Mary Ann still retains her amateur standings, she has received no cash awards for her talent. She has, however, received many scholarship offers. She hopes to attend either Northern Illinois University or Monmouth.

The thing she likes best about Maine is the teachers. "So far I've had some pretty great teachers," asserted Mary Ann. To her the most important things here are "learning, along with extra curricular activities." Her advice to students is "Work up to your full abilities."

Only two things at Maine disappoint her. They are the bad turn‑out at school functions‑primarily dances‑and the lack of a field house.

Mary Ann has a full schedule with advanced and college algebra, English III Ace., U.S. history, Spanish III, and Junior Leaders.