Susan Plass was born in Philadelphia but moved to Kennebunk as a toddler in 1970. She attended Consolidated School and graduated from Kennebunk High School. She went on to receive a teaching certificate from the University of Maine at Farmington and then worked as a teacher and substitute teacher for a total of twelve years. Plass left teaching to devote herself full-time to the Kennebunk Twirlers, becoming the group’s director and coach in 1992. It is a year-round, full-time position, which Plass undertakes entirely as a volunteer.
Though Plass was already twirling a baton as a three-year old, she did not begin formal lessons until the fourth grade. By the age of twelve, she had begun teaching younger students. She thrice led her Kennebunk High School team to be Maine State Champions in the “Senior Small Dance Twirl” competition.
The Kennebunk Twirlers, under Plass’ guidance, have won numerous Maine State Titles and championships, including state titles for teams, and state titles for one baton, two batons, three batons, and dance twirl. Plass herself is a professional member of the United States Twirling Association, Vice President of the Maine State Baton Council, and on the staff of the community’s Healthy Kids Club.
In spring 2005, a scout recruited the Kennebunk Twirlers to perform with approximately 800 other twirlers as part of the halftime show at the 2006 Capital One Bowl. They are the first twirlers from Maine to be invited to a bowl show, and it is an honor they have repeated every year since. Because the Kennebunk Twirlers’ skill level is so high, they are routinely placed in the highly televised front and back rows of performers.
Plass has ensured that her twirling legacy will continue by establishing The Nancy M. Falcone Scholarship Fund in memory of her mother, also a dedicated twirl volunteer. The fund annually awards two college scholarships of $850 apiece to band or twirl students from the Kennebunks.
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