Fundraiser supports twirler headed to Nations Cup
Event features performances, food, raffle baskets; proceeds help Emelia Adam cover costs of competing
Competitive baton twirler Emelia Adam from Hamburg qualified to compete in the 2023 Nations Cup.
Since age 5, one of her main goals since starting this adventure was to make it to the top level of competing internationally.
“I can officially say I am about to accomplish this,” said Adam.
The Grand Valley State University (Allendale, Michigan) sophomore will be heading to Liverpool, England in early August to compete in four individual events: Strut, 2 Baton, 3 Baton, and Artistic Twirl.
To help cover the cost of competing at this level, Adam will be holding a raffle basket fundraiser on Thursday, March 9. All proceeds go toward covering the costs of her trip to England.
“Competing internationally has been one of my lifelong dreams and with your help, it can happen. Just like any other sport, baton twirling costs a pretty penny. This fundraiser will help me with travel fees, registration fees and hotel fees,” said Adam.
Held at the Hamburg Field House in Hamburg from 7 to 9 p.m., the fundraising event features performances, homemade food available to purchase and many raffle prizes. Any questions, call 610-914-5295.
“Mostly everything is donated by businesses, community members or family members. Food will be provided by my wonderful grandmother (anyone who knows Big Sus knows what they will be missing out on if they can’t attend), and other community members,” she said.
The raffle items have all been donated by businesses or community members.
“We have 40-plus baskets and are so excited for everyone to see them,” she said.
The event also features performances by Branches of Dance, a dance studio located on Pottsville Pike in Muhlenberg Township “that I have had the honor of dancing with and teaching at,” and Ab-Salute Twirlers, a group from Brownstown that her little sister twirls with. Adam also will
be performing a couple of routines.
“I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at this event! Coming back home and being able to feel as loved as I do will always be the cherry on top of Hamburg, Pennsylvania,” said Adam.
Entry to the event is free. Adam is holding this event not only as a fundraiser but also as a way to thank the community for their support.
“We made the entrance fee free because there have been so many people from my community that have helped me over my career,” said Adam. “This is also a big thank you to my community and with that I am providing a free night of performances. I haven’t been home a lot since moving so far away for school, but my community never ceases to amaze me with how supportive they are.”
Becoming a competitive baton twirler
Adam started twirling at age 5 after she saw local twirlers performing at the Taste of Hamburger Festival in Hamburg.
“From that moment on, I knew I wanted to twirl. I knew this was going to be my sport,” she said. “15 years later, I can proudly say it has been everything and more than that 5-yearold girl could have wanted.”
During her early years, Adam twirled with the local baton group Twirl Blazers which was instructed by Louise Gassmann. At age 7, she began working with her current coaches, Anna and Casey Bryant from Maryland and their team, called the Class Act Twirlers. She competed with the team for a couple of years. Currently, Adam is only competing in individual events.
What attracted her to this sport is the talent that the athletes in this sport possess.
“This sport is so much more than throwing a baton in the air and catching it. It requires so much more between eye-hand coordination, flexibility, passion, and so much more,” said Adam.
Adam also likes that this sport is giving.
“No matter the situation in baton twirling, you are constantly getting something out of it; whether it be life lessons, life skills, friends that will last a lifetime, connections all around the world, or opportunities that people could only dream of, you are constantly growing and learning within yourself,” said Adam. “This sport has shaped me into the young lady I am today and I couldn’t be more grateful for my metal stick.”
At Grand Valley State University Adam is the feature twirler for the Laker Marching Band. She performs at many events with the band and individually, such as at Relay for Life, elementary presentations, home football games, and home basketball games, to name a few.
“Moving 11 hours away from home has been extremely liberating, yet Hamburg will always be my home, and the Hamburg community has never let me forget that I am loved and can always come back home.”
She is studying elementary education. Her aspirations in life and her professional career are to become an elementary school teacher.
“I have always enjoyed working with children, whether it be in baton lessons, at my mom’s schools, or in my community. My dream of becoming an educator happened around the same time that a metal stick fell into my hand.”
Adam has won numerous local, state and national titles in the last 15 years of her career.
“My aspirations within twirling have always been the same. Become the best version of myself and whatever I accomplish throughout that will be okay with me. Winning has never been the most important thing to me, putting my best foot forward has,” she said. “Knowing that I did everything I possibly could to be the best twirler and person I can be, my life is set. There is nothing more that I want.”
Her accolades include receiving the 2022 AAU Collegiate Scholarship Award, the AAU Joel Ferrell Memorial Award and placing in the top 20 in the Senior Miss Majorette of America Pageant this past summer. She also served as the USA Baton Twirling Ambassador to Peru this past October.
“In 10 years, all the trophies, the metal, and the sashes will just be memories hanging on my wall. But the memories that go along with those awards are the laughs, the friendships, and the growth that made me who I am,” she said.