DAWN YUKI BECK, 1988-89

Home: Carmel, IN

Married name: Dawn Yuki Colombo

Husband's name: David Colombo

Children: Danny, 8; Andrew, 4; Brianna, 1

Current occupation: Stay at home mom

Past jobs/life situations that have contributed to the richness of my life: Being a mother has brought me the most joy! I have also been a civil rights attorney as well as a consumer law attorney for the UAW. My most fulfilling role as an attorney was doing pro bono cases for clients who did not have the means to pursue their claims.

Hobbies/passions that I enjoy: I enjoy helping out at my sons' schools, dancing with my baby daughter, reading, biking and taking nature hikes in the park with my children.

Still involved in twirling? I plan to start teaching next summer.

What made/makes the Golden Girl position so special: For me, being the Golden Girl was so special because it had been a dream of mine to twirl with the "All-American" Marching Band since I first started twirling. It is a position steeped in tradition and I felt a certain responsibility to maintain a proper image that reflected well on the marching band and Purdue University since it is one of the few widely recognized twirling positions in the country.

How being Golden Girl has shaped/impacted my life beyond Purdue: I was a Silver Twin the first two years of my college career. Then I tried out for Golden Girl and did not receive the position. So I practiced harder and was named the Golden Girl for my senior year. Thus, the first lesson I came away with was the value of commitment and never giving up on a dream. That value has helped me with other aspects of my life, and I hope to instill it in my children. I also feel that being the Golden Girl brought me more confidence and positive self esteem which has helped me to be a better person at the workplace and on the homefront!

Favorite memories from being Golden Girl: I have many fond memories of the band's trip to Washington, D.C. to march in the presidential inaugural parade in 1989. It was so cold that the Girl in Black, the Silver Twins and I were leaving our sweats and capes on until the very last minute. I wasn't sure how I was going to stand the cold temps (much less twirl) but as soon as we were on the parade route, the people cheered so loudly for us that I soon forgot about the cold. And when we reached the Grandstand, I performed a few tricks and waved to the Bushes - and was so proud when George Bush waved back!

Back to Bios