Watson Chapel Senior to Serve as UAM Feature Twirler

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Courtesy of Media Services

Tara Mitchell Bateman

      The state's top-ranked high school feature twirler, Tara Mitchell Bateman of Watson Chapel, has accepted a scholarship to serve as feature twirler for the University of Arkansas at Monticello's "Pride of Southeast Arkansas" marching band, according to Gary Meggs, director of bands at UAM.

   The daughter of Marc and Debbie Bateman, Bateman has been a majorette and band member in the Watson Chapel schools for six years. She was "Bandsman of the Year" for two years and received the "Director's Award" in 2004.

   Bateman has twirled in competitions throughout the state and region and has been ranked number one in the state for two years. She is also a member of a dance-twirl team called "D's Dynamite" under the direction of Diane Burton, which finished second nationally in a competition at the University of Notre Dame. Bateman was ranked seventh nationally at the Notre Dame competition for her twirling abilities.

   Bateman's activities at Watson Chapel High include membership in the Beta Club, National Honor Society and "Who's Who Among American High School Students." She was also named an Arkansas Scholar.