When Purdue’s beloved Silver Twins are actually twins
From 2008-12, Sara and Chellie Zou performed as Purdue’s Silver Twins. (Photo courtesy of Sara and Chellie Zou)
The Zou sisters initiated endless opportunities by learning to twirl
Good things take time — or a lot of ambition.
Sisters Sara and Chellie Zou learned to twirl at age 17 to audition for roles as Purdue’s Silver Twins. Neither had ever picked up a baton but committed to an intense training regimen and a shared belief that they could make it happen.
“Our strengths were perfect for it,” Chellie says. “We knew how to work together.”
This chance to join the “All-American” Marching Band would open doors to unforgettable experiences and valuable connections.
Becoming experts with batons in just a few short months, they secured their spots on the team of feature twirlers. Their college years consisted of prestigious performances and introductions to the people and places that would go on to shape their careers.
“The friendships we formed during our time as the Silver Twins intertwine with all of our milestones — from career highlights to graduate degrees to long-distance moves,” Sara says.
“Purdue has been so much more than only a place to us,” Chellie says. “It’s been a launchpad, a community and a lifelong network.”
Becoming part of a Purdue tradition
Silver Twins have been a key part of the “All-American” Marching Band for decades. In 1960 identical twins Sharon and Karon Roeske auditioned to be performers. Then-director Al G. Wright is reported saying, “The chance of finding twins who are twirlers are a million to one, so I named them the ‘Silver Twins’ and put them on the field.”
Since the Roeske sisters first performed, the tradition has evolved with every school year. Not all of the Silver Twins have actually been twins — there have been plenty of cases of two talented performers meeting for the first time at auditions.
What never changes? An unparalleled level of excellence. The ability to perform in perfect synch is no simple feat, and most women who take on the role are recognized for their abilities on a national level, holding titles from countrywide competitions.
Most have trained for years, but not all. The Zou sisters only picked up batons after learning about the possibility of becoming the university’s Silver Twins. A chance encounter between two family friends during the Zous’ birthday party sparked the idea.
Their high school band director, Max Jones, sat at a table with one of their mother’s friends who came from a Purdue family. Jones was preparing to join Purdue as an assistant director for the “All-American” Marching Band. He learned more about the Silver Twins and relayed the information.
Sara and Chellie didn’t know a lot about twirling, but they weren’t without a solid foundation for competing — they had been dancing since age 3, and Jones recognized their talents in the color guard.
Committing to intense training with the goal of securing the spot, their hard work paid off and they became the Silver Twins in 2008.
Performing on campus and around the world
At Purdue, Sara and Chellie leaned into their responsibilities as the Silver Twins and their knack for getting involved. Not only were they working toward their goals — they were also meeting other spirited Boilermakers who would go on to become lifelong connections.
Other Purdue feature twirlers have been constant sources of support, even attending each other’s recent weddings. Golden Girl MerrieBeth (Cox) Carlson and Girl-in-Black Meg (Merdian) Stumpf have been their close friends since performing brought all of them together.
Traveling with the “All-American” Marching Band gave them some of their most formative experiences. They were in New York to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Flying to Beijing, they were able to perform on the Great Wall of China while also seeing special audience members: their grandparents.
“We visited our grandparents with our family every year and lived there for a year when we were 10 years old,” Chellie says. “But they had never seen us twirl until our performance with the band. It was really special.”
As Boilermakers, they met alumni from all corners of the globe, including Neil Armstrong and Drew Brees. Attending events and representing the university helped them develop strong leadership and communication skills.
They prioritized helping in any way they could within the College of Liberal Arts. Sara majored in political science and minored in Chinese and communication. Chellie majored in communication and minored in Chinese and psychology. They hosted the naming event for the Brian Lamb School of Communication before working for Purdue alum Lamb at C-SPAN, the public affairs TV network he founded in Washington, D.C.
Setting the stage for success
Everywhere the Zou sisters go, they meet Purdue alumni. Their decision to stay actively involved with the university only felt natural. “No matter where we are, there’s a band alum we can reach out to,” Sara says.
In their jobs at C-SPAN after graduation, they were able to use connections they had made as students. They joined the Purdue alumni club in D.C., as well as where their next move took them — Boston, to attend graduate school at Harvard.
After earning their master’s degrees in marketing management in 2018, Purdue connections brought them to Chicago. Chellie works as the senior manager of transformation at McDonald’s and is the president of the Purdue Alumni Club of Chicago. Sara works as the senior manager of community and market impact at United Airlines and recently finished her term as vice president of the Alumni Club. They are both members of the Purdue Libraries Dean’s Advisory Council.
“We can get back to Purdue much easier now that we’re in Chicago,” Sara says. “We’re close to our family.”
They make it a point to visit West Lafayette for two football games a season, plus a basketball game and spring visit. Being on campus is a reminder of all they’ve worked toward.
“We’re grateful for the opportunities Purdue provided and the incredible people we met along the way,” Chellie says.
