Twirler Emilie Thibeault ’24, M’25, has delighted Lebanon Valley College Athletics fans during halftime performances at football and basketball games. Now, she’s taking her talents from Annville to Italy after qualifying to represent the United States in the 2025 International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) Nations Cup.??

The IBTF Nations Cup, scheduled for Aug. 2–10 in Torino, Italy, is where the World Majorettes and World Baton Twirling Championships will take place. Thibeault qualified for the event through the National Baton Twirling Association (NBTA) by winning the Adult Solo event and placing second in the Adult 3-Baton event at the IBTF Qualifier in January in Aiken, South Carolina.???

“I am so grateful to have qualified for the Nations Cup,” Thibeault said. “It has been a goal to be part of Team USA and compete in a competition of this level. I am incredibly honored to represent the United States. I am looking forward to traveling with my baton family and enjoying twirling in Italy.”?

Thibeault has performed as the LVC Feature Twirler and even inspired the next generation by hosting Twirler Days and teaching younger kids how to twirl and perform. She serves as the President of LVC’s Baton Twirling Club and performed in the London New Year’s Day Parade with The Pride of The Valley Marching Band.?

“My favorite part of twirling is getting to perform for my school,” she said. “I love giving back to the twirling community by hosting these events and being a role model for younger twirlers.”?

Thibeault has been twirling since she was seven years old and became interested in the sport because her mother, Heather Thibeault, was also a baton twirler when she was younger. Emilie worked to improve her twirling skills before coming to Lebanon Valley by participating in many competitions and performing as the feature twirler for her alma mater, Pequea Valley High School.??

Thibeault is pursuing a master’s in Speech-Language Pathology after earning a bachelor’s in Communication Sciences and Disorders in 2024. She decided to go into the field because her brother attended speech therapy as a child, and she wanted to help others in a similar way. Thibeault aspires to work in a medical outpatient facility with pediatric and geriatric patients. She expressed that LVC has been instrumental in helping her work toward her career goals and objectives as a twirler, which played a key factor in her decision to attend The Valley.?

“Overall, Lebanon Valley was the best option for my academics and offered me the chance to continue twirling.”?