By Megan Doyle
The experiences gained through the marching arts stay with performers long after they’re done spinning a flag, hitting a drum, or playing a horn. While many performers enter and succeed in every industry from medicine, to law, to humanitarian work, to the arts, following their marching careers, many also choose to stay involved in the activity as music educators, administrators, or designers. In 2021, WGI created the I AM WGI: Future Leaders Program (FLP) to help cultivate the next generation of leadership in the activity.
Kennedy Riles and Devon Kugler are two alumni of the inaugural FLP class. We caught up with them to reflect on their experiences, half a decade later.
Program members go through a three-year mentorship program, where they work alongside the WGI Board of Directors to learn how the organization operates, as well as advocate for the current performing membership of the activity.
Riles is currently a color guard instructor for Pope HS in Marietta, GA.
“The Future Leaders Program, for me, was an opportunity to get more involved in WGI and also have more of an understanding of what WGI is outside of the performer aspect. My relationship to it was as a performer, but this kind of allowed me to see behind the scenes and more of the administrative side to it, which I was really interested in.”
The FLP allows performers to work alongside WGI decision makers. This hands-on experience allows program members to gain the knowledge and experience they need to affect positive change in their local, regional, or national marching arts communities.
The FLP also allows members to network and meet with a diverse and open-minded group of collaborators. Riles notes that she has benefitted greatly from this.
“The FLP program has definitely helped me to expand my network. Putting me in a position to talk with people that I wouldn’t normally get to and being able to learn from different educators really expanded my knowledge and also helped me become a better instructor.”
Kugler is a color guard instructor at Walton HS, also in Marietta, GA. She emphasized the importance of her participation in the program for her development.
“It allowed me to try out these new projects and meet people that I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
FLP members, with their close ties to WGI’s performing membership, are uniquely equipped to advocate for the issues facing today’s performers.
Kugler described a few projects she worked on in the FLP, like pushing for more gender inclusive language to be used in judge training as well as the creation of resources for inclusive costuming.
Her favorite project, however, surrounded the wristbands given to competing groups at WGI World Championships. The wristbands, meant to blend in on a variety of skin tones, weren’t.
“They were putting it on their ankles, and that wasn’t the best way to navigate that.” Kugler said. “I wanted to see if there were different options that we could have the wristbands be that would actually match skin tones. So, we thought the gold was a little bit more meaningful as well as being neutral.”
Performers at World Championships still compete wearing gold entrance wristbands. FLP members, with their firsthand and recent experiences performing, are uniquely able to identify both large and small ways to improve the performer experience.
The FLP is connected closely with WGI’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. Both Riles and Kugler went on to serve on the committee following the program.
“We work closely with the FLP and I still get to work with a lot of the same folks that were part of the FLP committee.” Kugler explains. “We get to be a part of that and bridge the gap a little bit for any new committee members that come on board, and also the students, having them have somebody who’s been in their shoes before.”
Applying for a program like the FLP can be intimidating. Riles and Kugler offered some advice that they think is important for potential new members to hear.
“I would say just go for it. If you’re chosen for the opportunity, be really immersed in the experience and come ready with ideas to present. Everyone is so open-minded,” Riles said. “The whole point of this is to provide positive change and growth for WGI. Come ready to share your ideas and to receive feedback. Just go for it.”
Kugler said to those considering applying, “Tell us your dreams. Where do you truly see the activity growing? If you have ideas or have the passion for it and you’re willing to work at it, you should be applying to the Future Leaders Program.”
Performers just like Riles and Kugler are on the floor today, too. Through the program, performers who want to take their passion off of the floor and into the realm of improving the activity for all can do just that. As the activity grows, fresh ideas and voices are needed for it to prosper.
About the author:
Megan Doyle is a freelance feature writer for WGI Sport of the Arts, telling stories that highlight the people, passion, and performance behind the activity. Based in Dayton, she focuses on thoughtful pieces that capture the heart of the marching arts community.
