Penny Janowski is a graduate of Crestview High School in Florida, where she served as head majorette and drum major for three years. She graduated from FSU in 1961, having served as captain of the Marching Chiefs majorettes her junior and senior year, under the direction of Dr. Manley R. Whitcomb. Penny served as President of Tau Beta Sigma, the band honorary for women, 1960-61; President of Phi Alpha, the Social Work Honorary, 1960-61; Chaplain of Alpha Gamma Delta, 1960-61; was selected to be a member of Garnet Key, 1959-60, and Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities, 1960-61.
After graduating from FSU, Penny worked as a Social Worker for the State in Largo, Florida. While working as a Social Worker, Penny began teaching baton twirling at the local junior and senior high school. This was at the suggestion of Dr. Manley R. Whitcomb to the local band directors that they ask for her assistance with their majorettes. In 1972, Penny opened her own Baton, Dance, and Gymnastics studio in downtown Largo. Ultimately, in addition to teaching at her own studio, Penny managed and staffed the Baton, Dance, and Gymnastics programs for five local recreation departments. Her students won many State and National Championship titles including Miss Majorette of Florida, Miss Majorette of America, Dance Twirl State and National Championships, and the State Parade Corps Championship for twenty-five years continuously. She accompanied her students to Notre Dame University each summer for the National Championships and, in 1991, traveled with two students to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, where they won the International Duet Championship.
Penny became an Auxiliary Judge for the Florida Bandmasters Association in 1960, traveling with Dr. Whitcomb to her first FBA judging assignment at FBA District I in Pensacola, Florida. She continues to judge for FBA both on the district and state level. She also has judged for the past forty years throughout the United States for the National Baton Twirling Association. As Chairman of the FBA’s Auxiliary Committee for eleven years, Penny was instrumental in updating the FBA Adjudication Manual. Currently, she is serving on the FBA Auxiliary Committee’s panel for Adjudication Training.
Penny taught and co-directed the FSU Auxiliary Camp from 1961-1994. She opened her own Auxiliary Camp at Eckerd College in 1972 and eventually expanded it to a full Band Camp. The camp currently trains students in five areas: Auxiliary, Drum Majors, Percussion, Leadership, and Symphonic Band. It is now the second largest Band & Auxiliary Camp in the state of Florida. Many of the Marching Chiefs Drum Majors, Flags, Percussionists, and Majorettes are former students of Penny’s Band Camp.
One of Penny’s goals during her forty years of teaching twirling was recruitment of majorettes for the Marching Chiefs. She has had dozens of students twirl with the Chiefs and is proud to have had eight students become Captain of the majorettes in the past twenty-five years.
Serving on the FSU Band Alumni Board from 1993-95, and again from 2004-2006, has offered Penny the opportunity be a part of a group whose main purpose is to support the needs and interests of the Marching Chiefs.
The Largo Chamber of Commerce selected Penny as the Citizen of the Year in 1999 for her Contribution to the Youth of Largo. She is now serving as the Vice Chairman of the Largo Recreation, Parks, and Arts Board supporting activities for the citizens of Largo. Still residing in Largo with her husband Jim, Penny has marched at Homecoming with the Alumni Band since its inception and continues to attend FSU football games.