Rachel Saint Vincent (Anderson) AKA “Peanut”
What year(s) did you march in the Blue Knights? 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2008
What section? Colorguard, Colorguard Captain in 2008
Where did you attend high school? Green Mountain High School
Education beyond high school? I earned my Bachelor of Arts from CU Denver in Elementary Education
What is your current occupation? I run my own business in Elementary Education as an Online Educator on Outschool and I am a Customer Service Representative with Outschool, helping families plan for their educational needs.
Why did you choose to march with the Blue Knights? I loved the dark music, the hand-painted flags, and the family of people. I wanted to march with Oracle Winterguard, and I knew being a part of Blue Knights would help me and fulfill me in my creative journey.
What is your favorite drum corps memory? I feel like I can’t choose one memory. Looking back at my time in Drum Corps I have such a nostalgic feeling. The joy of spending the summers with my best friends, the exhilaration of performing for big, enthusiastic crowds, the pride in hard work and accomplishment are irreplaceable cornerstones in my young adult life. The smell of the diesel fuel and the taste of snow cones and Gatorade always bring me back. I am still best friends with many of the corps members I marched with, and my life literally would not be what it is without Blue Knights.
How have the Blue Knights impacted your life? Blue Knights honed my work ethic, taught me the value of creativity and art. It also brought me my husband and my closest friends.
What are some of the Blue Knights’ core values/principles that have resonated with you in life?
Blue Knights honed my work ethic, it taught me how to commit and follow through. It showed me that when you work hard, there is always a worthwhile outcome. It showed me the value of art and creativity. Art brings people so much joy and gives meaning to life; gives us all something to look forward to. It not only brings joy to the performer/artist but the spectator and participant. Blue Knights brought me close to other people that think and work like I do. It created a circle of like-minded, like-hearted people for me to “do life” with long after my age-out year.
What advice would you tell someone considering trying out for the Blue Knights?
Work hard! It’s not going to be easy, but spending a summer with the Blue Knights (or many summers!) will “pay off” in so many expected and unexpected ways. It will likely be the best choice you’ve made in your young adult life.
How would you like to see other Blue Knight alumni get involved in the
organization?
I loved the Alumni Corps, and would love to see more opportunities like this!
∴ Want to be featured in a future Alumni Spotlight? Email us at Alumni@AscendPerformingArts.org
