John R. Adamson (BA ’64, MA ’66):
My earliest memories of the Scottish Highlanders are the memories of my childhood. My dad, Bill Adamson, was the founder and director of the Highlanders. I remember as a child going to football games and other events where the Highlanders thrilled the UI fans. Many of my best memories from high school and college were accompanying the Highlanders on U.S. and European trips. These 60-plus wonderful coeds represented the University of Iowa and the U.S. throughout Europe. Everyone, even the Scots, enjoyed their wholesomeness and warm Midwest charm. The Highlanders were marvelous ambassadors for the University and created wonderful, lasting memories for many, many UI coeds, students, and alums.

Susan Mitchell Adamson (BA ’66):
I chose to attend the University of Iowa because I had heard of the all-girl bagpipe band from an alum in Montana and decided I wanted to join that organization. Never did I believe I would marry into the Adamson family, and that the Scottish Highlanders would play such an important part of my life, not only during my University years, but after graduating! Traveling to Europe with the 1964 band was an amazing experience—we also traveled all over the state of Iowa, and to out-of-state football games representing the University. What incredible experiences we all had with the 77-piece all-girl band… John and I have been married 44 years, have one daugher, and two grandchildren. We currently live in Puyallup, Washington.

Heather Adamson Stockman (attended 1964 to 1968):
The Scottish Highlanders were always a part of my life, from birth to age 19. (My father, Bill Adamson, was the original director of the wonderful group from 1936 until his death in 1965.) My fondest memories were of the European tours. I was fortunate to have traveled with the group in 1956, 1960, and 1964. During these 8–10 week adventures I got to know the girls quite well under a variety of circumstances and challenges, and realized that they all shared membership in a highly talented and respected organization. During long hours of European train travel many of the girls passed the time with knitting projects. This was a great time to chat. Their performances were always greeted with excitement and welcome in every country we visited. These were all exceptional young women, and great ambassadors to the University of Iowa.

Troy Shehan (BS ’93):
I joined the Scottish Highlanders in the spring of 1989 as a freshman at the University. As I began my lessons on the bagpipe (group lessons) I was assigned a ‘Big Lad’. This was a mentor for me as a beginner, someone to help me during my first year as a member, make sure I was on top of things, and help me with any questions I might have. Then in my third year with the group, I became the Pipe Sergeant. This post is basically an assistant to the Pipe Major and included taking care of maintenance issues for the pipes, setting up people’s pipes, tuning pipes, and assisting with lessons. It was a great position for me because I love being very involved when I belong to a group and you can’t get much more involved than that position. Then, during my fourth and fifth years with the group, I became the Band Manager. This position was responsible for managing the funds, expenditures, investments, and other daily business of the group. I worked with the University under the guidance of our advisor, Kelly Soukup. Kelly was with the band for quite a few years and helped keep a continuity across those years while the membership of the band changed quite quickly.  He was a great asset for both the band and the University.

Then, finally, in 1995 I accepted the position of Pipe Major. It was a great joy to be given the trust and the responsibility of that position. I held that position for the remaining years (except for 1997 and 1998). I also had the responsibility of being the final Pipe Major for the band when our organization came to a close in the Spring of 2008. The band had a long tenure at the University and survived several turbulent periods: starting up in 1936; WWII taking the men in the early 40s and the band becoming all women; the change to a co-ed band in the early ’70s; the final half-time show in 1974 when the Hawkeye Marching Band was given that position; and the brief shut-down in 1981 when the University pulled funding for the group. The band then reorganized as a Student Activities group, receiving funding from Hiland Potato Chip Co. for a period of around six to seven years.

As a member of a group you have the chance to make many friends, and I still retain several friends from my early days in the group, as well as later years. Many people in Iowa City also love to share their memories with me; many still talk about the shows at the football games, as well as the overseas trips through the ’50s and ’60s. I feel privileged to have been a member of a group with such a history, a history that is still passed on whenever people gather and share their memories.

One more note: The biggest trip I took with the group, I believe, was the 1991 trip to Mardi Gras down in New Orleans. I was still fairly new to piping (it takes seven years to make a piper, according to the saying), so the daunting task of performing in three large parades totaling 13 miles of route (the longest being six miles for the Rex Parade) was a little intimidating. Pipes don’t do well under parade conditions. But the crowds were well contained, and the parades set up well. And our veteran members of the group had been in similar situations, so most everything went off without a hitch.

Sandra Barnum Lawrence (BA ’65, MA ’75):
I was a Highlander from 1961 to 1964 and went on the 1964 European trip. A highlight for me was directing the group as we sang Scottish ballads during a performance at the New York World’s Fair before leaving for Europe on the Queen Elizabeth. Aboard the Queen Elizabeth, I vividly remember going four stories down into the windowless cargo hold of the ship to rehearse on our bagpipes!

Karen (Rummells) Laszczak:
The Scottish Highlanders on campus have sadly ended, but hold so many memories and a rich history for so many former Highlanders since 1936. As a niece of a Highlander (Shirley Workman Spitler) in the ’40s, I was a Highlander (bass drummer) in the ’60s, and a member of the 1968 European tour. Playing with the all-women, 90-piece bagpipe band, the largest of its kind in the world, was always a thrill, but to perform in front of royalty in Edinburgh was a performance I will never forget. We were proud to represent The University of Iowa wherever we traveled throughout Europe and in the U.S. Friendships we made along the way—with the celebrities, the dignitaries, the fans, and with other Highlanders—were the highlights of our experience. We are happy to know that our long history will be preserved on the UI campus for all to see and to remember.

Pam Klocksiem (BS ’68):
The memories of participating in The University of Iowa Scottish Highlanders made such an impact on my life that 40 years later I’m still an active member of a competitive pipe band!

Penny Hall (BA ’65, MA ’67):
My four-year participation as a piper in the Scottish Highlanders was a highlight of my undergraduate days at the State University of Iowa. There are many, many memories, but one brings smiles every time I think about it. When we traveled by bus, we were often assigned seats. As luck would have it one year I was in a row behind two of my friends who were tenor drummers. When we were in uniform they were required to wear leopard skins as part of the Scottish regalia. These leopard skins included the animal heads, which they needed to place over the back of the bus seat in order to be able to sit.  I have often wondered how many miles I traveled, in uniform, staring into the eyes of the leopards hanging over the seat back ahead of me!

Carolyn Rabe Hock (BA ’64):
I was a loyal member of the SUI Scottish Highlanders all four years I was a student at the University, 1960-1964. The first two years I was a snare drummer and the last two years I was the Drum Major. My fondest memories occurred during our trip to Europe the summer of 1964. We stayed in homes in Scotland—loved the Scottish people who had to be convinced that women could, in fact, play the bagpipes—and performed many places, including the famous Edinburgh Castle. (We saw Queen Elizabeth there as well!). After our wonderful courtship with Scotland, we shipped instruments and uniforms back to Iowa City and toured Europe…all 80-some college girls and our chaperones, the wonderful Bill Adamson family. I shall always consider my association with the Highlanders a very important and memorable part of my college experience. This authentically Scottish tradition brought recognition and positive publicity to the University, education and exposure to Scottish music and culture to the women participants, and loyal support to the Hawkeyes with performances at every home football game for many years. The entire University community needs to know about the Highlanders via Spectator!