Log into Canvas with your University of Nebraska–Lincoln or TrueYou credentials.
September 11, 2026
As a world champion twirler and two-time Miss Majorette of Nebraska for baton twirling, Jayda Turner has seen a lot of big stages.
This fall, she’s stepping onto a stage she’s dreamt about since childhood: Memorial Stadium. Even though she grew up nearby, taking the field with the pride of all Nebraska will also be her first time experiencing the Sea of Red for herself.
“I am so excited, I can’t even put it into words,” Turner said. “I’m anticipating the energy, but I know it’s something that you can’t really understand until you’re there. But I do know that I’m going to feel so proud.”
Turner’s debut as a feature twirler for the Cornhusker Marching Band is something of a homecoming for the second-year student from Bellevue, who twirled for another Big Ten university during her first year of college.
“Pretty quickly, I realized I wanted to be closer to home. I think I always knew Nebraska was my place — it’s been my home forever and is where all my success has come from — but it just took a little extra time to realize I needed to get back here.”
A twirler since she was three, Turner brings her impressive resume home with her as well. Alongside her Omaha-based club team that she trained with throughout her childhood, Turner took home second place at the 2022 World Baton Twirling Championships. Three years later in 2025, her team and her went back and won the whole thing.
“We’re all based in Nebraska and have been practicing together since we were little girls, so they’re really just like a family to me now,” she explained. “Being able to finally go to the world championships with them and win gold was just perfect. And, we just qualified for worlds again next year.”
Despite her worldwide success, Turner is just as proud of the wins she’s earned here at home as Miss Majorette of Nebraska for 2024 and 2025. In the role, Turner has twice represented Nebraska at the Miss Majorette of America baton twirling competition.
“There’s a sense of pride that comes with being able to twirl for the state, just like there is for the University of Nebraska,” she said. “Representing your home is one of the greatest feelings and a big responsibility, because I’m kind of the first peek into Nebraska for some people from all around the world. It’s a huge honor.”
As for her first time representing the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Turner admits to being a little nervous. Thankfully, she has a little trick for putting the nerves out of mind.
“My mom always says, ‘You’re not nervous, you’re excited.’ So, before we run out on the field for the pregame show, I’m going tell myself that I’m not nervous — I’m excited, I’ve worked for this and I’m where I’m meant to be.”
Some parts of this site work best with JavaScript enabled.