1999 saw the first African-American leprechaun, 2000 the first female Irish Guard member. This year: the first African-American drum major.
Tambre Paster, a junior from Monroe, Louisiana, majoring in aerospace engineering, won the honor based on marching and conducting auditions judged by her fellow band members and the band’s directors.
An assistant drum major last year, she will be the first woman in 16 years to lead the Band of the Fighting Irish onto the field.