History of Women in Buggy
In 1981, Chari Heim (CFA 1983) drove Team CIA’s buggy to the winner’s circle, becoming the first female driver to win Buggy in the event’s history. And no male driver has won since (due to the streamlined design of today’s buggy drivers are all women). Although Buggy was exclusive to male students for decades, it has a rich history of women’s leadership and involvement and 1979 saw the first official women’s heats.
Throughout the history of Buggy, women have been integral as drivers, pushers, mechanics, strategic and academic advisors as well as administrators.
Journey through key moments in the history of women in Buggy.
1922
Sorority Alpha Kappa Psi pushes a buggy in an exhibition heat.
1972
Kappa Sigma Little Sisters run an exhibition heat against Phi Kappa Theta and Pi Kappa Alpha alumni.
1973
The first documented race with a female driver is run. Mary K. Skriba (DC 1974) clocks a time of 5:07.5 in the Kappa Sigma Little Sisters exhibition heat against Phi Kappa Theta and Pi Kappa Alpha alumni.
1976
Joan Bothwell (CFA 1978) serves as chair of the Sweepstakes Committee, the first woman to do so. Legend has it, nobody else wanted the job and Bothwell volunteered to keep the tradition alive.
1979
With enough women at CMU interested in pushing a buggy, Sweepstakes makes the decision to expand, creating a Women’s division in addition to the Men’s division.
1981
Chari Heim (CFA 1983) becomes the first female driver in the winner's circle. Also that year, May Slava Taylor (ENG 1981, 1986) and Sheila Dunham (DC 1984) become chair and vice chair, the first time that women hold both positions.
1989
Trish DiMarco Ng (CFA 1989) becomes the first female safety chair, 10 years after women's push teams were officially invited to compete in Buggy. She was a small woman in stature, and her older brother initially tried to recruit her to be a driver. While she didn't fit inside the Buggy, she did want to get involved, and the safety chair role was a perfect fit.
1998
Fiona Bedford (MCS 1998) becomes Buggy’s first female head judge.
2003
Janice Golenbock (SCS 2001, 2003), Carla Geisser (SCS 2004) and Brooke Abounader (DC 2003) serve as the first entirely female Sweepstakes Committee.
2004
Even though female push teams have been on the rolls schedule since 1979, these groups competed in borrowed buggies. That all changed in 2004 when Jaci Feinstein (ENG 2006) served as head mechanic for the Kappa team that competed as the first all-women's team. That year, Kappa's sisters constructed a buggy from scratch, but weren't able to complete it in time to compete. So the team borrowed a metal frame and shell from another organization to get Ursula started.
2011
Like many women of slight stature, Jessica Thurston (CMU 2009) was recruited as a driver on her first day of orientation. She drove for team Fringe for four years before taking the role of chair of the Sweepstakes Committee during graduate school, then returning as Head Judge. She rounded out her Buggy experience after graduation as the first female commentator for the event in 2012.