MSU grad returns to Columbus with Tops In Blue

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Tops In Blue rocked and rolled into Columbus, Mississippi, last weekend and was seen by over 1,000 audience members.

The premier entertainment group of the United States Air Force performs at numerous venues across the country as well as around the world. The group is made of dancers, singers and instrumentalists from around the world.

One Airman among the 39 talented performers that comprise this year's group was especially glad to be in Columbus. Beaming, 2nd Lt. Lauren Rogers expressed excitement to be back in her home state.

"I'm a small-town Mississippi girl from Meridian, [Mississippi] and I graduated from Mississippi State [University]," Rogers said.

Currently stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Rogers has been away from the family she was always with. Tops In Blue gave her the opportunity to be home again.

"This just means the world to get to travel the world in Tops In Blue," she said, "but also to travel to Columbus, Mississippi, and be close to home and have so many people from my family be able to see me and see what I'm working so hard to be a part of."

Rogers graduated from Mississippi State University in 2013 with a Bachelor's Degree in Public Relations.

"I always thought that public relations would be something I would love to do and it worked out perfectly, because I got a Public Affairs job," Rogers said. "I love it! It's exactly what I would want to do in the civilian sector, but in the Air Force."

Rogers said that she chose Mississippi State University because it was close to home and was still part of Mississippi culture.

"[During college] I had a little six-year-old sister at that time so it was really nice to be close [to home]," she said. "But just the heritage and the tradition that Mississippi State stands for and the family aspect, I think it really helped raise me to be the officer that I am. The discipline and commitment to hard work and all of the values I was taught as a Mississippi girl really has impacted leadership in the Air Force."

During college Rogers was part of a worship group. She joked that she's been singing since before she could speak and Tops In Blue was an opportunity she never dreamed was possible.

"I'm so honored to be a part of an Air Force program that's been around almost as long as the Air Force itself," Rogers said. "We travel around the world promoting the Air Force mission while supporting service members and their families."

Rogers said she has learned a lot about herself in the last three months as part of the Tops In Blue team. She claimed that because of the constant travel and heavy performance schedule that the members learn a lot about leadership and followership.

"We work up to 20 hours a day and get a few hours of sleep and then start the next day and we perform almost every other day," she said. "We drive to a new city and perform and then drive to the next city, so it's the hardest work I've ever done in my entire life. It's such a great opportunity and it's so rewarding when we get to perform for people, whether it's here or overseas, and get to be a piece of America or a piece of home to people."

The group performed June 20 in the Mississippi University for Women Rent Auditorium. Among the 1,000 audience members were 25 of Rogers' family.

"I want to thank everyone for supporting Tops In Blue, the expeditionary entertainment group for the Air Force," Rogers said. "We travel the world to spread the message of the Air Force and for America and we are just thankful that we get to do what we do."