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You are here: Home / 2010 spotlight: Music alumna served as emcee for Royals during World Series
Danaya (Atkinson) Roller

2010 spotlight: Music alumna served as emcee for Royals during World Series

When the Kansas City Royals went on the postseason run that led to the Word Series, Danaya (Atkinson) Roller, ’10, got to run right along with them.

January 26, 2015 by Michelle S. Rose

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Roller is an integral part of Kauffman Stadium. For four seasons she has been the official in-game emcee for the Royals, which means she is the face and voice associated with the game-day experience. She pumps up the crowd, runs promotions and contests, chooses people to participate in activities and more.

She works at all 80-plus home games.

“I was part of the All-Star Game in 2012, and thought that would be the pinnacle of my cool experiences. But then this postseason push started, and I thought: I am going to get to be a part of history with the K.C. Royals!”

Postseason history

During the postseason, she prepped the home crowds before the Royals’ national TV appearances.

“I get fans ready to be quiet, then ready to go wild. The amount of adrenaline when 40,000 people are reacting to what you’re saying is just unreal.”

The Series loss was disappointing for her, but she is proud of the team and thinks Kansas City showed a great face to the rest of the country.

“While it wasn’t the ending we hoped for, the memories of winning the Wild Card, sweeping and then clinching the American League pennant, and battling through seven games of the World Series will be impossible to forget.”

The emcee position is an “awesome, cool, unique job” for the born-and-raised Royals fan, but it’s not her only job. Roller, whose MSU degree is in music education, is a choir/music teacher in the Blue Springs School District.

She sometimes gets to use her singing background at the ballpark.

“I am the girl they grab if someone cancels at the last minute! ‘God Bless America’ is the one I usually sing.”

She said her training from Missouri State allows her to get on the microphone with little hesitation.

“I worked with (former director of choral activities) Dr. Guy Webb, and one of the things he does is help you feel comfortable in any environment,” Roller said. “MSU helped me be proficient and instilled confidence in me.”

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 2015, Alumni Spotlight, Athletics, january, Royals, spring

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