Frog alumna wins "The Amazing Race"

Fort Worth, TX

1/29/2009

It's been an "Amazing Race" for TCU alumna Starr Spangler '08 and older brother Nick.

The siblings took first place and the reality show's $1 million prize in the finale, which aired in December on CBS. The duo charged through the last leg of the global race in Portland. They balanced on a beam high in the air, descended a zip line from 2,000 feet and solved a complex puzzle.

They then searched throughout the city for clues to where the finish line was before frantically hailing a taxi to reach it.

After crossing the finish line, the siblings hugged. Starr, 21, told her brother: "You're my best friend. I love you."

Nick said he was proud of his sister, who is a year older.

"She's been unbelievable on this race," he said. "More than $1 million, more than being the winners of 'The Amazing Race,' "I love the experience that I've gone through with my sister, and I've loved seeing her succeed so greatly."

Contestants logged nearly 40,000 miles on a trip that took them through Brazil, Bolivia, New Zealand, Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan and Russia. Team Spangler won the most rounds on the series thanks to their speed and determination despite the occasional clueless cab driver. Starr even showed her Horned Frog spirit on one episode, wearing a TCU-baseball hat as she spray-painted taxis in India.

While at TCU, Starr was an early standout too – making the Showgirls Dance Team her freshman year at age 17. In the spring of her freshman year, she auditioned for and made the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, where she appeared on another reality show – CMT’s “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Cut.”

According to her Web site bio, “Starr’s cousin was born with cerebral palsy, and after visiting this child, Starr saw her ultimate calling was working with children with special needs.”

“Upon graduation (from high school), Starr looked at several different colleges, unsure of which place would be right. Starr decided to attend TCU, a school which had an incredible reputation for their education department,” continued the bio.

“As she and Nick prepared for the race it was clear that new doors were opening and her time in Texas was coming to a close. Starr graduated magna cum laude from TCU’s College of Education and is currently an analytical behavior analyst, working with autistic children.”