By: Addison Mixson, Staff Writer
As the Wingate University’s Cheerleaders focus on cheering on their Bulldogs during this year’s football and basketball seasons, they are working just as hard to fundraise for their trip to the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida in the Spring.
The NCA national competition that they attend is an excellent experience for the girls on the team. Mary Keener, a sophomore on the team explains, “I’m really excited to go to Nationals because it’s a great experience for our team and promotes the name of our school to other universities and people across the country who also participate in the event.”
Before school started, the team had already begun a T-shirt fundraiser. They have also recently started hosting concessions for all of this season’s Carolina Panthers home football games, along with additional events like soccer games, ACC Championship, Bowl Games and Playoff Games, with the opportunity to earn a portion of their sales.
Mia Fowler, a junior cheerleader, and head of the fundraiser says each person that comes to help with the concessions has the ability to earn money from tips. Fowler is excited to show her dedication to the team, making sure that the team will benefit.
Coach Kelly Sheppard describes the team’s efforts, “Our team works very hard to raise money each year! Now that we are participating in the NCA College Nationals competition, we are working hard to raise more than ever. In addition to working at the Bank of America Stadium events, we will also host our annual Mini-Bulldog Cheer Camp in February. This is an event that we look forward to each year–there is nothing better than sharing our passion with young children and then watching them perform all that they have learned!”
Ciarrah Brown, a freshman cheerleader, describes the journey ahead, “It will be challenging, but the ends justify the means. It will be all worth it when we’re having fun at nationals.”
Edited By: Rachael Robinson
Wingate Triangle 