3 Competitions, 5 Teams Pursuing Greatness

To be great is one thing, to inspire greatness is another.

At NCA Competitions across the nation, we have a tradition of presenting the NCA & NDA Go Be Great Award to a coach, team, or program who goes above and beyond to make a difference in their communities. This past weekend, NCA chose 5 programs from 3 different competitions to receive this award.

Oklahoma Classic

Cheer Eclipse

This program participates annually in multiple activities in their community and have named their internal philanthropic committee “Purple Hands”.  Each year, they help with the Special Olympics Summer games for their region. Athletes, coaches and family members can be found cheering on the sidelines, presenting medals, taking pictures, leading dances, holding signs, or simply giving a high five to the special Olympians and saying “great job”.

Some other projects that Cheer Eclipse participates in is sending care packages overseas to troops, School Supplies Drive each year for local schools and collecting mittens, hats, scarfs and other winter accessories to donate to local children’s home in the winter. While not in the gym practicing, Cheer Eclipse can be found sorting and packing boxes for local food banks, supporting local events financially and supporting the fight against Breast Cancer and Autism Awareness.

Charles Page High School

There are 7 cheerleaders at Charles Page High Schoool who completed over 2,500 volunteer hours in 2019 at a camp called Make Promises Happen. These girls dedicate their time, talents and energy to allow individuals with disabilities to live “life without limits”.

These athletes volunteer on weekends throughout the school year and at week-long camps throughout the summer. Even though camp is an hour and a half away from their town, it never stops them from volunteering. Many weekends, they would leave right after cheering at a Friday night football game so they could get to camp as soon as possible.

At camp, each counselor is paired one on one with a camper to assist them with all camp activities, including personal care and all camp events. Activities with campers include swimming, archery, arts and crafts, high ropes course, talent show and a dance. Each of these girls has dedicated a tremendous amount of time to ensure that their campers have the best possible experience and get the chance to have the same adventures as the rest of us, regardless of disability.

They bring this same level of friendship and inclusion to our school, where they are all champions for every student to be included and involved. They make an impact every single day as they lead others with their servant hearts. We are so proud of them and the commitment they each make to “changing lives one camp at a time!”

Capitol City Classic

Fame All-Stars

Fame All-Stars has committed to a year-round involvement in community service. This gym recently adopted one of their families who lost their home and belongings in a house fire. They provided them with gift cards, financial resources and care packages to help the family get back on their feet.

They walk in local parades and collect for food banks and pet shelters and donate backpacks to a local elementary school for kids in need. This gym calls themselves “one family” and try to look out for everyone when needed.

Midwest Open Championship

Ursuline Academy

This team makes it a priority to give back to the community every year. They were part of the Purple Stride Walk which is Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s most powerful vehicle for fundraising and awareness. This cause is close to their hearts because one of their teammates lost her mom to this battle last year. At this event, Ursuline Academy created cheers to support the cause and cheered on the walkers in route.

They also worked with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk by dressing up in pink and cheering on the walkers at the finish line. By leading the crowd in group dances, these girls kept the energy high and positive. This was their fourth consecutive year participating and supporting this event.

At the “Be The Light Walk” (a suicide awareness walk in Creve Coure Park) the girls helped set up the event prior to it beginning. During the walk, they supported the families of victims of suicide at the water stations, offering a smile and conversation.

Platinum Athletics

One of the teams from Platinum Athletics received donations for and created “chemo care baskets” to give those currently going through cancer treatment. The goal was to create one or two baskets, but this team went above and beyond getting donations and were able to make 10 beautiful, comforting and fun-filled baskets. Items included soft blankets, hats, activity books, hard candies, lotions and neck pillows which would help comfort and encourage patients as they received chemo.

They also volunteer with the December 5th Fund organization by scheduling and financially funding a family a “day of fun” while their volunteers clean, repair, decorate their homes. They did landscaping, cleaned bathrooms, basements and kitchens for a family currently fighting cancer. The family came home after a day of relaxation and fun to find a spotlessly cleaned and beautiful home.

Thank you to these schools and programs that are going beyond the call of cheerleading to make a difference in our world. #GoBeGreat