"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Sequoyah Cheerleaders Win Awards

Sequoyah senior Symone Ross performs at a basketball game. Ross was recently offered a job as an NCA cheer instructor after high school. Sequoyah senior Symone Ross performs at a basketball game. Ross was recently offered a job as an NCA cheer instructor after high school.

The Sequoyah Schools’ cheerleading squad spent their summer doing cheers and tumbles—not just for practice, but to celebrate their outstanding achievements at summer camp. The squad brought home awards for spirit, leadership, values, teamwork and sportsmanship and earned a chance to compete on a national level.

“I am very proud of these young ladies on their accomplishments and the way they represented our school,” said Bonnie Griffin, Sequoyah Schools’ cheerleading coach. “Summer cheerleading camp is not only a great time for squads to learn new material, but it’s also an avenue to compete, and these girls competed against some really big schools and did a great job.”

The squad earned the NCA Spirit Award for demonstrating the most team spirit, positive attitude and sportsmanship throughout the week, and the Herkie Award for demonstrating strong leadership skills. Five team members earned All-American titles. They are Marisa Hambleton, Shelby Blossom, Symone Ross, Robbin Collins and Hailey Weaver. All-American cheerleaders earn the opportunity to perform at one of several NCA sponsored events throughout the year, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a University of Hawaii football game.

As a top-performing squad, the girls earned the opportunity to compete at an NCA national competition event during the 2009-10 school year and to perform as a squad in one of the NCA sponsored events. The squad has chosen to perform at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and is currently holding fundraisers in hopes of spending Thanksgiving Day cheering and dancing through the streets of New York.

Two cheerleaders, twins Symone and Sasha Ross, also were offered jobs as NCA cheerleading instructors after the completion of their senior year.

“This is a really great opportunity, as it would offer the girls summer employment throughout college and often leads to career opportunities after college,” said Griffin.

The Sequoyah Schools’ cheerleading squad will compete at the OSSAA regional competition on Saturday, September 19.

Sequoyah Schools, a boarding school for Native American students, originated in 1871 as an orphan asylum to care for children who were orphaned by the Civil War. Now known as Sequoyah Schools, it is named for Sequoyah, the scholar who developed the Cherokee syllabary. The school is regionally and state accredited for grades 7-12 and has become the school of choice for more than 400 Native American students every year. Sequoyah Schools is located five miles southwest of Tahlequah, Oklahoma. For more information call 918-453-5400 or visit Sequoyah Schools’ online.