Cheerleading camp
The Emporia High varsity cheerleaders recently attended the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) four-day summer camp at Emporia State University with more than 500 cheerleaders attending from the surrounding states. Awards were given for individual as well as team accomplishments.
The EHS Varsity — senior Carissa Schmitz, junior Aubrey Armitage and sophomore Kaitlyn Miller — received the All American Team Member award, “the most prestigious award in cheerleading today,” said the news release. The All-American nominees, “individuals who display strength in cheer motions and technique, leadership ability and/or overall attitude at camp,” were seniors Schmitz and Rachel Patterson; juniors Armitage, Megan Landwehr, Taylor Mason and Haley Risley; sophomores, Drew Garza and Kaitlyn Miller; and freshmen, Olivia Granado and Ashley Wheeler.
The varsity cheerleaders also received the Herkie TEAM Award, given to squads who show “leadership, values and teamwork”; the National Championship Bid Winner, awarded to the team “exemplifying the best technical skill and cheerleading technique.” This bid is extended to teams to compete at the NCA National Championship or the NCA All-Star National Championship, both in Dallas, Texas or one of the U.S. championships; and Spirit Stick Winner, presented to the squad showing the “most sincere spirit and enthusiasm throughout the entire week at camp.” The EHS team also received the Technical Excellence award, presented to squads “showing outstanding effort put forth during evaluations,” which included “motions and stunting.” The squad received five superior evaluations and one excellent. Coaches are Tara Henton (head coach) and Jami Dikin.
The freshmen cheerleaders, Granado and Wheeler, were awarded for Top Team Game Day Cheer, Champion Chant, Most Improved, Spirit Stick Winner and Technical Excellence (stunting). They received five superior evaluations and one excellent. Coaches are Bonnie Young and Ashley Arndt.
Doctor initiates
Emporia first-year medical students at KU who were honored at the University of Kansas School of Medicine traditional White Coat ceremony to note their inauguration into the medical profession were Nidhi Patel, daughter of Narendra Patel; and JoHanna Suzanne Peterson, daughter of Ed and Janet Peterson. Patel and Peterson are graduates of Emporia High School.
Oread scholar
Amanda Lyn Roberts of Emporia was one of 229 Mount Oread Scholars at the University of Kansas who walked up the hill today. The Mount Oread Scholars Program is “designed to facilitate academic connections on campus and is part of the University Advising Center; the walk signifies the beginning of a higher education journey,” said the news release. Roberts, the daughter of Larry and Pamela Mechtley and Emporia High School graduate, is a freshman studying pre-journalism at KU.
Peer Educator
Tyler Thompson of Emporia, a sophomore at the University of Kansas studying chemical engineering, has been selected as a peer educator to mentor KU students in the Learning Communities program. He is the son of Kenneth and Deborah Thompson and a graduate of Emporia High School.
St. John’s student
Chris Smith, son of Gary and Ruth Smith of Emporia, has enrolled at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn., for the 2008-09 academic year. Orientation begins Aug. 24 and classes, Aug. 27.