NDA College #GoBeGreat Teams

“Small acts, multiplied by many, can change the world.”

Here at NDA, we have a tradition of presenting the Go Be Great Award to a coach, team, or program that has gone above and beyond to make the world a better place outside the world of dance. We would like to recognize a couple programs for their year-round involvement in community service. This year NDA is awarding four programs the Go Be Great Award, along with finalists from two other programs.

East Carolina University Dance Team

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great winner

“The ECU Dance Team is known all around Greenville, NC for their support of Pirate Nation. Throughout the year, we participate and volunteer in many events on top of our regular practices, workouts, basketball, football, and volleyball games. We host Girl Scout Clinics to allow local girl scouts to earn their dance badge. We also have a Jr. Dance Team that we provide clinics for and give them the opportunity to perform at games. We travel to dance studios to educate young dancers, assist at Greenville’s Give Kids a Smile event, perform at high school band exhibitions, and volunteer at Read Across America Day and National Lunch week at schools in the Greenville community!

One specific community event that the entire team looks forward to every year is The Beautiful Lives Project. The Beautiful Lives Project gives people with disabilities the opportunity to actively participate in activities and events that may not have been available to them previously due to physical or intellectual limitations. This is an experience where we get the chance to enhance the lives of the participants by joining them and getting to know them while teaching them a fun dance and the spirit the dance team brings to games and community events. This is an inspiring time for not only them, but for us as well. Spending time with these wonderful people and allowing their personalities to shine and showcase what they love to do is a memorable experience for everyone. It is electrifying to see how the art of dance can bring people together to celebrate that no limitation can hold someone back from doing what they love!”

Texas Tech University Pom Squad

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great winner

“Although our season was cut short, we were still able to make over 100 community appearances throughout our season. We went to over twenty elementary and pre-schools where we read to students, helped them with their pep rallies, encouraged them during school races, and celebrated their success in the classroom. Each year we always attend the Buckner Fall Festival which is held by Buckner Children & Family Services where we engage with several foster children. We also work with Brookdale Senior Living Center to help engage their residents especially during football season to help spread Red Raider spirit!

Each year we choose a philanthropy event that we do not publicize on social media, where we are out of uniform, and are doing the even purely for the humanitarian side of giving back to our community. Last year we did a day at our local food bank helping get boxes ready for Thanksgiving; this year we decided to chose two Salvation Army Angels from the Angel Tree. We split our team in half and worked together shopping for the angels, got donations from local stores, and went together as a team to turn in our gifts. All of these appearances and activities allow us to connect with our community, use our platform to help enhance other people’s lives, and help our students continue to have a grateful heart and mind for all that they are given.”

Sam Houston State University Spirit Program

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great winner

“The Orange Pride Dance Team, Coed Team, All Girl Team, and Mascot Team of Sam Houston State University worked together to complete 75 hours of community service each this year. The Sam Houston Spirit Programs completed a total of 6,600 community service hours. These athletes helped give back to the community in many different ways. Some of their community service hours included:

• Donating and helping at the Food Pantry on campus
• Hosting a Bearkat kids camp
• Helping clean offices and move furniture for other departments on campus
• Volunteering at the Good Shepard Mission in Huntsville
• Volunteering and cleaning up equipment at Golds Gym
• Donating clothing
• Volunteering at Arnauds Food Truck in town
• Volunteering at HEB in town
• Volunteering at Rita B Huffman (Animal Shelter) in town
• Volunteering at local dance studios and cheer gyms

These student athletes work hard in and out of practice. They are very appreciative from the support they continue to receive from the University and Huntsville community, and are showing their community why America needs spirit.”

Neosho County Community College Spirit Program

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great winner

“It is a tradition of the Neosho County Community College Spirit Program to participate in a community service Scavenger Hunt the first week of school. This has been a fun way for their team to bond together, set a standard for representation, and give back to their supportive community. This allows them to get familiar with the people and places of the town by cleaning windows, picking up trash, leaving uplifting notes, taking a snack and water to local policemen, and a variety of other tasks. Another big service they have participated in for the last two years is their Veterans Day Luncheon. The team helps transport Veterans from their cars to the school’s Student Union, where they are greeted with goodie bags and led to the cafeteria. They then help carry trays, get drinks, and socialize with our veteran community throughout the meal. They also sign Christmas cards for the Veterans to be sent during the holiday season. The team is always a so humbled by the experience, and grateful for the opportunity to show their appreciation for their service to our country. Over the past year, this program has put in over 300 hours of community service, not just counting these events, but also serving at local organizational parties, hosting mini cheer clinics, delivering Poinsettias during the Holidays, as well as helping clean up and provide meals for vendors during town festivals. Serving and giving back is an essential aspect of our SHO Spirit culture!”

Elon University

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great finalist

• Served dinner at a local church
• Moved students onto campus
• Participated in a “Kick out Cancer” kick-boxing
• Participated in a dance class designed for those who are challenged with disabilities.
• Walked in the Christmas Parade for the town of Mebane, North Carolina.
• Read books to grades K-5 for World Read Aloud Day
• Relay for Life race raised $1,225

Xavier University

2020 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship Go Be Great finalist

• Xavier Manresa, welcoming all new Freshmen to campus
• Community action day, packaged care packages for the homeless and abused women
• Cincinnati Red’s baseball promotions and concessions, greeted fans at Opening day and Parade day
•  Cincinnati Breast Cancer Walk, cheered participants on
• Alternative break, dancer’s studying nursing assisted with physicals and care to under privileged children
• Kid’s Dance Clinic, taught 60+ children from the community a dance routine and performed it with them
• Purchased Christmas presents for under privileged children
• Donated toiletries to a local children’s home for mental health and substance treatment

 

Thank you for all that you do to make a difference in your community, and inspiring others to #GoBeGreat!