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UDA received more American School Spirit Award Applications this year than ever before! Each team was truly outstanding, so it was very difficult for our judges to narrow the teams down to eight finalists. Congratulations to all of the finalists and to our winner!
2009 American School Spirit Award Finalists:
Bryant High School - Bryant, AR
Carlsbad High School- Carlsbad, CA
Dobyns-Bennett High School- Kingsport, TN
Papillion Lavista South High School- Papillion, NE
Sacred Heart Academy- Louisville, KY
St. Charles North High School- St. Charles, IL
Southmoore High School- Moore, OK
West Fargo High School- West Fargo, ND
....and the 2009 overall winner is...
The SABERCAT POM SQUAD from
SOUTHMOORE HIGH SCHOOL in MOORE, OK
The Southmoore High School Pom Squad is the 2009 American School Spirit Award winner! The mission of this team is to create a positive impact on their school, community and peers. The Southmoore Pom Squad gladly takes on the responsibility of creating a highly spirited environment for not only themselves but for their student body and community. Southmoore High School is a relatively new school with this being only its' second year to have grades 9-12.
Principal Roy Smith said "The squad found new and innovative ways to increase school spirit, encourage community involvement, and of course continue to work hard to bring home awards for Southmoore High School." The pom squad at SHS was the first and is currently the only team in the school to win a state championship!
But Southmoore does much, much more than win dance competitions. The team has made community service a large portion of their program. The team organized the first ever SaberCat King Pageant, where young men from various organizations in the school competed in a variety of categories including: sportswear, talent, and on-stage question. The team was able to donate $500 to the Make-A-Wish foundation by holding this event. And the student body is already excited about the 2010 pageant! The Southmoore pom girls also participated in Moore's annual "Say No to Drugs" Red Ribbon Parade. The team marched in the parade, gave out candy to kids, and danced for the crowd.
 One of the ongoing outreach projects that the SHS poms continue to lend their support to is breast cancer awareness. Like many other dance teams across the nation, Southmoore participated in the Race For the Cure; however, this team went above and beyond to get their school involved in helping out a worthwhile cause. They launched numerous events during Breast Cancer Awareness Month to institute support and collect donations. These events included selling dollar tickets allowing students to wear pajamas to school, collecting donations at football games, selling pink SaberCat t-shirts, and pink "SaberCats for a Cure" bracelets were given to the football team and coaches to wear during their games.
 Southmoore's committment to school and community service doesn't stop there. Every year the Special Olympians from Southmoore High School and surrounding schools participate in athletic events leading up to the State Games at Oklahoma State University. To date, the SHS poms have not missed a Special Olympics bowling or basketball qualifying event The team will follow the SHS Special Olympians all the way to the state championship to cheer them on.
The team is also very visible in their community. The team recently helped in the Grand Opening of Moore's new Chick-fil-A restaurant and rue21 clothing store. The girls performed a dance and greeted new customers. The dancers were also invited to be featured on Channel 5's evening newscasts during the stations annual "Pick City Tour". It was exciting for the dancers to show off their school spirit on television!
If there is a reason to cheer, whether it is outside or inside, in the heat or the rain, at a scrimmage, football or basketball game, swimming or track meet, or just for the fun of being together, the SHS pom squad will be there. This team recognizes that one of their main responsibilities as the school's pom squad is to continually support teams at their school.
When they aren't busy dancing at  events or participating in community service, it is likely that you can find them at dance practice, gearing up for their next competition. This past summer the team attended UDA camp at the University of Oklahoma where they had the opportunity to really get to know each other and bond as a team. While at camp the squad received a superior trophy, team routine trophy, home routine trophy, a spirit stick, and most importantly, a bid to the National Dance Team Championship. In 2009, the team placed 10th in the nation in the small varsity hip hop category, so they are eager and excited to attend in 2010.
The team maintains a squad GPA of a 3.48 and 15 of the 17 dancers are in advanced placement classes. The team recognizes that they wouldn't be the great team that they are if they didn't have amazing coaches. Their coach, Mrs. Rousseau, was recently named the OSDTDA West Coach of the Year. She is the driving force behind the team, always pushing them to be their best.
This article highlights only a handful of the many amazing things that this team has accomplished. In addition to what you have already read, the team also performs at NBA games, participates in Festival in the Park, uses their skills to produce a DVD promoting Oklahoma's Physical Fitness initiative, cleans up the grounds around their school, and hosts a variety of team fundraisers.
Kristin, a member of the Southmoore Pom Squad, said "I've always wanted to change the world. But as I've gotten older, I've realized that it might be a little harder than I imagined. I don't have to change the world, but I can impact someone's life, my school, or my community. I believe Southmoore Pom represents this ideal. This squad not only helps others but it has given me more confidence to become a better leader. I am proud to be a Southmoore Pom."
Well Kristin, UDA is proud of your team too! Congratulations again to the Southmoore High School Pom Squad, the well deserved winners of the 2009 American School Spirit Award!
Be sure to check back next week to read about other teams who received Special Recognition from our judges!
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