Cheerleading | 12/9/2017 9:10:00 AM

Wingate, N.C.----The Wingate University cheerleading team has been busy serving others during the current Christmas season. The Bulldogs participated in the ninth annual Festival of Trees at Novant Health Matthews Medical Center. In addition, the WU cheerleaders partnered with the Jesse Helms Center to pack and load over 2,000 Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. They volunteered over 50 hours at the Helms Center, an official drop-off location for the world-renown Samaritan's Purse OCC shoebox ministry. 
 
"The Festival of Trees at Novant is always an event which we look forward to with great anticipation," Wingate head cheerleading coach Kelly Sheppard says. "It's so humbling to see how appreciative both staff and visitors are while we are decorating…it is obvious this program serves both the patients and community well."
 
"I am so thankful my company (Novant Health) has a great relationship with Wingate University," Gary Blabon says. Mr. Blabon is the Senior Director of Professional and Support Services at Novant Health Rowan Medical Center and the father of Wingate cheerleading student-athlete Jacqueline Blabon. 
 
"We at Novant appreciate the collaboration in hosting students from the Wingate health sciences program," Gary Blabon says. "I see many similarities in the values of Novant and Wingate. With my daughter Jacqueline serving as a cheerleader at Wingate University…this brings me even more pleasure in the mutual relationship."
 
The Wingate athletic media relations staff caught up with two Wingate cheerleading team members to get their thoughts about their recent Christmas volunteer activities (a transcript of their reflections follows).
 
Kylee Russell
Junior, Charlotte, N.C. (Lake Norman Charter)
 
"For the past three years, I have had the great pleasure of being a part of the Novant Christmas tree decorating. Each year, I look forward to coming together with my team to spread the Christmas spirit and be a part of such a great community event. I am so very thankful Wingate Cheer is able to be a part of something so special. I look forward to going back once again next year!"
 
Jacqueline Blabon
Freshman, Salisbury, N.C. (West Rowan)
 
"I am so honored to help people through Wingate Cheerleading…from decorating the Wingate University tree at the Novant Festival of Trees, to putting a smile on children's faces, to packing and loading boxes for children in need through Operation Christmas Child. This is just a small way to give back during the Christmas season."
 
WINGATE CHEERLEADING

The Wingate University Cheerleaders brought home a second-place trophy from the 2017 Cheer Ltd. Nationals at CANAM, held in Myrtle Beach, S.C. last spring. The Bulldogs placed third in 2016. Wingate competes in the Medium Coed Collegiate category. For more info about Wingate University Cheerleading, please contact head coach Kelly Sheppard via E-Mail at k.sheppard@wingate.edu.
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY
 
Wingate University, consistently ranked as a top 10 "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,600 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 35 minors, 12 career concentrations, nine pre-professional programs, master's degrees in accounting, business, education, physician assistant studies and sport management and doctorates in education, pharmacy and physical therapy.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past 11 years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing colleges in the 2000's with 97 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate is number one in this millennium with 97 Academic All-America® honorees. Wingate is tops among all SAC schools with 106 lifetime Academic All-America® picks. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.
 
Editor's note: The Wingate cheerleaders pictured in the Festival of Trees photo are (left to right) sophomore Megan Huffman (China Grove, N.C.), freshman Kali Snell (Harrisburg, N.C.), freshman Jacqueline Blabon (Salisbury, N.C.) and freshman Abigail DuRant (Kershaw, N.C.)