SSince transferring at the start of her sophomore year, junior Sami Kirkpatrick has become an important member of the NDB spirit squad, contributing both on the cheer team and behind the scenes as the team’s social media manager and photographer. “I’ve danced my whole life…when I came here, I tried out for cheer…I wanted to continue cheer because it’s really fun and it’s always been a part of my life,” Kirkpatrick said. Her outreach work started when she began bringing cameras to games and competitions, quickly becoming the team’s designated photographer. By July, she also started running the squad’s Instagram. “Everyone kind of relies on me to know what to post and to know when to post things…it’s been fun to show up for them in that way and express creativity while also marketing our team,” she explained.
For Kirkpatrick, showing up means more than just performing: “Showing up for my teammates has always been a big part of just being on a team…we all want the same thing, which is to win.” Balancing cheer and photography can be challenging, especially during competitions, but she finds ways to make it work, taking photos at awards or coordinating with coaches and parents. Whether performing on the floor or capturing her teammates’ moments, Kirkpatrick continues to support and strengthen the spirit squad in multiple ways.
