As Howard University’s 102nd Homecoming approaches, the Howard University Cheerleading team is preparing to continue their tradition of bringing enthusiasm and school spirit to the festivities.
Former Howard cheerleader Amaya Wright understands the commitment that comes with being a part of the squad and representing the university during one of its biggest traditions.
“Being a Howard cheerleader meant more than just performing on the sidelines,” said Wright, a senior broadcast journalism major from Memphis, Tennessee. “There [was] a lot of preparation, teamwork and dedication that people didn’t always see, but it was all part of representing Howard.”
Homecoming gives the Howard cheerleaders a chance to highlight their efforts, commitment and program’s development. In addition to making significant contributions to the Howard experience for students, alumni and supporters, the team has continued to stand on their own two feet.
For Wright, being a part of the cheerleading squad created a lasting connection to Howard and its culture.
“Homecoming has always been special because it brings everyone together and shows how much pride people have in Howard,” Wright said. “Even though I’m a former cheerleader now, I’m still proud to have been part of something that contributes to the university’s spirit and traditions.”
The athletes have also contributed to the development of Howard cheerleading’s significance to the university through their dedication, school spirit and involvement in major campus events. These efforts have grown the team’s identity, enabling it to stand independently while maintaining ties to Howard’s customs and culture.
Lorna Cole’s connection to Howard cheerleading goes back decades.
While cheering all four years as a Howard student from 1986 to 1990, Cole said the experience gave her opportunities to travel with the team, including a trip to California in 1990 when Howard played Southern University for the second annual Los Angeles Football Classic.
The experience was about more than traveling and performing. According to Cole, it also encouraged members to take their academics seriously.
“Cheering encouraged us to keep our grades up,” Cole said. “Our standards went beyond the sports teams. In order to remain on the squad, we had to maintain a higher GPA, and around 90% of us did.”
Cole said the academic standards contributed to building a foundation that many cheerleaders carry with them long after graduation. Many former members remain involved with Howard cheerleading, she said, but others also go on to pursue careers in other industries.
“We had lawyers, businesswomen and so many successful women come through the program,” Cole said. “As alumni, we have been cheering for 49 years.”
Cole has carried on the tradition of being involved. She has helped collect money, encouraged current cheerleaders and tried to give back to the program for the past 15 years.
When generations of Bison return to campus for Homecoming, this bond is particularly evident. Cole described the celebration as an electric experience, with former football players, cheerleaders and other members of the Howard community returning to celebrate.
According to Cole, generations of cheerleaders have carried on the custom of giving back, including her mentor, Brenda Jenkins, the program’s first and only cheerleader to be inducted into the Bison Athletic Hall of Fame, who still supports the team and attends events in her cheerleading uniform.
The current generation of Howard cheerleaders is carrying on that legacy.
Kiah Byrd, a junior health science major from Houston and current Howard cheerleader, said the connection between generations is one of the things that makes Howard Homecoming unique.
She also said Howard cheerleading takes advantage of this uniqueness by combining tradition with modern trends. Byrd said the team continues to use cheers that have been passed down through generations while incorporating different styles into their performances.
“Howard cheer is very big on tradition, and some of our cheers are a decade old,” Byrd said. “We have a specific mix of stomp and shake and traditional.”
The current team is still contributing its own character to the program, even though the traditions are still in place. Byrd said the squad contributes high energy on the field, court and mat while representing Howard in its iconic uniforms.
“There’s something about the way our iconic Howard uniforms bring us all together while still letting our individual beauty shine through,” Byrd said.
Byrd believes that the value of tradition, unity and individuality in Howard cheerleading is what makes it important for her. The team continues to push itself while honoring the generations that came before.
“With cheer, we always push to be better than the day before, and it shows,” Byrd said. “I love Howard cheer and I love being a cheerleader.”
Copy edited by Daryl R. Thomas Jr.
