Tag Archives: Nicole Lauchaire

Cheerleaders Gear Up for 2012 National School Spirit Day

Varsity Celebrates 4th Annual National School Spirit Day on September 6, 2012

Memphis, TN - August 28, 2012 – Cheerleaders and dancers across the nation are gearing up for the 4th annual National School Spirit Day on September 7, 2012. Cheerleaders and dance teams across the nation have pledged to conduct at least four hours of community service in the week leading up to National School Spirit Day on September 7th.

VarsityNational School Spirit Day celebrates the leadership among cheerleaders and dancers and shines a spotlight on the positive attribute of teams across the country. Members of spirit squads (cheer and dance teams) develop a range of character traits from the work they do giving back to their schools and communities. Between activities such as pep rallies and alumni events, community service and general student leading, cheer and dance teams are always rising above and beyond the demands of their teams.

“While cheerleaders are recognized for spirit-raising activities all year long, they do so much more to benefit their communities and schools,” said Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President, Corporate Marketing & Communications at Varsity Brands. “That’s why Varsity created National School Spirit Day four years ago. It is a great way to honor the accomplishments of cheerleaders and dancers who are making a difference in communities across the country.”

This year, there will be two prizes – one for a team or individual, and one for an entire school.

Team/Individual Prize Pack

Teams performing at least 4 hours of community service each in the week leading up to National School Spirit Day your team could win these great prizes:

  • 250 Rooter poms, 150 sets of Thunderstix, 100 sets of Spirit Fingerz, and Custom “U-Build-It” tee for each team member from Varsity Spirit Fashion
  • Practice cheer mat (single roll) from Ross Athletic Supply

School Prize Pack

If a team was able to get their entire school involved in the week leading up to National School Spirit Day, they are eligible to win these great prizes:

  • $1000 School Spirit Scholarship for the school principal to award to a student demonstrating outstanding school spirit from Herff Jones
  • Digital Camera for the Yearbook Staff from Herff Jones
  • $1000 in school supplies donated to your school from Carolina Pad

Cheerleaders can visit the National School Spirit Day website (www.nationalschoolspiritday.org) to pledge their community service and learn more. Some of the standout service activities from last year included:

  • Costa Mesa Cheerleading Squad hosted a heroes rally to remember, mourn and never forget. They are raising funds to donate to a 9/11 charity as well as having a collection center to send overseas to troops.
  • Lady’s Island Middle School cheerleaders collected school supplies for the Franciscan Center of St. Helena Island, SC during the week of September 5-9th. The Franciscan Center is an outreach center staffed by approximately 60 volunteers that offers academic assistance, computer training, and adult English language classes to the community.
  • Shelby County West Middle School celebrated National School Spirit Day by having a sleep-over and making hundreds of cards to send overseas to our troops. They wrote customized messages in each card to give our soldiers a little love from home.
  • The St. Paul’s High School “Bulldogs” cleaned their community park and the feeder school buses, and baked warm cookies to deliver at the local nursing home. In previous years, they washed cars and cleaned the school buses inside outside for the upcoming Football season.

About Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1974, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, many of which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Sponsors for Varsity events include Gatorade, Degree Girl, Playtex Sport and PBTeen. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 350,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. In 2012, Varsity purchased American Cheerleader Magazine, which has showcased the cheerleading community since 1995. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

Cheerleaders Gear Up for 2012 National School Spirit Day

Varsity to Live Stream Division 1A of College Championships

Memphis, Tenn., January 12, 2012 – Varsity is pleased to announce that Division 1A Finals in all categories will be available for live streaming on Sunday, January 15, during the National College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship.

VarsityFor $7.99, cheer and dance team fans will be able to watch Finals as they happen during Day 2 of the National Championship. Full coverage of Division 1A Finals, featuring Cheer, Pom, Hip Hop, Jazz and the Awards Ceremony will begin at 1:30 EST on Sunday, January 15.

“We are thrilled to work with our team to provide this service to cheerleading and dance team fans around the country,” says Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications. “We know that not everyone can be in Orlando for the Championship, but this gives them a change to watch the exciting team performances in real time.”

Varsity will continue to post video from all routines on http://varsity.com, so fans of all divisions afcan watch their favorite teams.

For more information, visit the Varsity Cheerleading and Dance Page on Facebook. Please share the link with your readers.

About Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 300,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

Varsity to Live Stream Division 1A of College Championships

Cheerleaders Pledge 60,000 Hours of Community Service to Date for 2011 National School Spirit Day

Varsity Brands Celebrates 3rd Annual National School Spirit Day on September 9, 2011; More than 200,000 Hours of Community Service Conducted Over Past Two Years

Memphis, TN - According to a recent survey of 1,016 teen girls conducted by Varsity Brands, when concerned about an issue, cheerleaders are more likely than the average teen girl to volunteer (56% vs. 46%) and join an organization within their school (43% vs. 24%).

Varsity Logo

Varsity

“While cheerleaders are recognized for spirit-raising activities all year long, they do so much more to benefit their communities and schools,” said Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President, Corporate Marketing & Communications at Varsity Brands. “That’s why Varsity created National School Spirit Day three years ago. It is a great way to honor the accomplishments of cheerleaders and dancers who are making a difference in communities across the country.”

National School Spirit Day celebrates the leadership among cheerleaders and dancers and is meant to shine a spotlight on the character that being on a cheerleading or dance team builds as well as on all that they do to give back to their schools and communities. Cheerleaders and dance teams across the nation have pledged to conduct at least four hours of community service in the week leading up to National School Spirit Day on September 9th.

“It’s great Varsity created National School Spirit Day to get cheerleaders across the country to come together and do something to give back to their communities,” said Kendall Jenner, reality TV star and cheerleader. As part of National School Spirit Day, Jenner and the Costa Mesa Cheerleading Squad volunteered with Meals on Wheels in Santa Monica, CA to deliver healthy meals to those who are homebound. “This day really brings attention to all the incredible things that cheerleaders are doing.”

Cheerleaders can visit the National School Spirit Day website (www.nationalschoolspiritday.com) to pledge their community service and learn more. Some of the service activities taking place this year include:

  • In addition to the Meals on Wheels community service with Kendall Jenner, in honor of the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, the Costa Mesa Cheerleading Squad is hosting a heroes rally to remember, mourn and never forget. They are raising funds to donate to a 9/11 charity as well as having a collection center to send overseas to troops. Truly a school and community event, it is not just the cheer team donating service time but also the football team and entire community.
  • Lady’s Island Middle School cheerleaders are collecting school supplies for the Franciscan Center of St. Helena Island, SC during the week of September 5-9th. The Franciscan Center is an outreach center staffed by approximately 60 volunteers that offers academic assistance, computer training, and adult English language classes to the community.
  • Shelby County West Middle School is celebrating National School Spirit Day by having a sleep-over and making hundreds of cards to send overseas to our troops. They are writing customized messages in each card to give our soldiers a little love from home. The cheerleaders feel this is the least they can do for all the hard work and sacrifices our soldiers make for our country.
  • The St. Paul’s High School “Bulldogs” are cleaning their community park and the feeder school buses in their community and baking warm cookies to deliver at the local nursing home. In previous years, they have washed cars and cleaned the school buses inside outside for the upcoming Football season. They feel community is what drives them to become better examples in the school.

“Cheerleaders and dancers are doing this year-round in their communities,” said Lauchaire. “National School Spirit Day encourages them to be visible leaders in their communities, and hopefully, inspires others to do the same.”

Taking a closer look at cheerleaders specifically, the Varsity Teen Girl Study also revealed the following:

  • Cheerleaders are more likely than the general teen (57% vs. 46%) to hold a leadership position in or out of school; cheerleaders are more likely to be a part of Student Council (33% vs. 25%) and programs connected to the arts than the average teen girl.
  • 81% of cheerleaders have grade point averages of 3.5.
  • Ninety-three (93) percent of teen girls participate in one or more activities at school.
  • 65 percent of high school girls participate in a school sport. The top 10 most popular include track and field, soccer, tennis, basketball, volleyball, softball, cross country, swimming, cheerleading, and dance team.
  • A majority say that playing some type of sport/spirit team generally makes them happier (78%), builds their overall confidence (73%) and helps to relieve stress (69%).

Varsity’s study surveyed 1,016 teen girls ages 13-18 to represent the roughly 14 million teen girls across the United States and sought to find out more about this powerful teen demographic, how they spend their time, how influential they are as a group and where they hold the most power of influence.

About Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 300,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

Cheerleaders Pledge 60,000 Hours of Community Service to Date for 2011 National School Spirit Day

Varsity Campers Help Raise Funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

In all, 350,000 cheerleaders and dancers will participate in the “Team Up for St. Jude—Spirited by Varsity” program.

Memphis, TN (June 8, 2011) – Beginning this May, Varsity’s summer cheerleading camp season will kick off in all 50 states. The 350,000 cheerleaders and dancers that will head to Varsity summer camps will learn cheerleading basics like crowd leading and cheers, and the safest techniques for stunting, pyramid building and spotting.

Varsity LogoThis year Varsity, the leader in instructional cheerleading and dance team camps, is teaming up with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to support its mission of finding cures for children fighting cancer and other catastrophic diseases.

All incoming campers have been asked to bring five donation letters with them to camp to send to family and friends in the hope of raising essential funds for the world renowned children’s hospital. All campers that bring their five letters to camp will receive a special Team Up for St. Jude pin.

“I can’t think of a better partnership than St. Jude and Varsity. We are thrilled to team up with them to raise the funds that are so crucial to treating children with life-threatening illnesses,” said Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications. “Cheerleaders have prominent roles in their schools and communities, and we know they will put their all into making this initiative a success for St. Jude and for its patients.”

“The Varsity camps are an ideal place for us to educate young and enthusiastic athletes about the lifesaving mission of St. Jude,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude. “The energy of the cheerleaders and dancers will not only help us spread our message of hope to their networks but also raise critical dollars so that we can continue to search for cures for these precious children.”

All donations will be tracked and the team that raises the most money for St. Jude will be awarded an all expense paid trip to Memphis, Tenn., to visit St. Jude, meet St. Jude patients and their families, attend a recognition dinner and a Team Up for St. Jude photo shoot, and visit the Varsity headquarters for a tour and a press conference.

About Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, some of which have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Sponsors of Varsity events include Gatorade and Nike. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training 350,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. The Varsity camp brands include Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), National Cheerleaders Association (NCA), United Cheerleading Association (USA) and American Cheerleading Association (ACA). Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. St. Jude was named the nation’s top children’s cancer hospital in the 2010-11 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings published by U.S. News & World Report. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

Varsity Campers Help Raise Funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Varsity TV Announces its Exclusive Cheerleading and Dance Team Coverage

The largest online cheerleading and dance entertainment source releases its schedule of 2011 competitions.

Memphis, Tenn., January 2011 – Varsity TV has announced its schedule of competition coverage for the 2011 cheerleading and dance season. Viewership of cheerleading and dance videos is expected to top 3 million streams per month during the cheerleading and dance peak season.

Varsity.com is the most comprehensive online cheerleading and dance team video site, with exclusive Varsity TV original programming, as well as the largest collection of cheerleading and dance team performance videos. Fans of Varsity TV can choose from thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos from the largest events in the country and featuring the top performances from college, high school and all star teams.

“Varsity TV is the ultimate destination for fans of cheerleading and dance team videos. We have more than 20,000 videos available on demand for our viewers, including programs that can’t be seen anywhere else,” says Nicole Lauchaire, Vice President of Corporate Marketing and Communications. “We’re thrilled to provide top quality original programming and videos for everyone passionate about cheerleading and dance.”

For more information on Varsity TV, visit http://varsity.com.

SCHEDULE OF EVENT COVERAGE

  • NCA Senior & Junior High School National Championship
    • Jan. 8 & 9 – Dallas Convention Center
  • UCA/UDA College Cheerleading & Dance Team National Championship
    • Jan. 14, 15 & 16 – Walt Disney World® Resort
  • Athletic Championships
    • Jan. 22 & 23 – Providence, Rhode Island
  • UDA National Dance Team Championship
    • Feb. 5 & 6 – Walt Disney World® Resort
  • UCA National High School Cheerleading Championship
    • Feb. 12 & 13 – Walt Disney World® Resort
  • USA All Star Championships & USA Collegiate Championships
    • Feb. 26 & 27 – Anaheim Convention Center
  • NCA/NDA All-Star National Championship
    • Feb. 26 & 27 – Dallas Convention Center
  • NCA High School Open National Championship
    • March 5 – Kentucky International Convention Center
  • NDA National Championship
    • Mar. 12 & 13 – Hard Rock Live at Universal Orlando
  • UCA National All Star Cheerleading Championship
    • Mar. 12 & 13 – Walt Disney World® Resort
  • USA High School Spirit Nationals/Dance/Drill Nationals
    • Mar. 25, 26 & 27 – Anaheim Convention Center
  • NCA and NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship
    • April 7, 8 & 9 – The Bandshell/Ocean Center/Peabody Auditorium Daytona Beach, Florida
  • International Cheer Union World Cheerleading Championships
    • April 29 – Walt Disney World® Resort

About Varsity

Varsity is the source for all things related to cheerleading and dance team. With a rich heritage and traditions dating back to 1948, Varsity is an innovative global leader comprised of the leading spirit brands and organizations including its educational camps, clinics, competitions and uniforms to teams around the world. Varsity’s National Championships, which are held at the Walt Disney World® Resorts, have been televised on ESPN Networks for more than 25 years. Sponsors of Varsity events include Gatorade and Nike. Web-based Varsity TV features thousands of cheerleading and dance team videos and has become a favorite cheer destination for cheerleaders and coaches alike. Varsity has led the way in cheerleading safety as a supporter of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators since 1987 and as a camp leader training more than 300,000 cheerleaders per year in cheerleading fundamentals with an emphasis on safety. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Varsity employs 5,000 employees nationwide. For more information about Varsity, please visit http://www.varsity.com.

Varsity TV Announces Competition Coverage