We are the champions

The WNBA Atlanta Dream are Eastern Conference Champions!! This was a really great season to cheer for the Dream. I enjoyed the staff, the experience, and my teammates. This game was crazy! Confetti from the ceiling, pictures on the court, everyone was stoked! Go Dream!

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Remote Kontrol

For the past few years, the KSU Dance Team dances at the beginning of the KSU Freshman Convocation Ceremony. This year along with the Spirit Squad (cheer/dance/mascot), there was a special guest. Remote Kontrol performed and really hyped the crowd of new KSU students. Bryan, the guy on the right, became well known from his fantastic audition for SYTYCD a few seasons ago. He wasn't able to go to Vegas and move on in the competition, but he is so good at what he does and is also a KSU student. Shortly after his audition, he formed a crew called Remote Kontrol. They pop, glide and put on a show. I was chatting with the guys and took the photo opportunity.

Disney World and Universal Studios

Matt and Jeri came to visit Georgia from Utah. The Lukens gang picked them up from the airport and we all drove to Florida for some quality time. Where? The happiest place on earth...DISNEY!

Epcot, I would say that is one of my favorites. I love visiting the countries and we had so much fun. One of my old KSU Dancers was working there for the Spring/Summer so she joined us for some fun, also.

Here we are at Epcot. Little did I know that one of my childhood memories, none other than Captain EO, was back at Epcot!! *For those of you that don't know Captain EO, youtube it. It's with Michael Jackson and it is classic* We enjoyed watching it and it was just like I remembered! We even rode a segway for the first time in one of the centers. The test track was another favorite and had us cracking up the whole time.

Matt, Jeri, Tom and I went to Universal Studios the next day. It was our first time at Universal. Another one of the reasons we went was to experience The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. It opened up in June and it was STILL packed out. It started to rain around lunch time but we still stuck it out and had a great time the rest of the day. Here I am enjoying a glass of butterbeer (if you're read or seen any of the Harry Potter movies, you know what this is). It tastes like a butterscotch, cream soda with a little frost on top. So good!

Mother's Day

The Shooting Stars traveled to the Atlanta Dream's pre-season game in Cookeville, TN, which was an all day event. We met early morning and rode a charter bus to TN, danced/cheered at the game and then drove back. It was fun. I got to know some of my teammates better.

Since I was gone for Mother's Day, my family was able to talk to Laura on Saturday, the day before instead. Laura is currently serving her mission for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Belem, Brazil. We look forward to talking with her on Christmas and Mother's Day. The are always special calls for us. We're so proud of her.

Mr. Harrison retires

Band was a huge memory for me in High School. I went to Sequoyah High School, I was in band and marched all 4 years of High School on the Drumline. Those memories I will always remember. Band practice, band camp, football games, percussion class, drumline practice, traveling to away game on the bus, band competition, fundraisers, friends, etc.

I had the same Band Director, Mr. David Harrison, all 4 years and he was a really great leader. I really respected him and just cherished my band experience. He is planning to retire at the end of the school year, so they put together a huge retirement program and party for him at the school.

The program and presentations were nicely done. It was also nice to see a lot of faces I haven't seen in a while. Afterward, there was a reception. They had a book to sign for him and a line so we all got a chance to talk to him one on one briefly. The booster club was also selling these "Harryisms" t-shirts. On the back of the shirt were phrases I'd heard all through High School so I had to get one. Thought I'd share some of my favorites:

Life According to Harry:

Attitude is everything.
One person can and does make a difference.
Work hard, play hard.
On time is late.
Bigger is not better - better is better.
Help others.
Find work that is meaningful.
Listen and learn from others.
Don't turn the music down - feel the rhythm and the lyrics.
It is easier to get forgiveness than permission.
You know more than you think.
You can always get a standing ovation by pulling out a giant American flag.
Choose battles that count.
The best is yet to be.
What goes around comes around.
Lead, follow or get out of the way.

-David E. "Harry" Harrison

Ok, that was actually all of them. They are all so good. Anyway, I thought this was worthy of a post.

Atlanta Dream Shooting Star

I decided to audition for the WNBA Atlanta Dream Shooting Stars Cheer Team. I have missed performing for a crowd and wanted an opportunity to dance on a professional team. The Dream plays in Philips Arena and basically has a summer season. It runs April- August/Sept so it wouldn't conflict with my commitment to KSU Dance Team.

I went to a prep clinic and Q&A session one night to decide if I liked their style and it was something I wanted to do. I decided so. So, on April 18th I auditioned. I made it through prelims and semi's and made it to finals! With each cut came new choreography.

The following week consisted of Monday the 19th- interview, boot camp and choreography; Tuesday the 20th- boot camp and choreography, Wed the 21st- final audition. And I am proud and excited to say that I made the team! It was a great feeling to prepare, go through the process and make it. I haven't been on a team in 5 years. Tom came to support me as well as a couple of my dancers from KSU (they surprised me). My dancers came stocked with signs and were definitely loud. I really appreciated the support on my behalf.



Here is the first team picture after we all made the team. My old coach from KSU, Sandra, made it back on the team. We were even in the same audition pair for the routine! That in itself was awesome.


So now, I'll be dancing at all of the WNBA Atlanta Dream basketball games in Philips Arena. Looking forward to the experience. Come to the games!