GCCA All-State Cheerleader

SEB’s Howard Named to All-State Cheerleading Squad Howard to be recognized at State Cheerleading Championship Ashlyn Howard, a 17-year-old senior at Southeast Bulloch High School, was named to the 16-member All-State Cheerleading Squad during the Georgia Cheerleading Coaches Association’s (GCCA) Cheerleader of the Year Competition at Columbus State University, August 11. The All-State Squad will be recognized at the State Cheerleading Championship November 10, and the top two cheerleaders will receive college scholarships. “Ashlyn is an incredible student, cheerleader, and role model for everyone on the Southeast Bulloch Cheerleading Team,” said Meredith Jones, SEBHS head cheerleading coach. Howard was nominated for the GCCA Cheerleader of the Year Scholarship Competition by Jones. To be considered, this year’s 130 nominees had to be seniors with at least a 3.5 grade point average, participate in school and community service projects, obtain community references, and submit a 300-word essay about how cheerleading has impacted their lives and how they will use it in the future. "To be quite honest, I cannot imagine a better student, hard-working athlete, and simply stated, good person that you would want to represent everything for which this award stands," said Southeast Bulloch Middle School Teacher William “Billy” Haas, who wrote one of Howard’s letters of reference. Her application mirrors Haas’ comments. She has been an honor roll student throughout high school, and she is an active member of eight extra-curricular organizations including student council, Beta Club and the National FFA Organization. She serves as treasurer of the senior class and captain of both SEBHS’s football and competition cheerleading squads, where she was named Most Valuable Cheerleader. "I admire her drive and self-motivation as well as her ability to motivate others to do their best, while never settling for anything less than perfection,” said Jones. Once Howard was notified July 20 that she had made the GCCA’s top 40, her stunt group, her cheerleading coaches, and she put together a required, two-minute cheer, dance and stunt routine for the August 11 event that showcased her skills in tumbling and stunts. She also participated in an interview session. The Top 16 cheerleaders were chosen based on their application (25 percent), interview (25 percent), and performance (50 percent). Howard is the daughter of Rocky and Jackie Howard of Statesboro. She plans to attend Georgia Southern University next fall.