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Notre Dame Students Raise Funds for VRS Cheer Squad Uniforms

The Vern Riffe School Cardinal Cheerleaders are sporting a new look this season thanks to a little help from some friends.

“When I heard that Vern Riffe (School) didn’t have a cheer squad because they didn’t have uniforms, I felt like my school could help,” said Notre Dame High School student Emma Lauder. “I feel that students at Vern Riffe deserve to cheer and if uniforms are all that’s holding them back, then we could help them fill that need.”

Students at Notre Dame raised more than $600 to outfit the squad with new red, white, and blue uniforms. The VRS cheerleaders wore the new uniforms for the first time at the Cardinals’ first home game of the season on Jan. 12 against Jackson City.

It’s a big deal, according to VRS teacher and cheer squad adviser Missi Wolfenbarker, who started the squad in 2012 with simple outfits of T-shirts, skorts, shoes, and pompoms.

“The girls were so excited to get their new uniforms. Once I passed them out, they tried them on and came down to my classroom to show me how they fit. One of them walked in with their uniform on and did a jump,” Wolfenbarker said. “The pride, excitement, and smiles on their faces were just priceless.”

Modeling them for the first time, VRS student and cheerleader Jaycee Yearwood called the new uniforms: “Perfection.”

Emma and her classmates raised money through donations and staged a beauty contest for senior boys at their school. Students voted with donations.

“Our students love interacting with their peers from other schools, and we are honored that Emma and Notre Dame’s student body took this on as a project,” said VRS Principal Tammy Guthrie. “This is a gift from the heart that directly affects the lives of several of our students, and we deeply appreciate the spirit of kindness and community partnership shown by our friends at Notre Dame.”

Vern Riffe School is the school program of the Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities.