Leading With Spirit
Cheer captain and scholarship recipient Emma Vorndran (B.S. Biochemistry ’25) shares how she found her own leadership path as a cheerleader.
What is it like to be part of Texas Cheer?
This is my fourth year on cheer, and I am honored to be an ambassador for UT. I love driving excitement for our teams, watching our fans’ smiling faces and seeing kids in their cheer uniforms, knowing how much they look up to us. It’s an amazing feeling to help create that atmosphere.
Can you describe the commitment required to be a cheerleader?
Cheer is demanding of our time and efforts. We attend three practices and participate in two weight training workouts each week. We cheer at football, baseball, basketball, volleyball and soccer games — there is no off season for cheerleaders. It’s a time commitment of about 25 hours a week. When I started out, my goal was to be a servant leader and help my team. During year two, I was an operations manager and stepped up to co-captain during year three. Now as captain, I am focused on the big picture of what the team looks like and how our members are feeling. Cheer veterans form connections with rookies and lead by example.
Leadership development is an important part of your program. How have your leadership skills improved?
We have an extremely large program, and as a freshman, I didn’t cheer at any games because I was still training. Being part of the team allowed me to grow and be successful through the skills I learned in practice and through mentorship. Now as captain, I attend weekly meetings with our coaches to enhance my leadership abilities. Most of my leadership skills have developed from learning how to accept and give feedback and being a good teammate.
How will a modern, dedicated practice facility impact the cheer program?
Presently we share space and store our equipment in a small storage closet. Having our own space would enable us to keep our belongings safe during games, study and hold meetings in a quiet space, and receive therapy and training when needed. Our team would feel appreciated and cared for, which would translate into our practices. There is a campaign now to fund a new practice facility to be named The Fringe. The name is a nod to our iconic uniforms.
As captain of cheer, you receive a scholarship — how has it helped you?
Amy Porter is a cheer alumna who has generously supported scholarships for the captain and co-captains. The new goal is for all members of the cheer, pom and mascot teams to receive a scholarship. In the past I’ve had to hold a job to pay for tuition, but my scholarship gives me more financial freedom so I can focus on academics and dedicate more time and effort to the team. It means so much when cheer alumni support us and attend our practices before games. Amy’s kind heart, donations and presence have inspired us as a team, and she has created a pipeline for future generations to do the same. She has helped me believe in myself.
What do you love about UT?
I love the interconnection between everyone that makes UT a cohesive and fun environment. Cheer provides the visual effect; band provides the sound; and the cowboys and spurs inspire excitement. Together we create a beautiful sense of belonging to UT, and it is something I’ll carry with me forever.
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