UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Patriot Dancers Recognized

August 2, 2012

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

August 2, 2012

The University of Texas at Tyler Patriot Dancers team was recognized at the 2012 Universal Dance Association Collegiate Camp held at Texas State University in San Marcos.

The team earned the ‘Most Collegiate’ Award, and they placed in the top three in the fight song competition. About 20 teams from Texas and around the country participated this year.

“I’m so proud of everything the team accomplished at camp, especially the ‘Most Collegiate’ award, which is chosen by the UDA staff and represents the team who showed the most all around collegiate spirit,” said Jessica Reel, UT Tyler Patriot Dancers coach. “This award is only given to one team from each division and puts the Patriot Dancers on par with exceptional teams like the University of Oklahoma and University of Texas pom squads. This is a very talented group of women, and they have set the bar high for the upcoming season.”

Members, listed by hometown with classification, are:

HALLSVILLE – Christina Dodd, freshman.

NORTHLAKE – Celinda Connolley, freshman.

ROCKWALL – Emily Auth, freshman.

WHITE OAK – Lauren Marvin, junior.

WHITEHOUSE – Katrina Flores, Hannah Martindale and Sarah Leonard, juniors.

The team learned 10 routines and were evaluated on nine routines individually and one routine as a group. UT Tyler participants also earned blue ribbons for their individual evaluations, and the team earned a blue ribbon for the fight song evaluation.

The Patriot Dancers are a competitive dance team that performs at all home athletics events as well as on campus and in the community. As part of the UT Tyler Spirit Squads, they also promote patriot spirit and represent the university within the community by service and leadership.

For more information, contact Reel, 903.566.7261 or jreel@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.