When Amy Porter cheered at UT, she worked three different jobs while balancing rehearsals, performances and classes. Despite UT’s Spirit Program’s decades of history, 2022 proved the first year an official alumni association came together to financially support the program’s legacy of orange fringe and smiles.
In the years following her time at UT, especially after her daughter came to cheer at the University in 2015, Porter recognized the spirit program could benefit from alumni support. Porter founded the official Texas Cheer and Pom Alumni Network, whose endowment has since raised $2 million in scholarship funding for current spirit members. The association is hosting its second alumni meet-up at the Spirit and Pom Extravaganza, which consists of stunt, dance and cheer routines performed during halftime at the women’s basketball game on March 2.
“(The Extravaganza is) the one time where all members of the entire program are on the floor performing at the same time,” Porter said. “It drives home how big the program is, how many people it actually takes to support the university athletics across the campus.”
While the meet-up gives alumni the chance to socialize, it also offers current members the chance to be cheered for rather than cheering for others. Porter said it allows alumni to recognize how much the program has grown over the years, especially as UT athletics transitions into the SEC. The Texas Spirit Program’s three teams include the co-ed cheer team, the all-girls cheer team and the pom (dance) team.
“It’s really incredible to have the alumni association have these events because they get to see how the program has progressed skill-wise,” education senior Caroline Massey said. “When I’m in the alumni association, I’ll definitely be coming to these events because I want to see my old teammates and the future program perform.”
Massey cheered for the last four years and said she felt the impact of the alumni association’s involvement. Massey and her two co-captains received the Amy Porter and Morgan Baker Cheer Leadership Scholarship this school year, relieving financial stress from the program. Massey said getting to know the alumni also helped her grow as a leader.
“The alumni association, particularly Amy, is really dedicated to growing leaders,” Massey said. “Anytime you (interact) with them, they (talk) to you about ways you can grow as a leader and give you tools, which has been really helpful.”
In addition to encouraging donations for scholarships by engaging with alumni, the program will also put funding towards the development of a new permanent training facility. “The Fringe,” named after the University’s iconic cheer uniforms, plans to offer the students a space to practice and socialize in.
“They need a place to call their own so that they aren’t wasting time trying to figure out where they’re going to practice or where they’re going to meet,” said the association’s executive director, Rebecca Haden. “It shows respect for those teams. They deserve it. They deserve to have a dedicated space.”
