Date: Jan 22, 2009

Hofstra Cheerleaders Win UCA National Competition With 11 New Members

Fourth national title for Hofstra’s Cheer Team

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University’s Small Co-Ed Cheerleading Team has taken top honors at the 2009 Universal Dance Association (UDA)/Universal Cheer Association (UCA) National Competition at Disney World, Orlando, FL with a team of 11 new members. For more than a decade the Pride Cheerleaders have been ranked among the nation's top 10 teams and previously won the Small Co-ed Championship title in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

“I could not be more proud of this team. They met as a team five months ago and their drive to be the nation's best bound this squad to do the unimaginable with 11 rookies on the mat,” said Cheerleading Coach Christine Nowierski. “Their young hunger and determination to be the nation's best was really what did it for this team and the best feeling as a coach was to watch this team leave their hearts out there in their performance.”

To prepare for Nationals the team was required to attend twice-a-day practices all through the January break, compared to their typical practice requirements of three to four times a week during the spring and fall semesters. The team that was chosen to compete at nationals is comprised of the cheer program's most elite group of 12 women and four men.

Hofstra’s Dance Team also competed, placing in the top 10 in the UDA Division 1 Hip Hop category.  The Dance Team has developed into one of the premier college dance programs in the United States and has been nationally ranked for more than a decade and in the top five in their categories for 10 of those years. They were the 2006 National Hip Hop Champions and are top ranked among colleges on Long Island.

Videos of the team’s performances can be seen at http://www.varsity.com/event.aspx?event=1105

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences; business; engineering; communication; education, health and human services; and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.