Emma Schroeder
Title:
Spirit Squad
Major:
Civil Engineering
Year:
Class of 2025
Hometown:
Destin, FL
With fans on one side and players on the other, cheerleaders play the role of both star and spectator. Sometimes, they’re hyping up the stadium from 20 feet in the air. Other times, they’re holding back tears as the Georgia Bulldogs win back-to-back football championships.
Emma Schroeder has cheered with UGA’s Spirit Squad since 2021. She was front and center when the Bulldogs won their first championship in 40 years. She has proudly worn the Georgia “G” at countless games over the past four years. Emma undoubtedly has that “dawg” in her.
But anyone who thinks that a cheerleader’s routine stops once they exit the field would be completely wrong.
“There have been countless unforgettable moments since I’ve joined the team,” Schroeder says. “But if I’m honest, some of the moments that I find most meaningful are when we do volunteer appearances and can connect with the community.”
UGA cheerleaders—and fan-favorite Hairy Dawg—often travel to local hospitals, community centers, and youth groups to put on special performances, including cheers and band dances. They make annual appearances at the YMCA and for Extra Special People, taking the time after their routines to talk with fans and personally cheer them on.
Getting to be a role model for the kids in the area is something that I am especially proud of, and I try to represent myself, my team, and the university as well as I can.
Emma Schroeder
Spirit Squad
“Getting to be a role model for the kids in the area is something that I am especially proud of, and I try to represent myself, my team, and the university as well as I can,” Schroeder says.
Schroeder isn’t just a cheerleader for the athletic teams. As a student ambassador for the UGA College of Engineering, she promotes the university and the engineering program to incoming students by giving tours and having one-on-one talks.
“It’s easy to overlook us as a smaller program, but I think it creates a much more collaborative space,” she says. “There’s always a familiar face ready to help and swap ideas. The engineering school has had a huge influence on my life and given me so many opportunities.”
A self-proclaimed “science girl,” Schroeder is also a member of the Society of Women Engineers and is interning with a civil engineering firm in Savannah, Georgia.
“Not everyone will understand the effort that goes into hours of studying for my courses or memorizing a routine,” she says. “But I’ve made lifelong friends who will get both. These are special bonds that will never be broken.”
