Vina senior awarded cheer scholarship to NWSCC

By Staff
Melissa Cason, Franklin County Times
VINA – A Vina High School senior has been awarded a full scholarship for tuition and books at Northwest Shoals Community College.
Jessica Wooten is the first Vina student to ever be selected to the cheerleading squad at Northwest, Debourah Townsend, cheerleading sponsor, said.
"We have had several girls in the past to try out but Jessica is the first one from Vina to actually make the squad," Townsend said.
Wooten was one of 36 girls who auditioned at the Phil Campbell campus. Only 12 were selected for the cheerleading team.
"She didn't think that she did well after the tryouts so she was surprised that she made it," Townsend said.
The auditions were a full day's event. The contestants were taught a completely new cheer and dance routine the morning of the tryouts, and given time after lunch to practice before final auditions were held.
"The results were not posted the day of the tryout," Townsend said. "The girls were sent a letter at home."
Wooten's acceptance letter arrived at her home the following Wednesday, a day that a close classmate of Wooten's lost her home due to a fire.
"She came up to me after school with tears in her eyes, and I thought she was upset about the fire, but she was actually happy about being picked for the cheerleading squad," Townsend said.
Wooten has been an active cheerleader since seventh grade, and has served at Captain of Vina's cheerleading squad since her sophomore year.
"When I got the letter, I was so excited I started jumping up and down," Wooten said of her selection.
Wooten's other extracurricular activities include softball and basketball. She plans to become a registered nurse through Northwest's Nursing Program.