You may recognize her from Football Friday Nights with the cheerleaders or from Track and Field. Senior Samantha Shell isn’t slowing down anytime soon. 

Shell has a reputation for being a nice and friendly face.  Shell says, “What makes a team for me is their moods and the structure that they bring into the sport.”

Junior Sara O’Neil says, “ She’s a very nice and polite girl. She’s definitely on the shyer side, but she’s nice and hard working. She came in half way through the cheer season; she learned very quickly.” 

Shell says, “ My earliest memories for cheerleading and track go back all the way to middle school. I remember starting to run track in middle school.  For cheerleading, I remember learning my routines and completing them correctly. All around, I have fond memories of the whole competition series.”

Shell said a lesson she learned from cheerleading involved working hard and not giving up.  Shell shared how learning the movements to the routines was harder for her because she is in a wheelchair, so that was a huge accomplishment for her. 

In the future, she said she would love to continue to do cheerleading and track. She said she would also love to be a professional singer when she is older. Choir is also her favorite class. 

Shell said, “ I really like country music; Dolly Parton really inspires me so I would say she’s my favorite. My favorite song is ‘Jolene’.”  Shell went on to talk about one of Parton’s charities, what she loves and why she inspires her. 

The charity is called Imagination Library and it’s dedicated to giving books free of charge to children from birth to age five.  Shell said, “ I love this charity because I think it’s important to read.” 

Shell described herself as quiet and reserved. Her hobbies include cheerleading, track, singing and listening to Country music ( Dolly Parton). Her favorite track events are shot put and discus. 

Instructional Aide Madelyn Christ said, “Samantha is adorable, positive. She’s super passionate about the things she loves, and I mean super passionate. She knows she has a disability, but she’s never let that stop her. She does cheerleading and track so that has to show you something. I think she’s really outgoing;she may think she’s an introvert and shy but she really is outgoing.”