Diggin'Dukes

About Our Campaign

The JMU Spirit Teams — inclusive of Cheerleading and the Duke Dog Mascot Program — need your support to compete at the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) Nationals competition in Florida in 2024. 

Support of our program is vital in our quest for success at the national level, as it not only provides us with resources to accomplish our goals, but also instills a sense of pride and motivation in our student-athletes. 

How Your Support Will IMPACT the JMU Spirit Team Student-Athlete Experience

Your gift, of any amount, will help support our team to compete at Nationals — including travel, accommodations, and registration fees  — to benefit our student-athlete experience for our 2024-2025 season.

• 1 gift of $500 supports airfare for one student-athlete
• 1 gift of $475 supports meals for one student-athlete
• 1 gift of $350 supports housing for one student-athlete
• 1 gift of $250 supports ground transportation for one student-athlete

Your support helps alleviate financial burdens on our student-athletes, making it possible for them to compete at the highest level without worrying about financial constraints. 

About the JMU Spirit Program

Our spirit program is spilt between three teams — an all-girl cheer team, a coed cheer team, and the Duke Dog mascot program. 

Our cheerleading program is committed to fostering a dynamic and inclusive environment for student-athletes. Our mission is to empower individuals to excel in both athletics and personal development. We envision a program where every member grows as a performer, teammate, and leader. 

The impact on the student-athlete experience is profound. Our program instills confidence and self-esteem, helping athletes succeed academically and in life. Our student-athletes learn time management, perseverance, and the value of hard work. Ultimately, our cheerleaders leave our program with lifelong skills and a sense of belonging — making their college journey not just about winning on the field but also winning in life.

Our program also takes immense pride in its commitment to academic success, consistently ranking among the top five sports teams with the highest GPAs. We believe that excellence in the classroom goes hand in hand with excellence on the field. Our student-athletes are encouraged to prioritize their studies. 

Community outreach is another cornerstone of our program. We believe in giving back to the community that supports us. Our cheerleaders actively engage in various community service projects, from volunteering at local schools and JMU to participating in charity fundraisers. These experiences teach our student-athletes to connect with the broader community and develop essential life skills — such as empathy, leadership, and teamwork — which they can carry with them long after their cheerleading careers conclude here at JMU.

About Funds Raised During Diggin'Dukes

One hundred percent (100%) of funds raised in support of the JMU Spirit Teams during the Diggin’Dukes campaign immediately go to the JMU Spirit Teams Sport Program Fund (restricted-use fund) and benefit the JMU Spirit Team student-athlete experience.

Sport program funds are restricted-use funds that can only be utilized by the individual sport program. 100% of gifts made to sport program funds go to the selected sport program and are 100% tax deductible. 

If our goal is achieved, funds that exceed our goal will go to support our trip to Nationals, as well as any team operational needs during the 2024-2025 season. 

If we do not achieve our goal, funds raised during the Diggin’Dukes campaign will go to support our trip to Nationals as well as team operational needs during the 2024-2025 season. Funds will go to support team operational needs and are allocated at the discretion of our coaches and administration.

Diggin'Dukes Leadership Team Members

Ty Williams & Taylor Woody (Payton Young)