By Jennifer Hannigan/TVCC Public Information
The Cardette Showgirls were recognized both for their dance skills and for their academic excellence at a recent competition in Denton.
The Showgirls are a group of elite Cardettes who perform at special events separate from the main Cardette dance team. The group of seven dancers competes against other schools each spring at the American Dance Drill Team School National Competition.
This year, the group took third runner up in the dance portion of the competition. For that part, said director Darla Mansfield, the group competes in Division III with other schools of similar size.
The Cardette Showgirls chose a routine this year comprised of several songs, all of which carried a theme about candy.
For the second part of the competition, the ladies are rated based on their GPA. The TVCC group’s cumulative 3.41 GPA was the highest in the group.
That GPA earned the Cardettes the distinction of being named the competition’s National Collegiate Academic Champion. This is the second year in a row the TVCC dance team has earned that title.
“Not only are these girls talented dancers, but they are also able to maintain a high collegiate GPA while being involved in so many events as Cardettes and Showgirls,” said Mansfield.
“To carry this title two years in a row is such an honor for the team and a testimony that these girls know when to be serious and know when to have fun. Saying that I am proud of them doesn’t express the half of it.”
The group also took the title of academic champions for Division III.