CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Today is the launch of Investing In Champions, Queens Athletics' annual giving campaign. For the next week, Cheerleading is asking Royals fans, alumni and families to invest directly in the student-athletes writing their Queens story.
"Donor support creates opportunities that directly impact our team," says Co-Head Coach Madison Spence. "Whether it's helping us travel, compete, train, or pursue our first Nationals appearance, those investments allow our athletes to focus on personal growth and team success. We will only continue to build a strong future of Queens Cheerleading with the support of our donors."
Spence describes the program itself as one built on creating a legacy for past, present, and future Royals while representing Queens with pride.
Team captain Emma Lashley '27 has felt that legacy take shape in her own growth while on the team. "Being a Queens student-athlete has helped me become much more confident, disciplined, and comfortable taking on leadership roles," she says. "Coming into college, I knew I wanted to work hard and be involved but being part of a team has pushed me to become someone who can lead, communicate, and support others. As a cheerleader and captain, I've learned that leadership is not just about being the person in front — it's about being someone your teammates can rely on, especially when things are challenging."
That sense of purpose carries onto game day, too. "I love that cheer gives me the opportunity to contribute to the energy and atmosphere at games and help create memorable experiences for other students and fans," Lashley says. "Being able to perform alongside people who have become some of my closest friends makes the experience even more meaningful."
She expects that growth to follow her past graduation. "I know the lessons I have learned through cheer will stay with me long after I graduate," she says. "Being a student-athlete has taught me how to work with different personalities, communicate effectively, handle pressure, and keep going when things don't go as planned." She's headed toward a career in dentistry, where she says those same skills — teamwork, confidence, patience, and the ability to make people feel comfortable — will matter just as much as they do on the sideline.
Asked what she'd want a donor to know, Lashley doesn't hold back: "Donor support goes far beyond helping us compete," she says. "It helps create opportunities and experiences that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. ... Donor support allows us to focus on being better athletes, students, teammates, and leaders. I am incredibly grateful to anyone who chooses to invest in Queens Athletics — they aren't just supporting a team, they're investing in the people we are becoming and the future we are building."
During Investing In Champions, you can be a part of making it all possible. Check out this year's challenges and progress toward the team's $5,000 goal on the Cheerleading giving portal.
Investing In Champions is October 2-9, 2026. Unlock Royals Club benefits for gifts of $100 or more. For questions or information on issuing your own challenge, please reach out to Danielle Evans-Clan, director of athletics advancement, at evanscland@queens.edu.
