LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, PA. (December 10, 2008) – Lincoln University of Pennsylvania cheerleading coach Desmond Stowe recently earned his American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors Safety Certification.
Stowe, in his second year as cheerleading coach, is now officially a member of the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Advisors (AACCA) for 4 years. In addition, Stowe's certification as a cheerleading coach has earned Lincoln $1 million of secondary liability insurance coverage which will be renewed annually.
“In order to obtain the certification I had to go to a training class for 3 hours and take a 60 minute exam on safety as it relates to cheerleading,” Stowe said. “This is exciting and I am looking to use the knowledge I gained from the training and apply it.”
Stowe has been involved in cheering since he was in high school. He essentially followed his brother's footsteps, who was the mascot, “Mr. Wolf” when he attend North Carolina State University in Raleigh.
A graduate of North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, Stowe was one of the stunt men of the cheerleading team. Over a period of his five years at North Carolina A&T, the Aggies earned the title of most popular mascot in the Mid-Eastern Athletics Conference (MEAC). The Aggies also won three first place co-ed cheerleading championships during Stowe's tenure. Stowe also played different characters and participated in unique skits with the former Charlotte Hornets during halftime and timeouts.
“I really don't know how to put my passion into words about being a mascot or love for cheering my school to a victory, so the next best thing for me is to give others a chance to experience the same, by being a coach,” Stowe said.
His duties at NC A&T included handling all mascot activities, recruiting, and training for male cheerleaders as well as the mascot. Currently, Stowe is a Coordinator of Student Life and Development at Lincoln University and is a recent graduate of a Master's degree in Adult Education/Higher Education from NC A&T State University.
Stowe's extensive experience has been a terrific asset for Lincoln as it transitions from Division III to Division II. Stowe had two cheerleaders named to the CIAA all-star cheerleading team in juniors Katarah Jordan (Poconos, PA/Pleasant Valley) and Andrea Dennis (Monrovia, Liberia/Riverdale Baptist).
“I am so excited to be the coach in a time where the school is in a transition from III to II and join the CIAA,” Stowe said. “The change in division as well as conference means more exposure, growth and development for Lincoln University athletics and our squad. The Cheering style of CIAA is very high energy and dance routine driven and although we at Lincoln have our own style (stunting, technical moves, and dance) we will add more routines with dance, stunts, and tumbling to our program. As a squad that stunts unlike most CIAA schools we add a flavor to the conference that sets us apart. With the experience that myself and coach Antoinette Wallace has, the team will fit right into the CIAA.”
The American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators is a non-profit educational association for the over 70,000 cheerleading coaches across the United States. Founded in 1988, members of the association include: youth, junior high school, high school, all star, and college or university coaches/advisors, as well as leading national cheerleading instructional companies dedicated to the safe and responsible practice of student cheerleading.
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