IU cheerleader, Kara Stewart, enters in national competition

Kara Stewart will represent Indiana University in the Athlon Sideline Spirit Contest in Round 1.
She will be one of four Big Ten cheerleaders represented in the contest. There will be one cheerleader from each of the six major conferences and one cheerleader from a non-conference school represented in each of the four rounds.

Stewart will be in Round 1 with cheerleaders from Wake Forest, University of Nebraska, West Virginia University, Washington State University, University of Alabama and University of Tulsa.
Round 1 voting began Aug. 30 and will continue until 11:59 p.m. Sept. 19. All voting is done online either through Athlon Sports or Facebook.

Stewart, a graduate of Seymour High School, has been a four-year member of the Indiana University cheerleading squad. She is currently captain of the Crimson squad and received the Spirit of IU Award, Coaches' Award and Mental Attitude Award for 2007-08.

She also received the Coaches Award in 2006-07, and the Work Ethic Award and was named most improved for 2005-06.

She was named Sports Illustrated Cheerleader of the Week in March, 2007 and has received numerous awards while in Indiana University's cheerleading program.

She is a former member of the Seymour High School Cheer Program under coach Carol Lambring. She was named a National  USAA Cheerleader in 2005, was a varsity captain, and received the outstanding senior, leadership and mental attitude awards in 2004-05. She helped the SHS squad become JamFest SuperNationals grand champions in 2005, and was TourneySport USA-Hawaii Classic MVP, a squad captain and received an all-star team award in 2004, and received the mental attitude award

She is a daughter of Sam and Billie Stewart of Seymour, and will graduate from IU in May of 2009 with a bachelor of science in exercise science. She is applying to graduate school to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. 

The Athlon Spirit Sideline Contest is a competitive, spirit-filled, contest for all universities across the United States. IU Coach, Julie Clements, and the Athletic Department will promote this event by providing placards/information during  Saturday's football game  against Murray State.  Students, fans, and other interested persons are asked to vote for their school/cheerleader. All prizes, as a result, of the contest are presented to the university cheer program.