This summer has been extremely successful for the Jersey Village Gold Dusters, their new Director, Mrs. Courtney Sturhan and Assistant Director, Mrs. Heather Fike. The summer began with the Starmakers Officer Camp where the 2008-2009 Gold Duster officers, Colonel Paige Edwards, Lt. Colonel Katie Cooper, Sr. Lts. Ashley Landry, Nakeisha Love, and Leah Keyworth, Jr. Lts. Kimberly Sheeran and Hannah Franklin spent four days and nights dancing. After all of their hard work they received a Superior Trophy for their Opening Night Routine, an Award for Excellence in Precision, Showmanship, Choreography, and Entertainment, and all Superior ribbons for each evaluation they endured.

Following the Starmakers Officer Camp, the officers, Hot Mommas, which include senior Gold Dusters, Michelle Ortiz and Judy Tijerina and junior Gold Dusters, Jennie Gates, Kayla Heine, Mary Hollenbeck, Julie Jackson, and Lizzie Strachan, and Dustettes, including, Kennisya Adams, Kiarra Adams, Ni’Teria Clay, Brittany Doby, Hannah Fouts, Erika Gardner, Chelsea Green, Kayla Hodges, Sara O’Shea, Larran Pickett, Emily Whittemore, and Brooke Williford, all attended the Marching Auxiliaries Team Camp. Both the team and the officer line received Superior Home Routine Awards. The team also received three spirit stick awards. Throughout the camp also, Rising Star and All Star Ribbons were given out to many of the Gold Dusters who attended. A special award given out by the MA staff was the Honor Roll Award. Larran Pickett, Leah Keyworth, Katie Cooper, Ashley Landry, Paige Edwards, Nakeisha Love, Hannah Franklin, and Kimberly Sheeran were all recipients of this award. Several of the Gold Dusters also competed with their solos and received a 110% award these girls include, Kimberly Sheeran, Katie Cooper, Kayla Hodges, Emily Whittemore, Chelsea Green, Ni’Teria Clay, and Paige Edwards who also won 2nd runner up in the solo competition. The team learned a dance at camp and received a Grand Champion Trophy as well as the Hot Mommas who competed with a separate hip hop routine. The Gold Dusters were voted the Most Admired Team.

Lastly, but certainly not least was social officer camp which was held at Cook Middle School. During this week many great ideas were made and the social officers’ creativity really shone. The Gold Duster social officers are, President Erika Gonzales, Vice President Jennie Gates, senior social officers, Katie Delaney and Courtney Crum, and junior social officer Lizzi Strachan.

As Mrs. Sturhan’s motto for the year is, “Endings lead to new beginnings.” There are many new and great things in store for the team. Mrs. Sturhan and Mrs. Fike are looking forward to a wonderful year!