Support the Squad

To me, being a Bruin means proudly working to represent and maintain UCLA's hard-earned reputation of both academic and athletic excellence that has existed for over a century. It means working hard, surrounding yourself with equally driven thinkers and doers, and taking every opportunity to grow as a student and person. I am beyond grateful for all of the generous donors who provide a strong backbone for the student experience at UCLA and continue to help beget such exciting new opportunities for us. Without your support, I wouldn't be able to do what I love as member of the Dance Team, so thank you so much. 4s up, Bruins!

— Ani, Class of 2023

Cheering on the Bruins has been an integral aspect of my college experience. I’ve made lifelong friendships, have grown myself professionally, and connected with UCLA’s amazing alumni, all while pursuing my passion for cheerleading. Spirit Squad members, including myself, balance academics, clubs, internships/jobs, and volunteering to be a part of this program. That being said, the UCLA Spirit Squad Scholarship has been an immense aid to my success at this school. For the many out-of-state cheerleaders on the squad (myself included), it helps relieve the financial burden to attend such a prestigious university we all dreamed of going to as kids. The scholarship allows us to pursue a fulfilling experience as squad members as we manage multiple weekly athletics appearances with practices, classes, and exams. Thank you all so much for your support of our squad and your generous donations. As always, Go Bruins!

— Madi, Class of 2023

To me, being a Bruin means exhibiting all the same qualities UCLA prides itself on. Being a Bruin means you apply yourself to the fullest in everything you do, whether it be as a student, athlete, member of the community, or even just a friend. A Bruin carries themselves with honor and virtue, and aims to help whenever and whomever they can. As our motto says, fiat lux--let there be light-- a Bruin should aim to be a beacon others can look up to and follow as an example. The opportunity I've been given, to not only call myself a Bruin, but to also represent UCLA itself, is something I can't express my gratitude for with just words, only with actions. That is exactly why I love being on the Spirit Squad so much, and why I am so grateful for all the donors that support us. Being an out of state student and a first-gen immigrant, I wouldn't be able to be where I am now without the immense support from grants and funds- especially the Spirit Squad Scholarship. The financial relief we receive from donors is what allows us to keep cheering and keep representing UCLA, as well as pursue our dreams while we're here. So to that, I want to give an enormous thank you to all of our donors and supporters- you are all what lets us keep going, and we all appreciate everything you do. Thank you and Go Bruins!!

— Alex, Class of 2023

Being a Bruin is a truly fulfilling experience. UCLA, and the Spirit Squad, have encouraged and challenged me to step outside my comfort zone. Being a Bruin means working hard, living with passion, and trying to make a difference every single day. The support of the donors has made an incredible difference in my experience. The Spirit Squad is a large time commitment between practices, games, and community events. This limits the amount of time we are able to work more traditional jobs, given our academic responsibilities as well. The support of the donors has allowed me the opportunity to participate on the squad for three, going on four, years while pursuing both my Bachelors and Masters degrees. My time at UCLA has been significantly improved by both the UCLA Spirit Squad, and the support of the donors.

— Alisha, Class of 2022 & Current MPH Graduate Student

Being on the UCLA dance team has been an absolute dream come true. As a third year veteran and now captain, my experiences as a member of the Spirit Squad have been integral to the student, dancer, and aspiring professional I have grown into during my time at UCLA. That being said, education has always been my number one priority. The Spirit Squad scholarship has allowed me the opportunity to invest in school resources and materials to better my education and performance as a student. This way, I can perform well on the field and in the classroom. I am immensely grateful and want to thank all of the generous donors who make our dream of cheering on the Bruins whilst achieving academic success a reality.

— Leah, Class of 2023

Being a Bruin is about so much more than just being a student or alumni of UCLA. It is about the competitive yet friendly environment, the friendships made here, the opportunities available, and most importantly it is about being involved and welcomed in such a tight nit and supportive community. The donors that support the spirit squad are so appreciated as they support us while we navigate through the challenges of college, and allow us to take advantage of the many opportunities given to us. College is a very expensive but extremely rewarding time in our lives, so any and all help towards our education goes a long way. We hope the donors know how grateful we are for them and we’re looking forward to a great year thanks to their contributions!

— Natalie, Class of 2023