Most high school juniors look forward to their senior year as one step closer to getting out of school. Sandalwood High School’s Sierra Vallier is enjoying her time in high school balancing school, cheerleading, volunteering, and friends. Vallier prides herself on being smart, focused and a determined leader who puts school above all other hobbies and interests.
Vallier started like most young girls, at the age of three participating in various activities such as gymnastics, ballet and tap. At five she became a cheer mascot for Pablo Creek and by age seven she became an cheerleader. Sierra cheered for the Pablo Creek Saints until she was 15, after which she took a year off from cheering to be an assistant to coach Christen Hurse for the Baymeadows Youth Athletic Association. She helped take the Peewee division girls to nationals, where they placed sixth in the intermediate level.
Vallier’s determination can be seen in the girls she has coached. “Sierra is an amazing role model, not only for the young girls she coaches but adults and peers alike. She takes time out of her busy high school schedule to volunteer her time to give back to our community. She has taught her cheerleaders leadership, self worth, sportsmanship and team work – all tools that will last the girls a lifetime. It amazes me the amount of maturity she has at such an early age. It has been a pleasure to know and work with her. There is no doubt in my mind she will do great things for our community, youth and city as she continues on her journey through life!” says Hurse.
In 2013, Vallier decided to try out for the Sandalwood Saints cheer squad. Through hard work, persistence and determination she made the squad. “What separates me from other girls is that I understand concepts better,” Vallier says.
Vallier stands with the o
ther back spots, the “Giraffe Crew.” They got their nickname because Vallier stands at 6’ and she is the tallest of the crew. Vallier has a 4.3 weighted grade point average and is ranked 30th in a class of over 700. Vallier plans to attend college in Florida and is working diligently towards at bright future scholarship with the help of her AVID (Advanced Via Individual Determination) teacher.
When Sierra is not on the field, she is busy with her studies. She is currently taking fourcollege credit courses. Vallier has personal goals of mastering her back handspring, which she works hard at every week with tumbling classes and the help of her coach, Rhonda Adamo. That goal will hopefully lead Vallier to a spot on the varsity squad next year. Vallier plans to graduate high school next year as a sophmore in college. She is undecided on her major, but she plans to possibly choose between nursing, accounting or physical therapy.
Academic Athlete / Jacksonville Florida / March 2014
Sierra Vallier
Sandalwood High School
Jacksonville, FL
By Joey Lopes
Junior Scholar Cheerleader impacts Her Community Through Volunteering and Mentoring
