![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.jpg)
![Main Street said farewell to summer on Aug. 30 through the second annual Chalk Walk Art Festival. Ruth Offer, Chalk Walk organizer, brought this tradition from Wyoming in an attempt to make use of the renovated sidewalks of Willamette Falls Dr. “[This is] a community event for the kids,” Offer said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/image-12-1200x803.png)
Closing a chapter
Varsity cheerleader awarded OCCA academic scholarship
Photo courtesy of Maura Gilday taken by Erika Scott
Maura Gilday, senior, was awarded the OCCA academic scholarship alongside two cheerleaders from other Oregon high schools.
At the OSAA Cheer State Championship competition, the varsity cheer team placed second in the state and earned a spot for the national competition in late February. While the team did not win the competition as they had hoped, one member walked away with something more. Maura Gilday, senior, was one of three cheerleaders to be awarded an academic scholarship from the Oregon Cheerleading Coaches Association (OCCA).
“Over winter break I filled [the application] out and ended up getting [the scholarship],” Gilday said. “I had to put a lot of information in, [including] my GPA, official transcripts, a letter of [recommendation] from my coach and my teacher, I had to write an essay for it, and I also had to have a list of my extracurricular activities.”
In reference to the scholarship, the OCCA website explains, “Applicants must have a 3.5 GPA by the end of their junior year to be eligible to apply. Applicants are evaluated on their academic performance, dedication to their team and school, future goals, and community involvement.”
Gilday has been involved in cheer since her sophomore year and cheers for both the sideline and competition teams. On the teams, Gilday stunts, tumbles, cheers, and dances in a number of routines throughout the school year. Gilday did not have cheer experience prior to joining the team, however, she did have tumbling experience which helped secure her a spot. Gilday feels that her time on the team has contributed to her own growth as a cheerleader and as a person.
Gilday plans on attending San Diego State University to study International Business. While Gilday does not intend on cheering at the collegiate level, she does look at her time as a high school cheerleader as a valuable experience.
“I’m ready to start the next chapter of my life,” Gilday said. “I’m extremely grateful I decided to cheer and I’m thankful for all the experiences and opportunities I’ve had because of it.”
Copy editor-in-chief Lily Gottschling sits down with Gilday to discuss the scholarship and what cheer means to her.
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Lily Gottschling, senior, is the Copy Editor-in-Chief for wlhsNOW.com. She loves writing reviews, features, and opinions. She is also a co-host of the...
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-600x450.jpg)
