Hampton University

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student spotlight

Blue Thunder Cheerleader Named Role Model of the Month

Sherrill cheer

Sequoyah Sherrill

Hampton University’s Blue Thunder Cheerleading Captain Sequoyah Sherrill was selected to be the college role model on SunKissedGirlz website for the month of January. Sherrill, a senior psychology major from Harrisburg, Pa., was featured on the new Sunkissed Girlz (SKG) website where they put emphasis on being black, beautiful and self-confident.

Sherrill was chosen as the role model for January based on her academic achievements, community service, leadership, and her decision to wear her hair naturally. She is the chair of community service for Women’s Caucus within the Student Government Association, holds leadership positions in the Psychology Club, and as a member of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre Law Fraternity, the Psi Chi Psychology Honors Society, and the Beta Kappa Chi Honors Society. Outside of HU, Sherrill is the recruitment chair for Relay-For-Life, a tutor and mentor for Girls Incorporated and Educational Talent Search, and has participated in a number of food drives with local churches.

Sherrill decided to switch to wearing her hair naturally from relaxed hair approximately seven months ago, after realizing how costly it was becoming to keep her hair chemically straightened.

“It’s a lot healthier for my hair and least expensive to manage,” she said.

With Sherrill being a cheerleader, it’s harder for her to keep her hair straight without using a relaxer. She finds it to be most challenging to manage her natural hair when cheering because it causes her to perspire.

“I can’t go home and use flat irons to easily fix my hair, I have to wash and blow dry it. It’s a lot more work,” said Sherrill.

SKG is a co-founded website by mother and daughter couple Yanique Redwood and Alana Jones of Atlanta. This website was designed for the empowerment of Black girls and acts as a place for girls to chat, ask questions and share their experiences. According to Redwood, “The first step was to design a website that affirmed her incredible beauty, intellect, and creative energy and invite other girls to be a part of it. That website is www.sunkissedgirlz.com.”

Sherrill served as a role model on this website for one month but will continue to be a role model to others every day.

“My definition of a good role model is someone who is constantly being positive, even when no one is watching. I am a good role model because I’m always conscious of my decisions. A good role model doesn’t have to be perfect, but must always remain positive,” said Sherrill.

Upon graduation Sherrill would like to be a family and marriage therapist and has dreams of opening her own clinic. “I would love to bring back the traditional black family, where there are two parents in the household,” she said.

- Nicquita Reed