CHILDERSBURG, Ala. – When Sha’Deja Garrett wanted to sign up for dancing classes as a young girl, she never imagined that it would create an opportunity for her to sign something else later in life: a four-year college scholarship.
Huntingdon College in Montgomery started its dance program just last year, and new coach Morgan Gray accepted her newest dancer Thursday afternoon when Garrett inked her letter of intent in front of friends and family in the Childersburg High School (CHS) media center.
“It was emotional,” Garrett said about the signing ceremony. “I cried, but I’m more happy than anything because I made my momma and my daddy proud. That’s the best feeling ever.”
Garret has always enjoyed dancing and uses it as an avenue to express herself, especially since the loss of her uncle. Now, she can continue to do so through the blessing of signing with Huntingdon.
The Huntingdon Hawks dance squad performs at all home basketball games with lyrical hip-hop, jazz, and ballet dances.
Sha’Deja received seven scholarship offers for dance, including two other Montgomery schools in Alabama State University and Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM).
“I do like Montgomery,” Garrett expressed. “They have rolled-up ice cream. That’s my favorite. Rolled-up ice cream is better than regular ice cream.”
Although the perk of rolled-up ice cream was a nice bonus, Garrett’s visit to Huntingdon College was the key factor in her decision to sign with the Hawks.
“I loved how they were as a community,” said Garrett. “They were more like a family.”
Garret plans to double major in criminal justice and special education at Huntingdon.
