As Sarah Cronk linked arms with her cheer team and walked onto the field to perform under the Friday night lights, she couldn't help but think that moment could define the rest of her life — and it ...

Torrey Pines High School cheerleader Juliette Dicken is the kind of teenager you can really root for. The big-hearted sophomore is responsible for starting “The Sparkle Effect” at her school this year ...

Keira Kelly squirmed with the tenuous excitement of a girl readying to open a soda can she's just finished shaking. Dressed to the nines in a black and gold University of Iowa cheerleading uniform and ...

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The church publishes the ...

The Sparkle Effect, a nonprofit founded in 2008 by 15-year-old Iowa resident Sarah Cronk, helps high schools and universities start inclusive “Sparkle” squads, cheer or dance teams that combine ...