View Larger Image Team UAMS members enjoy a quick picture with the University of Arkansas Spirit Squad.
Team UAMS members enjoy a quick picture with the University of Arkansas Spirit Squad. Image by Keith Whitworth

UAMS Employees, Patients Call the Hogs with UA Spirit Squad, Mascots

By Yavonda Chase

| The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) was awash in red and white on Sept. 6 as the University of Arkansas (UA) Spirit Squad showed up to greet about 100 UAMS employees, patients, families and members of the public.

What's better than one Razorback mascot in a photo? All three!

What’s better than one Razorback mascot in a photo? All three!

Twelve cheerleaders, 12 dancers and four mascots took photos with the crowd, including pint-sized Razorback fans, performed their Fight Song routine and led attendees in calling the Hogs. Their visit to UAMS raised the crowd’s excitement as the Razorbacks football team prepared to face the Arkansas State University Red Wolves at War Memorial Stadium.

UAMS Interim Chancellor C. Lowry Barnes, M.D., and Andy Davis, vice chancellor of Institutional Relations, were on hand to welcome the UA delegation, along with Kevin Crass, a member of the University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees.

The University of Arkansas Spirit Squad

The University of Arkansas Spirit Squad

“We’re very grateful the UA Spirit Squad called us about coming to visit our employees and patients before the game at War Memorial,” said Barnes, who thanked the Office of Communications and Marketing for organizing the event. “As a UA alum, it’s always great when I get a chance to call the Hogs.”

Accompanying the Spirit Squad were UA Chancellor Charles Robinson, Ph.D.; UA Provost Indrajeet Chaubey, Ph.D.; Kevin Trainor, executive director and chief operating officer of the Arkansas Alumni Association; Elvis Moya, associate athletics director of community outreach & fan engagement; and Anthony Morris, director of spirit programs & community outreach.

Collins Johnson, daughter of UAMS employee Annabeth Johnson, enjoys meeting the Razorback cheerleaders.

Collins Johnson, daughter of UAMS employee Annabeth Johnson, enjoys meeting the Razorback cheerleaders.

UAMS employee Annabeth Johnson brought her 2-year-old daughter, Collins, to meet the Spirit Squad.

“My daughter had the best time meeting the cheerleaders! As soon as we walked in, a few of them came right over, introduced themselves, asked her name and even shared their pom-poms,” Johnson said. “They were all so sweet and friendly, and some even called her by name as they left and gave her high-fives. She was in total awe and loved seeing them all dressed up!”