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The first time Audrey Frohloff attended a Husker football game, it was as a member of the Husker Cheer Squad.
“I walked out into the stadium and I just started bawling,” she said. "I didn't realize what 90,000 fans would actually feel like.”
They were tears of joy as she realized how special the role was that she and her teammates get to play in the Husker community.
“From older fans all the way down to tiny babies, we get to interact with people from every age group to make sure that they have a good experience and create a positive, uplifting atmosphere for them,” Frohloff, a senior from Omaha, said. “We get a front row seat to cheer on these incredible athletes, which is amazing, but we really have so many roles that are all to support the fans both at games and around the community.”
While Frohloff, who’s entering her final chapter with Husker Cheer, has done more than her fair share to spread Husker pride throughout the stands, it’s been her attitude and hard work in every situation that earned her the inaugural Julie O’Meara Jernstrom Memorial Scholarship last spring.
Created in memory of a Husker cheerleader who made a big impact on the team long after graduating, including through donations that allowed for improved gear for Husker Cheer, Frohloff’s coach surprised her with the award for her all-around contributions and upbeat approach as a teammate.
“I feel so honored that my coach and Julie’s family chose me for this award,” she said. “It’s kind of changed the way I see myself and the team, helping me understand that we can all leave a legacy that continues to make impacts and help others.”
When the Huskers kick off against the Akron Zips Sept. 6, Frohloff will begin her last go-around in uniform, and she's feeling a lot of gratitude for being a Husker cheerleader.
"It’s such a unique and cool experience to have, and you only get it for a few short years,” she said. “I’ll miss all the sports, for sure, but I'm mostly going to miss the relationships that I've had the opportunity to build with my teammates. But I'm also really excited, because I know that they'll be there forever.”
