Three Bear Lake High School cheerleaders were among elite All-American performers who traveled to Hawaii to participate in the annual Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade on Dec. 7, honoring the 84th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Daphne Porter, Geri Wilkes and Ethan Glenn earned All-American honors during a UCA summer cheer camp, where athletes were evaluated on energy, skill and their ability to quickly learn new material. Although only three were able to make the trip, all six Bear Lake juniors and seniors who tried out met the scoring requirements to receive All-American recognition.

“Being able to represent Bear Lake High School in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade was an honor,” said head coach Meg Wilkes. “We all recognized the importance of representing ourselves with the utmost respect to those who were affected by the attack on Pearl Harbor.”

The parade, held along Kalakaua Ave. in Waikiki, featured high school cheerleaders from across the United States who earned All-American status at national camps. Organized by Varsity Spirit, the trip also included educational and cultural experiences such as visits to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial, as well as the Polynesian Cultural Center.

“The parade was a huge success,” Wilkes said. “The cheerleaders had so much fun representing their sport and meeting new people, which is all I can ask for as a coach.”

For the athletes, the experience carried deep meaning.

“Marching in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade was such an honor,” Porter said. “We weren’t just representing our school and team, but the men who sacrificed their lives. I’m so glad I got to be part of something much bigger than me.”

Wilkes hopes the opportunity inspires other Bear Lake athletes to pursue All-American honors.

“I hope it shows that continuous work to improve yourself can open doors to amazing experiences,” Wilkes said.