DURHAM, N.C. – Sixty-two former North Carolina Central University cheerleaders travelled from as far away as Texas and Ohio to return to campus for the second NCCU Alumni Cheerleaders Reunion during homecoming weekend, Oct. 18-20.

"It was amazing," said longtime NCCU cheerleading coach LuAnn Edmonds-Harris. "There was a lot of (joyful) crying going on."

Edmonds-Harris, who started working at NCCU in 1986, has served as the cheerleading coach at her alma mater since 1990. "The most amazing part was to see those that cheered before I took over the program," she said. "Those that cheered from the '60s and '70s were sharing what the younger people needed to hear – about perseverance, marketing themselves professionally, and giving back to the university.

"This was a wonderful networking opportunity for our current cheerleaders and Yell Men," Edmonds-Harris said.

The former cheerleaders practiced routines on Friday afternoon and early Saturday morning to prepare for their on-field performance during Saturday's homecoming football game. They also formed an extended tunnel for the Eagles football team to run through during the pre-game festivities.

On Sunday, the alumni cheerleaders gathered for a breakfast inside W.G. Pearson Cafeteria.

Edmonds-Harris said the goal is to make this an annual event to continue the positive networking opportunities and help support the cheerleading program.

For more information, contact LuAnn Edmonds-Harris at 919-530-6713 or lharris@nccu.edu.