A sparkly surprise | GHS Stowaways don new uniform design for first time in 17 years

The Granbury High School campus was filled with high energy, excitement, shrieks and a staggering number of sequins as the GHS Stowaways drill and dance team received new uniforms on Aug. 15.

Uniforms were unveiled and distributed to all 30 Stowaways team members by GHS Stowaways Director Shelby Sargent during the first ever Sunrise Ceremony, a special event to celebrate the team’s first new uniform design in almost 20 years.

“I did some research this last year and found out that they have not received new field uniforms in 17 years,” Sargent said. “Our team has grown since I've been here which is fantastic, and so not only had they been wearing the same uniforms, but we just didn't have enough, so I did all the research, presented it to the principal (Jeremy Ross) at the high school and the superintendent (Dr. Jeremy Glenn) and they approved to get us new uniforms for this next year, and I am just so grateful and so excited.”

Sargent felt inspired by her Weatherford High School Blue Belles Dance Team uniforms — a program that her mother led for 30 years — which ultimately led Sargent to take some aspects of the uniforms from her teen years to help design the new look for the GHS Stowaways team.

The new unforms feature a purple bodice with petal sleeves, a sequined gold belt, a purple skirt, a white felt hat with purple sequins on bottom and the traditional Texas drill team footwear of white leather boots. With purple, gold and white sequins sewn in throughout the uniform, the girls are sure to sparkle and shine, showcasing their Granbury Pirate pride.

“This is the first uniform that I have gotten to design as a director and so getting the opportunity, they deserve it, especially after 17 years. It is just a surreal feeling,” she said. “I spent most of the end of the school year and the summer talking to the uniform company and the designer about different things that I wanted to tweak here and there. We spent so many hours calling and talking with the designer to make sure that this uniform is absolutely perfect for the team because I knew that I only had one shot and I wanted to make it great. We'll get to keep these uniforms for the next 10 years, hopefully, and see the next 10 lines wear them and I just cannot wait.”

SUNRISE CEREMONY

The Sunrise Ceremony was originally started by Sargent’s mom, Nika Carter, at Weatherford High School and was Sargent’s “favorite tradition” on the drill team.

The ceremony was originally created to honor WHS drill team members who had passed away in a car accident, but eventually transformed into an annual ceremony to present the current team’s uniforms. Sargent’s goal, along with Assistant Drill Team Director Emily Trammell, is to turn the ceremony into a tradition at GHS.

“I’ll always remember when I was a Bluebell and when we had the Sunrise Ceremony, it was just so special. We talked about the tradition of the team. We talked about what the uniforms meant to us and what they meant to the coach and my mother,” Sargent said. “So, what I'm trying to create with Coach Trammell, is a tradition of a presentation of uniforms for every upcoming school year. They're going to talk about what legacies they'd like to create for the team and what their goals are for that coming year and then they'll be presented with the uniforms and then we're going to take team pictures. We want it to be this thing that we're able to do every school year before school actually starts for the Stowaways to create that tradition. My goal is to really have something that the team looks forward to and values.”

PROGRAM GROWTH

Since the Stowaways program was established in 1987, the program has had 15 directors. Since Sargent joined in January 2019, the program has grown exponentially — starting with eight members and growing to 30.

During Sargent’s first year, she advocated for a dance program at both Granbury Middle School and Acton Middle School, spending her time traveling to all three campuses to teach dance.

“Last year in my AMS class alone, for one class period, I had 75 middle schoolers in one class, and I had 40 in my class at GMS,” she said.

In order to retain attendance, Sargent needed additional help, so GISD hired Trammell, who is now the middle school dance teacher for both schools.

“Now, I’m able to have a full day of dance at the high school, while she (Trammell) is able to go and teach dance at the middle school. Each middle school now is going to have two class periods of dance in addition to our high school dance classes,” Sargent said. “The whole dance program at GISD is flourishing. We have 250 kids in the GISD dance program. The admins have been super supportive, and I am forever grateful that they have bought into my dream.”

During the last Pirate dance recital in April, Sargent said around 700 people were in attendance.

“It was just phenomenal,” she said. “Everybody was just floored with how amazing these kids are and how much they enjoy dance. You can tell when they're on stage that they just love dance, that it is their bread and butter, and it just warms my heart because that's all that I want. I love sharing my passion about dance education with kids.”

TEAM GOALS

Sargent said her goal for the Stowaways team this year is to perform at the Dallas holiday parade again and compete in a total of three different competitions, compared to the team’s usual two.

“They are already exceeding my goals,” she said. “This team, the 36-line, is just so talented and they are hard workers. My goal for the team though, in lieu of just dancing, is to create that legacy and the pride of being a Stowaway at Granbury High School. This team has performed at levels that are just amazing for just now starting this summer as a team. This group of young ladies, they're passionate. They want to get in here, they want to dance, they want to perform and they cannot wait to be in front of the community and do their thing.”

Sargent is excited to continue the Sunrise Ceremony for many years to come, and is happy that her team can start the season with new uniforms.

“We're just trying to really create the tradition for the girls, make it really special for them and establish that these uniforms are everything,” she said. “I want them to have a sense of pride being a Stowaway and that when they step out on the field or at any community event that they are representing GISD, themselves, GHS and their families all in this beautiful light and just really have that pride and be honored that they are a part of this amazing team.”

She added that she is grateful for GISD in supporting dance education and addressing the need for more teachers and classes.

“I think that there was a need for it, and clearly there is. We have a ton of kids that just love dancing, whether they're a part of Stowaways or just in the dance classes. We would not be getting new uniforms if it wasn't for that, so, I'm just appreciative and I'm thankful,” Sargent said. “I love being a Pirate, I love being the Stowaways coach and I love being a dance instructor. This community is amazing and I'm just so grateful to be a part of the Pirate ship.”