Panther cheerleader Jade Riley signs letter of intent with McKendree U.

PCHS senior Jade Riley has signed a letter of intent to the competitive cheer team at McKendree University for the 2021-22 school year. An outstanding four-year cheerleader for Coach Natasha Plumlee's state-winning Panther squad, Jade will join Coach Bianca Bergman's Bearcats.

At McKendree, Riley will compete in NCAA Division II and in the annual National Cheerleading Association College National Championship event, in addition to cheering on sidelines for select Great Lakes Valley Conference games and for other performances and events in the Illinois and Metro St. Louis area.

In addition to cheerleading at PCHS, Riley is a member of Beta Club (Honor Society), has earned art awards, mainly for her paintings, including in the prestigious Scholastic Art Competition, and has been voted "Most Friendly" as a Senior Favorite of her PCHS Class of 2021.

She also has competed on the cross country and track teams. At McKendree, Riley plans to major in psychology and minor in art and design with her future focus in the field of Human-Computer Interactions, a growing field that will allow her to use her varied academic skills.