Lake Oconee Academy celebrated another milestone for its championship cheer program as recent graduates Jaida Tripp and Emmy Hill officially committed to continue their athletic careers at the NCAA Division I level during a college ceremony on July 28.

Jaida Tripp will cheer for the Georgia Institute of Technology (GA Tech), while Emmy Hill will continue her cheer career at the University of Southern California (USC), two nationally recognized collegiate programs. Earning a spot on a Division I collegiate cheer team requires exceptional athletic ability, technical skill, and years of dedication, making this achievement especially meaningful.

For Cheer Coach Lori Beth Brakebill, the signing represented more than two individual achievements—it reflected the continued growth and success of the LOA Cheer program.

"Seeing our student-athletes achieve their dream of cheering in college is incredibly rewarding," said Brakebill. "One of my favorite parts of each year is watching our athletes take the next step beyond LOA. Continuing to cheer at the collegiate level is a tremendous accomplishment. Jaida and Emmy have invested countless hours into developing their skills while demonstrating dedication, resilience, and leadership. They are very special to me, to my family, and to our ONE Titan family, and we cannot wait to watch them succeed in this next chapter."

The success of Tripp and Hill continues the remarkable growth of the LOA Cheer program under Coach Brakebill. With their commitments, Lake Oconee Academy now has four cheer alumni competing on NCAA Division I cheer teams, joining Ally Blythe (Class of 2022) and Ella Blythe (Class of 2024) at the University of Georgia.

The milestone reflects the continued strength of the Titan cheer program. In addition to producing collegiate athletes, LOA Cheer captured back-to-back GHSA State Championships in 2024 and 2025, building a tradition defined by teamwork, discipline, leadership, and excellence both on and off the mat.

Athletic Director Patrick Croffie congratulated both student-athletes on reaching this milestone. "Jaida and Emmy represent everything we hope our graduates become through their time at Lake Oconee Academy," said Croffie. "They have demonstrated dedication to athletics, academic discipline, leadership through service, and perseverance throughout their high school careers. We are excited to see them continue competing at the Division I level and know they will represent LOA with pride."

For Tripp and Hill, the signing ceremony celebrated years of hard work while marking the beginning of their collegiate careers. As they prepare to join two of the nation's premier cheer programs this fall, they carry with them the friendships, lessons, and values developed during their time at LOA. Their accomplishments continue a legacy that is inspiring future generations of Titan cheerleaders.

Lake Oconee Academy congratulates Jaida and Emmy on this outstanding achievement and wishes them continued success at GA Tech and USC.