Millersville cheer partners with Team IMPACT
9/17/2026 12:46:00 PM | Cheerleading
MILLERSVILLE, Pa. -Â The Millersville University cheer team works hard to bring excitement and joy to gamedays, and now, the team is doing the same for 10-year-old Noelle.
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Noelle, from the Millersville borough, is a child diagnosed with vascular malformation and capillary malformation, a serious but treatable congenital condition that is found in less than one percent of the population. Noelle and the Millersville cheer team connected through Team IMPACT, an organization that matches children facing illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams with the mission of putting children and student-athletes in a "mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment and resilience."
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"When the organization reached out about a local child in our community who was interested in partnering with our team, we were incredibly excited for the opportunity," said Millersville cheer coach Daniela DeBernardo. "For Noelle, our hope is that she feels embraced by our program, gains confidence, a sisterhood, and inclusion. We hope to make an impression on her that impacts her past her time with us. Â At the same time, we hope it provides our team with valuable life lessons, a sense of fulfillment, and the joy that comes from making a meaningful impact on someone else's life. What we didn't expect was how much Noelle would impact us in return. Noelle reminds us every day about resilience, and the importance of showing up for one another. While we set out to make a difference in her life, she has made an even greater difference in ours."
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The Millersville cheer team is led by DeBernardo and Taylor Ochmanowicz, who were both cheerleaders for the Marauders. They see the relationship with Noelle and Team IMPACT as an opportunity to support a child in the community, but they are also seeing Noelle impact their cheerleaders.
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"From the moment we were introduced to Noelle through Team IMPACT, it became clear that this partnership could be something truly special," said Ochmanowicz. "One of the greatest strengths I've seen in our team is their ability to make people feel exactly the way we hoped Noelle would feel: welcomed, valued, included, and like she truly belongs. Our athletes have a natural ability to create a sense of family wherever they go and seeing that shine through in their relationship with Noelle has been incredibly meaningful."
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The team held Noelle's official signing ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12 before the football team's first home game. Noelle is now an official member of the 'Ville cheer team, who is invited to practice, team functions and cheers on the sidelines during games. Team IMPACT was founded in 2011 by former collegiate student-athletes, and grown significantly in its partnerships with university athletics, seeing two-year partnerships between children and teams build empathy, camaraderie, resilience and boldness. Relationships with teams help children face their medical challenges.
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"We hope that being part of Millersville Cheer gives Noelle opportunities to build friendships, create memories, discover new strengths, and experience the joy of being part of a team," said Ochmanowicz. "At the same time, I know our athletes will be changed by knowing Noelle. She will remind us to celebrate the little victories, appreciate every opportunity, and recognize that the greatest part of being a team isn't what we accomplish, but the people we bring along with us. We are incredibly grateful to Team IMPACT for bringing us together, and we cannot wait to see how this relationship grows. More than anything, we hope Noelle knows that she has a team behind her, a place where she belongs, and a family at Millersville Cheer that is so excited to have her."
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Millersville is one of 44 universities in Pennsylvania with an active partnership with Team IMPACT. For more information on the organization, click here.
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Noelle, from the Millersville borough, is a child diagnosed with vascular malformation and capillary malformation, a serious but treatable congenital condition that is found in less than one percent of the population. Noelle and the Millersville cheer team connected through Team IMPACT, an organization that matches children facing illnesses and disabilities with college sports teams with the mission of putting children and student-athletes in a "mutually beneficial relationship of belonging, empowerment and resilience."
Â
"When the organization reached out about a local child in our community who was interested in partnering with our team, we were incredibly excited for the opportunity," said Millersville cheer coach Daniela DeBernardo. "For Noelle, our hope is that she feels embraced by our program, gains confidence, a sisterhood, and inclusion. We hope to make an impression on her that impacts her past her time with us. Â At the same time, we hope it provides our team with valuable life lessons, a sense of fulfillment, and the joy that comes from making a meaningful impact on someone else's life. What we didn't expect was how much Noelle would impact us in return. Noelle reminds us every day about resilience, and the importance of showing up for one another. While we set out to make a difference in her life, she has made an even greater difference in ours."
Â
The Millersville cheer team is led by DeBernardo and Taylor Ochmanowicz, who were both cheerleaders for the Marauders. They see the relationship with Noelle and Team IMPACT as an opportunity to support a child in the community, but they are also seeing Noelle impact their cheerleaders.
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"From the moment we were introduced to Noelle through Team IMPACT, it became clear that this partnership could be something truly special," said Ochmanowicz. "One of the greatest strengths I've seen in our team is their ability to make people feel exactly the way we hoped Noelle would feel: welcomed, valued, included, and like she truly belongs. Our athletes have a natural ability to create a sense of family wherever they go and seeing that shine through in their relationship with Noelle has been incredibly meaningful."
Â
The team held Noelle's official signing ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 12 before the football team's first home game. Noelle is now an official member of the 'Ville cheer team, who is invited to practice, team functions and cheers on the sidelines during games. Team IMPACT was founded in 2011 by former collegiate student-athletes, and grown significantly in its partnerships with university athletics, seeing two-year partnerships between children and teams build empathy, camaraderie, resilience and boldness. Relationships with teams help children face their medical challenges.
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"We hope that being part of Millersville Cheer gives Noelle opportunities to build friendships, create memories, discover new strengths, and experience the joy of being part of a team," said Ochmanowicz. "At the same time, I know our athletes will be changed by knowing Noelle. She will remind us to celebrate the little victories, appreciate every opportunity, and recognize that the greatest part of being a team isn't what we accomplish, but the people we bring along with us. We are incredibly grateful to Team IMPACT for bringing us together, and we cannot wait to see how this relationship grows. More than anything, we hope Noelle knows that she has a team behind her, a place where she belongs, and a family at Millersville Cheer that is so excited to have her."
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Millersville is one of 44 universities in Pennsylvania with an active partnership with Team IMPACT. For more information on the organization, click here.
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Thursday, September 17
Wednesday, September 16
Saturday, September 12
Saturday, September 12
