This week’s campus celebrity is someone whose school spirit is almost bigger than she is. Meet Kira Pigford, a pint sized, second year hawk who has made her mark on the basketball court as a member of the SJU dance team, and also in the stands as a die hard Hawk basketball fan. Whether Kira was on the SJUDT or not, you can be sure that she would be in the stands at every men’s and women’s game cheering on our Hawks not only as players, but as people that Kira considers some of her closest friends, she is even roommates with some of them!
Name: Vikira Pigford, but call her Kira
Hometown: Philadelphia
Major: Elementary/Special Education
What made you choose SJU?: I had the privilege to experience SJU before it was really my turn. I have an older sister who graduated from SJU in 2013. I often came to campus to hang out with her and always had a great time during my visits. I came to plenty of men’s and women’s basketball games to support her and the dance team and knew that if I had the opportunity I would go to Saint Joe’s too. The atmosphere of the student body and being able to be apart of that is just something no one would want to give up if given the opportunity.
Campus involvement: SJU Dance Team
Possible career plans: Special Education Teacher
Favorite memory so far at SJU: Being able to experience going to Nationals with the dance team and meeting so many other great people from other teams who share your same passion and goals.
Best part of being on dance team: The best part about being on the dance team is having a family away from home. I have created bonds with my teammates that are unbreakable and know that I can turn to any of them whenever I need help. We have all laughed, cried, and been through some of the hardest times together, but the best part of that is knowing that none of us would have it any other way. My teammates are some of the hardest working women on and off the dance floor and we all push each other past our limits and be the best women we can be.
What’s it really like living with basketball players?!: It can be LOUD, OBNOXIOUS, too much to handle at times, but most importantly it is all love and support. The basketball girls have been a major ingredient for my great experience thus far at SJU. They like to have fun but have that right balance between school, basketball, and social life that keeps me on track too. They are so supportive in the things that I do and have always made it clear that I can turn to them for anything. I forget sometimes that it’s “basketball players” that I live with because those girls have become my family.
There you have it! Be sure to look for Kira at a basketball game this season and say “hi”, she loves meeting new people!