BANGOR – Eastern Maine Community College is offering a new dimension for its basketball events this year – a coed cheering squad.

The Golden Eagles cheering squad currently has seven members: five women and two men. Coach Shellie Robinson is one of the group – at 24, she has been a cheerleader since fifth grade.

“I love it,” she said.

The squad’s colors are blue and gold and members started out wearing matching shirts and shorts. Currently, they are wearing attire resembling a warm-up outfit until funds are available to purchase uniforms.

The bookstore has contributed financial assistance to the squad. The college’s dean, Greg Swett, and Jeff Harris, director of housing and residential life, have provided funds out of their own pockets, Robinson said.

Harris is involved with the students “immensely” and has been very supportive of the cheering squad, Robinson said.

“He’s a great guy. He’s done a lot for us,” she said. Recently, Harris provided $200 out-of-pocket to send squad members to cheering camp Dec. 6 at the University of Maine.

“The school is helping us out a lot right now,” Robinson said. Several fund-raisers also are planned during the holidays.

“I’m just volunteering this year,” she said. Next year, the cheering squad will be rolled into the budget.

Posters will be put up to encourage students, not only from EMCC, but also from Bangor’s other community colleges – Beal College and University College – to participate on the squad.

“As long as they’re a student, they can cheer,” Robinson said.

Right now the squad is cheering only for basketball games, both men’s and women’s. Robinson plans to check into other sports events like football.

Robinson comes from a family of self-starters – entrepreneurship “is in my blood,” she said. For example, her grandparents built and sold Heritage Bowling Center in Hermon.

Robinson plans to take classes to help her in future endeavors as operations manager at Clark’s Boarding Home in Hermon, which her mother owns. And she plans to continue to develop and coach the Golden Eagles cheering squad “as many years as I can.”

The squad practices Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 3 to 5 p.m. in EMCC’s Johnson Gym on the campus off Hogan Road. An open practice is being held through Dec. 19, at which interested students may participate “to see if it’s something they want to do,” Robinson said.

To obtain information about the coed cheering squad, or to make a donation, call Harris at 941-4696.