Julie Kicklighter Scores a Touchdown with “TD” & the AquaNuts at Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa
The first-day of spring 2014 was welcomed with laughter & learning as Julie Kicklighter and Miami Dolphins mascot “TD” gracefully ran through the alphabet like Mark Duper crossing the end-zone after cradling a pass from Dan Marino. 6-points. And the extra-point was Kicked.
Working with Carolina G. Griffith, Activities Manager at Eau Palm Beach Resort, Julie Kicklighter read to a group of kids at the AquaNuts youth hangout on the site of the Eau Palm property. Julie signed autographs, and posed for pictures after she, TD & the delighted kids read in unison from her book F is For Football. Based on the response from the kids, T is for Touchdown.
Julie Kicklighter, as a young Southern girl, followed into her family’s tradition of athletics & sports. Kick – as she is know to her friends, family & colleagues – kicked butt as a cheerleader at Georgian Southern. Julie later went on to become a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader, and was awarded with the honor of being named the 2005 Rookie of the Year.
Clearly, Julie has a knack for getting people pumped-up. This is why the transition from Dolphins Cheerleader to child author took no kick in the pants. She said, watching the response in the crowd to what was happening on the field during my time as a cheerleader was inspiration to becoming a children’s author. I thought that if we could capture the same energy for learning, translate it into the classroom; well that would just be quite special. According to Ms. Kicklighter a profound number of similarities are shared between cheering and writing. As she states, inspiration and passion would have to be on top of the list. The desire to succeed based on real-effort, personal commitment, and teamwork; that is football. That is winning. That is learning how to read.
About Julie Kicklighter
Julie Kicklighter, known as Kick by her friends and colleagues, grew up in the South with two older brothers in a family of athletes and sports enthusiasts. She followed the family tradition in her own way by becoming a cheerleader at Georgia Southern University where she was the cheerleader captain for the six time NCAA 1-AA football national champions. She went on to become a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader (MDC) and was awarded 2005 Rookie of the Year by the organization for a stand out season that included performing stand-up comedy at NFL Draft Day, Miami Dolphins Fan Fest, and for the U.S. Military while on tour overseas with the Armed Forces Entertainment Group.
About Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa / AquaNuts
EAU PALM BEACH Resort & Spa, situated on seven acres of oceanfront, welcomes guests with breathtaking ocean views and lush tropical gardens.
Welcome to Palm Beach re-imagined, a wonderland of the unexpected, playful and indulgent. A world apart where happiness reigns and coveted moments brim with surprises that will leave you breathless. Little wonder, you were always meant for something extraordinary. So, away you go. Here, now, wow.
EAU PALM BEACH Resort & Spa, situated on seven acres of oceanfront, welcomes guests with breathtaking ocean views and lush tropical gardens.
AquaNuts is an underwater place imagined for kids to have fun, make new friends, go on adventures, pool and beach games, arts and crafts, movie nights, tie-dye shirts, air brush tattoos, and much more.
