{"id":11174,"date":"2025-08-20T15:28:33","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T20:28:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/?p=11174"},"modified":"2025-08-20T15:31:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T20:31:19","slug":"2025-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-dawanda-dawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluekc.com\/blueprint\/community-and-culture\/sports-partnerships-community-and-culture\/2025-blue-kc-coaches-with-character-honoree-dawanda-dawn\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree DaWanda Dawn"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the \u201cC\u201d You in the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Schlagle High School Head Cheerleading Coach DaWanda Dawn as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dawn\u2019s interest in coaching started when her children were younger so she could not only help teach them strong fundamentals, but also the importance of team values that would help shape them into respectful, responsible, and community-minded individuals. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she stepped into the high school coaching world at Schlagle High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt was a difficult time for everyone, especially schools and extracurricular activities,\u201d said Dawn. \u201cWe started with just three cheerleaders, but as we began to better understand and navigate the effects of the pandemic, I was able to build a full team in my first complete season. That success helped spark a movement to revitalize girls\u2019 sports across our school and to help uplift and empower female athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout her first six years of high school coaching, Dawn has been able to interact with individuals from all backgrounds and gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity within her local community. She\u2019s been able to build meaningful relationships with her student-athletes and their families, and cherishes those small, yet powerful, moments when she realizes she\u2019s helped solve a problem or successfully taught a new skill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy proudest accomplishment has been integrating students with learning and physical disabilities into nearly all of the programs our school offers,\u201d said Dawn. \u201cWe create an environment where everyone feels seen, valued, and is included. We\u2019ve taken a stand on inclusion and proudly pledge to embrace all students, which is something I\u2019m incredibly proud of. It\u2019s more than just a moment, it\u2019s a movement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dawn displays daily confidence, which translates into positive thinking for her student-athletes. She was once told that in order to be selfless, she needed to walk into her life\u2019s purpose with pride. She\u2019s done just that and has remembered the motto: \u2018If an athlete can\u2019t see their future, you paint it for them\u2019. This approach has guided the way she coaches and leads by example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo matter what a student\u2019s situation may be, I remind them that they are capable of greatness,\u201d said Dawn. \u201cSometimes they just need someone to believe in them before they can believe in themselves, and I\u2019m honored to be that person when they need it most.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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KANSAS CITY, MO – August 19: Photo from a game between the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers Tuesday, August 19 2025, in Kansas City, MO (Photo by Amy Kontras\/ Kansas City Royals)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

She also reminds her student-athletes that their journeys won\u2019t always be easy, but that the future is theirs to shape. Nothing comes without effort, and Dawn\u2019s continual reminders that success takes hard work, discipline, and heart helps give them the strength to push through and create something amazing that they can carry with them forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy coaching style is built on a family-first approach,\u201d said Dawn. \u201cI believe everyone deserves a voice, so before I make any final decisions, I always take the time to hear from the cheerleading team. I want my athletes to know their opinion matters and that we grow stronger when we work together. My mindset is simple. We are one team, one family. If someone is struggling, we\u2019ve got their back. And if someone needs help, we step up and assist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith a heart full of compassion and determination, DaWanda ensures that all students are celebrated within the Schlagle High School community,\u201d said Dawn\u2019s nominator, Deon Whitten. \u201cHer dedication is evident in how she encourages those students to reach for heights they may have never imagined\u2014whether in academics, where her students have earned places in the National Honor Society and endorsements through the Diploma+ program, or in athletics. Her holistic approach to education, her passionate advocacy for students, and her tireless efforts to foster an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment showcase the true character of a coach and educator who leads by example.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe loving joy Coach Dawn displays is evident to those she interacts with,\u201d said Jenny Housley, Blue KC Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer. \u201cHer unwavering commitment to generating a welcoming environment for her student-athletes shines a beam of light into the local community and makes everyone around her happier. We\u2019re proud to highlight her career accomplishments and know there are many more to come in the future!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a young woman from Wyandotte, building on a dream and striving to make a lasting impact,\u201d said Dawn. \u201cTo me, coaching is about more than any one person or team, it\u2019s about creating a culture of excellence, character, and community. It\u2019s important that my student-athletes not only grow as athletes, but also as leaders who give back to the neighborhoods they come from.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https:\/\/www.BlueKC.com\/NominateCoachesWithCharacter<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs<\/h3>

Blue KC Coaches With Character Program<\/p> <\/div>\n

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