Three cheers for this Palatine volunteer

Jan Higgins of Palatine always has recognized the value of cheerleading.

"It can help someone shy come out of their shell," she said. "With nurturing, girls often realize they can do something they thought they never could."

Higgins, 52, coached cheerleading for three years at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Palatine. She joined the Palatine Amateur Football Association cheer program six years ago, where she has risen from team mom to president of the cheer organization.

"Basically, you supervise a group of girls in second- through eighth-grade," she said. "You have to make sure they are safe and not doing things beyond their skill level."

Higgins first oversaw the high school-aged coaches and managed the schedules and payroll. When she became head of team moms, she added recruiting and training.

"She always works well with the girls and makes sure everyone is included," said Debra Ori, who has known Higgins for four years. "No matter what skills they have, she is always positive with them and makes sure they do their best."

Three years ago the mother of three became president.

"She is a great president who has been able to work with the football organization to make us more of a team," Ori said. "That's been wonderful for the girls because it makes them more part of the football organization instead of standing on the sidelines."

A liaison between the cheerleaders and PAFA, Higgins established an official cheerleading section, enabling the cheerleaders to stand without spectators walking in front of them or running into them.

When the park district remodeled, Higgins secured a new practice area at Fremd High School.

Now, the fifth- through eighth-graders have begun competing, and in three years have placed first, second and third.

The Schaumburg Athletic Association sponsors "Spirit Spectacular," a nonschool cheer competition, that Higgins got PAFA involved in.

"I wanted (them) to ... compete in a nonstressful atmosphere before going into high school competitions," she said. "That way, they would be prepared and not so anxious about it."

Ori said Higgins always looks for what is best for the program.

"She addresses each and every concern," Ori said. "As president, she doesn't have to take on as much as she does. That's just Jan."

Higgins worked with Preservation of Human Dignity for two years, she was a Girl Scout leader from 1994-2003 and she served with the St. Theresa Parent Association.

"She's always been into volunteering. I often tell her to go out and get a job instead, but she really likes helping people," joked Higgins' husband, Steve.

"She's a better man than I, always doing something to help and make a difference."