Lauren Lococo and Alex Goldklang cover their bodies with sparkling glitter for UM sports events.

Many are worried about living on their own, making new friends and, most of all, fitting in to such a new environment. But for two young students, fitting in was no problem at the University of Miami. Halfway through their freshman year, Lauren Lococo and Alex Goldklang made a name for themselves as the Glitter Girls. These two girls made fitting in look like no big deal. Their love and enthusiastic spirit for UM and its football team inspired them to cover their bodies head to toe in orange and green glitter.

“The process can get very messy,” said Lococo. “Whoever cleans our bathrooms must hate us.”

Before every home game the girls prep their skin with Vaseline and apply the glitter to their face and all other exposed parts of their body. But the glittering and the sports are not the only aspects they love about being students at UM; there are endless benefits. There is a variety of diverse culture, classes and facilities. UM is a place where students can explore all sorts of opportunities, like receiving a scholastic education and constructing long lasting friendships.

Lococo said she came onto this campus knowing very few people. But, after spending time at the university, she can now say she has made many friends she believes she will keep for a lifetime.

UM offers an assortment of activities and facilities for the student body to attend. The students told me about the dining hall, the on campus gym, the library and an area known as the “green” which shows films for students to watch. These facilities are accessible to students and allow them to engage in university life. And, on top of all that, UM offers a shuttle system to make areas of the campus more accessible.

They even have a shuttle that takes students to the local Sunset shopping mall. Lococo and Goldklang were drawn to the mid-size campus because it was surrounded by such a large and diverse city. The sports here, though, really took their hearts and that is what inspired them to go all out for their teams. They have not only been recognized by administrators, but players as well. They were even recognized by ESPN Sports Center.

“We literally put a face on our team” Lococo said.

Attending UM not only allows the girls to demonstrate their love for their school, but it also allows them to pursue their dreams. Lococo and Goldklang are just as serious about their academics and future as they are about glittering for the football games. Lococo is working in pre-law and is aspiring to be a sports agent, while Goldklang is studying to become an athletic trainer and hopes to one day work with the Big League players.

Freshman year may not have always been a walk in the park for them, but being at a school like UM has taught them how to get along with others, embrace their surroundings and maintain their grades. Most of all, these students have brought a new meaning to school spirit. Their drive and desire to be there for their school’s team has impressed fellow students, administrators, athletes and even ESPN. They say that a lot comes with being the UM Glitter Girls, and they hope their legacy will live on long after they graduate.

Kara Bisceglia is a Palmetto High School graduate and a frequent contributor to the Pinecrest Tribune. She attends the University of Central Florida where she is majoring in Radio and Television.