Our Committee

Hometown: Louisville, KY

Major: Neuroscience

My very first encounter with DanceBlue was seeing my brother participate while I was in high school. I knew at the time it was a philanthropy event for a good cause, but I had no idea of the scale of joy it could bring. I didn’t fully realize what I was getting into until I fundraised and received a spot to dance my freshman year of college. DanceBlue was an experience like no other, and it showed me that I needed to be more involved.

My sophomore year I was lucky enough to receive a spot on Morale committee, and being on Morale really helped solidify what joy is healing really meant to me. I first viewed DanceBlue from seeing the grandeur of the marathon. However, through Morale, I realized even the smallest acts: putting on costumes, pumping up dancers, or bringing extra energy can help carry Jarrett’s mission further than we ever imagined! I continued to serve on Morale my junior year, and have the privilege of being Community Development Chair for my senior year.

I like to think of DanceBlue as relentless and always pursuing joy in the face of turmoil. What started out as a joy cart to help give toys to kids has become an event that provides collective support from countless backgrounds to help carry out a boy’s wish. I am lucky to serve this organization and will continue to until the battle is won.

If DanceBlue interests you in any shape or form, please reach out to me! I would love to connect and share more!

Hometown: Hopkinsville, KY

Major: Economics

Minor: Political Science

My first encounter with DanceBlue was seeing my older sister get involved. Watching the joy she experienced and shared with others led me to wanting to create my own personal experience with DanceBlue, and I am so grateful that I took that leap of faith my by dancing my freshman year at Marathon. After those 24 hours, my life was changed forever and I knew I needed to further my involvement. I joined Corporate Committee my sophomore year and loved every moment; the teamwork our committee had and the impact we made led to me applying to be Corporate Events Coordinator my junior year. I was so excited to get the chance to spread DanceBlue’s mission and help plan our Silent Auction! As Corporate Chair, I cannot wait to extend our reach farther than ever before and spread the joy of DanceBlue. DanceBlue unites our Commonwealth behind this mission, and I cannot wait to see what this year holds!

If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, wanting to donate an item for the 2026 Silent Auction, or have general inquiries about what a partnership with DB has to offer, please reach out to me!

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Major: Communication Sciences and Disorders & Health Communication

I was first introduced to DanceBlue when my middle school, Jessie Clark, hosted a Mini Marathon while I was in 7th grade. During my 8th grade year, I helped with our Mini and had the opportunity to present our donation check. I was blown away by the determination of so many college students standing for something bigger than themselves. From that moment on, I grew my love for this mission from 7th grade through my senior year at Lafayette High School, where I had the opportunity to help lead our Mini Marathon to raise over $43,000! As soon as I got to campus, I found every way I could to get involved by joining a team, participating in the 5K, going to restaurant nights, and meeting as many people as possible. I danced in the 2024 Marathon and immediately looked for the committee application because I knew I wanted to be involved on a deeper level. After sharing my passion for the mission and connecting with students, I was grateful to serve as the Returning Teams Coordinator for DB25 and the Dancer Outreach Coordinator for DB26. Now, having the honor of serving as the Dancer Relations Chair feels so full circle. It brings me so much joy to share this mission with our campus and continue carrying on Jarrett’s legacy. The joy that radiates from DanceBlue is the kind that exists even in the hardest seasons. Joy in small wins. Joy in shared tears. Joy that reminds us why we stand, why we serve, and why we will keep choosing this mission over and over again.

If you’re interested in starting a team, becoming a dancer, or simply figuring out where you fit into DanceBlue, I would love to connect with you! Please reach out anytime!

Hometown: Johns Creek, GA

Major: Integrated Strategic Communication and Human Development (Child Life Accelerated Masters Program)

Coming to college as an out-of-state student, I had never heard of DanceBlue or the impact it has on families. I was so excited to volunteer for the marathon as a freshman. Little did I know that volunteering for a couple of hours on a Saturday night would forever change me and my college experience. I knew I wanted to come back the next day for the final hours of the marathon, and it was then that I realized I needed to do more.

I was lucky enough to spend my sophomore year on the Morale Committee, where I learned what it looked like to uplift my peers, dance alongside them, and surround myself with people who embodied the mission of DanceBlue. During my junior year, I had the opportunity to serve the DanceBlue Clinic in a new way as a Family Events Coordinator on the Family Relations Committee. Spending two hours at the DanceBlue Clinic each week, simply hanging out with patients, quickly became my favorite part of the week. Seeing so much joy exist in a place filled with heartbreak is an experience I will carry with me forever.

Spending my junior year creating memories for patients and families through family parties and the family room at Marathon was truly such a gift. The greatest honor of my college experience has been the opportunity to serve as the Family Relations Chair during my senior year.

Throughout my time in DanceBlue, I have learned that “to DanceBlue someone” should be a verb. To DanceBlue someone means to show up, to love deeply, to bring joy into difficult places, and to make someone feel seen. It means spreading a kind of joy that is almost impossible to explain. DanceBlue has taught me that you do not always have to have the right words or be able to fix what someone is going through. Sometimes, simply bringing joy, hope, and love is enough.

The best part of DanceBlue is that it has nothing to do with me, yet everything to do with the patients and families we serve. I expected to give back to my community when I volunteered at Marathon my freshman year, but DanceBlue has given me more than I could ever give in return.

DanceBlue exists in the hard conversations, the bell ringings, the community it creates on campus, the schools it touches, and the passion it ignites in people. It has taught me that even in the hardest places, there can be so much joy, hope, and love.

I am forever changed and eternally grateful for DanceBlue. What started as a few hours of volunteering my freshman year has become one of the greatest gifts of my college experience. I hope that wherever life takes me, I will continue to “DanceBlue” the people around me by showing up, loving deeply, and spreading the kind of unexplainable joy that first changed me.

If you want to learn more about how you can get involved, please reach out to me! I would love to share more about this incredible community and the impact it has on families and patients.

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Major: Finance, Marketing & Management

I was first introduced to DanceBlue in 9th grade through Frederick Douglass High School’s mini marathon. I was immediately drawn to DanceBlue’s impact and mission and knew I wanted to continue my involvement. I continued to participate throughout the remainder of my time in high school serving on the programming committee. I knew continuing my involvement and journey with DanceBlue was a top priority of mine when going to the UK. I joined Chi Omega my freshman year and was able to hold a floor spot on their team as a dancer for DanceBlue 2024. After experiencing the JOY of marathon for the first time, I knew I wanted to get more involved. I applied for a committee and found my place on DanceBlue Programming. I served on committee my sophomore year, and as the External Marathon Coordinator my junior year. This year I have the absolute honor of serving as the DanceBlue 2027 Fundraising Chair. Through this role I am able to offer support to individuals, teams, and committee members in their fundraising efforts. Through this role, I hope to gain an entirely new perspective of this organization. The selflessness and determination of everyone involved is incredibly admirable and I am so blessed to be even a small part of it. DanceBlue is a constant reminder that we’re all working toward something bigger than ourselves. Knowing that we are able to bring joy to both the dancers and the children is such a humbling feeling. If I can give back as much as I can by serving this organization then I will do just that.

The JOY of DanceBlue is for everyone to experience, but we can’t do it without your help. Feel free to reach out any time for more information about DanceBlue Fundraising!

Hometown: Hebron, KY

Major: Marketing and Management

I first encountered DanceBlue my freshman year when I joined my sorority’s team and was a dancer! I have been a dancer, a volunteer, and a coordinator, and now I serve as the Marketing chair!

DanceBlue has been my favorite part of college and I would love to connect with you on how to get involved!

Hometown: Paintsville, KY

Major: Human Health Sciences

Minor: Pharmacology

Growing up in a small town in Eastern Kentucky, I did not know what DanceBlue was until my freshman year of college. I started my journey with this amazing organization as a Dancer in the 2024 marathon. During those 24 hours, I was in awe of the joy that filled Rupp Arena. I soaked up all 1,440 minutes that I got to spend standing for a cause so much bigger than myself, and I quickly realized that I needed to get more involved.

I took the opportunity to apply for committee, and it was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I joined Morale Committee, where I found some of the most amazing people I have ever met and experienced the joy of DanceBlue in a completely different way. That year, I had the greatest honor of leading my own team of dancers and encouraging them to take the same leap I had and apply for committee.

My junior year, I served as Mini Marathons Recruitment Coordinator. In this role, I experienced the magic of DanceBlue through the eyes of Kentucky’s kids. Mini Marathons strive to empower kids to support other kids, and it has been one of my greatest joys to play a small part in that mission. I now have the honor of serving as Mini Marathons Chair and continuing to give back to an organization that has given me so much. DanceBlue has changed my life in countless ways and has shown me what it truly means to see joy prevail.

Get involved with DanceBlue! I would love to connect with you to help you get started! Please reach out to me anytime!

Hometown: Lexington, KY

Major: Human Health Science (Pre-PT)

DanceBlue began shaping my story before I was born. My older brother spent much of his first few years of life in and out of the hospital after being born extremely prematurely. During some of his overnight stays, he was able to choose a toy from Jarrett’s Joy Cart. These moments have been described by my parents “as the first sign of hope beyond the hospital walls that they had seen in days”. As I continued into elementary school, DanceBlue continued to intersect with my life. I watched two of my friends, Lauran and Hannah, undergo treatment and get to be called cancer survivors because of DanceBlue’s impacts! While I was too young to fully grasp the weight of what their families were experiencing, I was clearly recognized the hope, joy, and healing that was somehow wrapped up in this thing they called DanceBlue! After my friend Lauran entered remission, she gathered our friend group to raise money to purchase toys for Jarrett’s Joy Cart during the Christmas season. We continued this tradition for several years before participating in Lexington Christian Academy’s mini marathons. Throughout middle and high school, I remained involved in fundraising and supporting DanceBlue through my school’s mini marathon program. In coming to UK, I knew that DanceBlue was something I wanted to continue investing in! As a freshman, I started a team and served as the team captain for my campus ministry. Through serving in this role and dancing at my first 24-hour marathon, I quickly realized that DanceBlue was not something I simply wanted to participate in, but something I wanted to help create. This realization led me to apply to committee where I was perfectly placed onto the Operations Committee. Serving on the Operations Committee my sophomore and junior year helped me realize that every volunteer, logistical detail, and big and little acts of service play a role in creating the impacts that DanceBlue is able to create for Kentucky families. Now, as the Operations Chair, I have the honor of being able to lead a team to organize the logistics of making our events possible. This year I am excited to watch and enable every committee member, student, UK faculty and staff, and community partner to take part in fulfilling Jarrett Mynear’s mission of “doing something good for the clinic.” Every mile at 5K or hour at marathon is a vital piece that enables Kentucky families to be able to see Joy Prevail!

If you or your organization would like to partner with DanceBlue through helping to bring our events to life or heightening our impacts, I would love to connect with you! Please reach out anytime!

Hometown: Alexandria, KY

Major: Political Science

Minor: Integrated Strategic Communication

My first encounter was through my cousin and sister being a part of committee and I went to marathons throughout high school to support them. Starting my freshman year, I was a team captain for my sorority’s all-freshman team and was a dancer. I have been on Programming Committee for the past two years, and last year I was the Internal Marathon Coordinator.

I would love to talk about all things DanceBlue with you! Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions!

Hometown: Dayton, OH

Major: Journalism & Integrated Strategic Communication

Certificate: Sport Communication

My love for DanceBlue began my freshman year as a dancer on Phi Mu’s team. Experiencing Marathon gave me a sense of purpose I wanted to find at UK. I danced with Phi Mu again sophomore year, where my spark to serve DanceBlue in a greater capacity was lit. I joined the Technology Committee, specifically as a videographer, for DB26. I had the privilege of filming the joy of DanceBlue at our Silent Auction, Mini Marathons, and Marathon itself, forming meaningful friendships with our team and leadership in the process. Serving the mission of DanceBlue has been a great honor and contributing through my passion brings a huge sense of purpose to my time at UK as an out-of-state student. Sharing time, work, and ideas with each dedicated individual teaches me that we, as a DanceBlue community, are greater than the sum of our parts.

If you have any questions about DanceBlue photography, videography our online platforms, or Marathon production, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!