EC grads visit White House, tour Oval Office during IU national title visit

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Two East Central graduates were part of the IU Football National Championship visit to the White House this week. 

Karly Scholl and Blake Gindling are members of the IU cheerleading team and described the visit as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. 

“The hospitality from President Donald Trump and his staff was top notch, and being able to perform on the South Lawn to kick off the event in front of so many well-known individuals was incredible,” Scholl said. 

Scholl said one of the most memorable moments is when the President personally waved them over to him. 

“He shook each of our hands, and asked us to accompany him and the team to the Oval Office,” she said. 

President Trump presented each member with a Presidential Challenge Coin, a photo with him and they even took a picture with the Declaration of Independence. 

“One of the coolest parts was being invited to the Oval Office and seeing the President at the Resolute Desk,” Gindling added. 

The football team and cheerleaders were also given a tour of the White House where military aids shared the history about each room they visited.

The Presidential visit is one of many memories that Scholl and Gindling will cherish from the historic season. 

“We had front row seats to some of the best games in college football this year and got the opportunity to travel across the country, making memories we’ll never forget,” Scholl said. 

Some experiences that stick out include the rose petals on the football field after the Rose Bowl victory and watching Fernando Mendoza’s touchdown in Miami right in front of them. 

"The National Championship season was honestly the most unreal experience. For it to happen during our senior year couldn’t have made it any better," Gindling said.

Karly and Blake were given the opportunity to attend the White House because they are senior members of the cheerleading team.

Scholl graduated this past Saturday with a degree in Speech Language and Hearing Sciences. She will now pursue her Doctorate of Audiology at IU and plans to be a licensed Audiologist. 

Gindling graduated with a degree in Biology and will be starting Anesthesiologist Assistant school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland in a couple of weeks. 

They added that the ceremony at the White House encompassed the success of the football team and many accolades were given.

“There was a nice blend of seriousness and jokes being made by both President Trump and Coach Cignetti during the ceremony,” Gindling added. 

Scholl and Gindling are boyfriend and girlfriend and both graduated from East Central in 2022. Karly's younger sister, Kelsey, is also part of the IU cheerleading team.

Here are some more photos from the White House visit: