Morgan Snow

Elite Precision on the rise

Jazmon Marshal can remember back to her first step show. While enrolled at E.C. King

Middle School, she joined the step team to keep her busy when she wasn't playing any sports.

At her first step show, there she was, standing on stage with her head down. Marshall was a

nervous wreck, but with her team’s enthusiastic spirits and ferocious attitudes, they stepped

their way to victory. Not only did she discover that she had a special talent, she continued to

step through her college years where she found a breakthrough opportunity that allows her to

service her community through performance.

According to Urban Dictionary, A step team is a group of individuals that perform a

"type of dancing that involves clapping, stomping, and making noise on the body to make a

beat." Stepping has become very popular. More and more movies are revolved around

stepping. Stepping is becoming a nationally respected athletic event and it’s also becoming

more accepted as a competitive event.

Last year, on Nov. 26, Marshall and three other ambitious ladies took it upon

themselves to start their very own step team called Elite Precision Step Team. Jazmon

Marshall, Kiara Truitt (the president), Morgan

Burgess (the communication coordinator), and

Chardai Thomas (the step choreographer)

accompanied each other on a previous step

team. These ladies made a collective decision

to separate from their old squad because they

figured it would be best to create and build

their own step team.

In this photo are members of Elite Precision (left to right): Jazmon Marshall, Chardai Thomas, Alexus Paige, and Taylor

Marshall says that it wasn’t too hard to become a registered student organization, “It

was as easy as grabbing three friends, paying ten dollars, filling out applications and

attending meetings." The main challenge Elite Precision faced was gaining respect and

support from other organizations and individuals. They have also faced challenges in

maintaining serious and dedicated members.

Since Marshall and her teammates are dedicated, adventurous, and hard-working they

seek strong individuals who will be willing to dedicate their time and efforts to keep the team

up with its set standards. Marshall says that "Elite Precision's goal for its individual members

on the team is to build a team environment by creating a close-knit family." While doing this,

they hope to help members succeed in finding new characteristics within oneself.

Unfortunately men are not able to join their squad, Elite Precision is an all-girls step

team. They compete heavily against all-men teams and co-ed teams, while still producing

quality award winning shows. They always have to compete with high intensity; competing

against men can be very tough because they can be very skilled and more athletic. “One thing

that’s known about Elite Precision is that we step hard,” says Marshall. “As an all-girls team,

people look forward to watching us dominate on stage, even against male teams.” Elite

Precision puts in countless hours of practice for every competition just to make sure they are

crisp, clean, and precise.

Marshall informs us that since the

organization is relatively new, there is no

real history. However, they have already

established themselves by performing at

several events. They have performed at

many showcases such as Black Family

Day, Step for Success, and Culture Shock.

In the showcases that Elite Precision

Elite Precision performing at the 2013 Epsilon Iota Alpha’s

performs in, there are other people who come and make speeches, perform dances and sing.

They have also competed in two Epsilon Iota Alphas' events- Non Greek Step Show and Stroll

Like an Alpha Competition- where they received second place in both events. At these

competitions, many universities and colleges come from all over Texas to compete.

Marshall, whose parents are of African

American descent, was raised in Houston for

majority of her life and she is now living in

Austin. Marshall is a graduating senior

majoring in Speech language pathology

(communications sciences and disorders). Her

plans are to work as a speech pathologist

assistant in a school system or for a pediatric

therapy company while waiting for her

acceptance into grad school. She never

imagined herself starting a student

organization. Although Marshall is a co-

founder of Elite Precision, she doesn't let her

duties and responsibilities interfere with her

studies.

"Stepping helps to relieve my mind from all of my worries as a student,” says Marshall.

“Being a student and working for 20-30 hours a week can be very stressful.” When she is with

her team she is able to "chill" and relax her mind. She refers to stepping as her "outlet from

real life."

Marshall is the community service liaison and treasurer for Elite Precision. She handles

all of the money that comes through their organization and she also makes necessary

purchases. Marshall also schedules all Elite Precision's community service events. She says

Jazmon Marshall posing in her cap and gown

that they "complete two events per month" and

that it is her job to communicate with the

outside party, whether it's with a nursing home,

group home, or hospital.

“I am a dedicated, hard-working and ambitious

individual who loves to serve others,” says

Marshall. “It is my goal to leave a lasting impact

on those who I am blessed enough to encounter.” Her and her teammates believe that

through stepping, they will be able to lift the spirits of others; this is what Elite Precisions is

all about. According to Elite Precision's website, the organizations mission is to uplift the

community through performance and service. Elite Precision Step Team seeks freedom and

leadership.

Marshall says that her “new team has lots of potential.” After she graduates

and leaves school, Elite Precision will still continue. “We’ve already taken steps to ensure

that our organization doesn't fall apart,” says Marshall. “My new executive board members

have already been chosen and they have started shadowing the current members.” She and

the other founders are proud of their organizations' progression .In the future, if she is

blessed with the opportunity to start a step team at a middle or high school; Marshall says

that she will take the opportunity.

Elite Precision seeks freedom, individual opportunity, and leadership throughout UT's

campus. Visit Elite Precision's website to learn more about the organization. You can also visit

their Facebook page to find out more about their performances and community service

events.

Elite Precision performing at the 2013 Culture Shock showcase (Photographer: DJ Eclipze)