BETH COOLEY CHEERLEADING AWARD

Holmes, Class of 1981, is the recipient of the Beth Cooley Cheerleading Award—which is named after Holmes’ former cheermate at Lakeside. Holmes earned four varsity letters as a cheerleader (1978-81) and was a captain her junior and senior seasons. At Lakeside, Holmes also earned four letters on the gymnastics team and spent her sophomore and junior years on the diving team. Holmes served as Student Council President from 1980-81 before graduating. He attended the University of Georgia and earned her BFA in Art in 1985 before receiving her MD at the Medical College of Georgia in 1989. She began working as an OB-GYN at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston and Prisma Health in Greenville. In addition to a 25-year career as an OB-GYN, Holmes is an author, a nationally recognized health educator and the founder and CEO of Girlology, a girls’ and women’s health digital platform that she founded. As a passionate patient advocate, Dr. Holmes received a national award from the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists for patient education.Holmes returned to Georgia in 2023 and resides in Athens with her husband Steve Vermillion. She is most proud of her three daughters Emily (equine vet), Caroline (attorney), and Ella (college student at WCU).