Class of 1996

Jennifer Burrell Marks is fondly remembered for being consistently positive, enthusiastic, energetic, athletic, and genuinely kind to others as she graduated in 1996 as our most decorated cheerleader. Since that time she has continued to foster those character traits evident on our campus and she has become one of the most successful and influential people in the cheer community for our area and in the whole state of North Carolina. Furthermore, she is one of the most well-respected cheer coaches in the nation as evidence by her speaking at the Nebraska State Coaches Conference. It is fitting with all that she has accomplished in cheer, that she is the first athlete inducted into our Hall of Fame specifically for cheer.

Jennifer cheered for three years at Apex after being on the swim team her freshman year. During her time as a cheerleader at Apex, she was a two-time team captain and she was also selected as the team MVP. Incredibly, she was also selected as a two-time All-American as well.

After graduating from Apex, Jennifer spent a year at James Madison before transferring to to NC State. While at NC State she continued to flourish in cheer as she was selected as a two-time team captain and a two-time team MVP. Also at NC State she became only one of the few Apex graduates to win a collegiate national championship as the NC State Wolfpack Cheer Team won the 2001 National Championship. 

Along with working a full-time job at Wake Med Hospital for several decades, Jenn has also stayed involved with the sport. As the head coach at Cardinal Gibbons she has been recognized at the NC Coach of the Year (twice) as well as the NFHS National Coach of the Year. On top of that she has won 25 NC State Championships and three “Cheersport National Championships.” While also still serving in her previous roles, she has recently added a new role having been named as the Cheerleading Coach at NC State who are consistently one of the top cheer teams in the United States. 

Jennifer’s coaching philosophy is centered around love, respect, and discipline and she also applies this philosophy outside of cheerleading as well. Jennifer has also consistently volunteered to help others through programs such as the St. Francis Stewardship Committee, “Feed the Need,” “Helping Hands Mission,” and the Oxford Children’s Home. 

Jennifer is married to Taylor Marks and they have five children (Ava, Sophia, Bryce, Chloe and Jack). Continuing her mother’s legacy, Ava, Jennifer’s oldest child, will be cheering at NC State this fall. Jennifer is very proud to be an Apex graduate, and she continues to stay in touch with many of her classmates. She is a remarkable athlete, coach, parent, and person who continues to make Apex proud.