Nike taps SU Alumna Stamper for Yardrunner 4.0 Campaign

Signed, Stamped, and Sealed – Danielle Nikita Stamper, Alumna of The Southern University and A&M College, continues to make her mark off the yard. She started on the yard; now she’s here!
Danielle is creditably known as a professional dancer, educator, coach/coordinator, and an overall determined individual. Throughout her matriculation at Southern University, she followed her dreams of becoming a Southern University Fabulous Dancing Doll in 2013.
That year, she was able to dance with A-list superstar Beyonce during Pepsi’s Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show on February 3, 2013. Oh, but wait, two years later, in 2016 she worked with Beyonce again, featuring in her Lemonade Project – joining other talented black women across the country.
During a recent Interview with Danielle, she talked about how she remained active as a dancer and coach and still managed to give back to her community.
“I’ve always looked at Dance as a gift, not just a hobby or something I just wanted to do… but always something that brought me peace and joy.” Stamper expressed.
As far as her years as a Fabulous Dancing Doll, Stamper would go on to be one of many dolls who did two years as a Dancing Doll captain despite her unforeseen injury.
But that didn’t stop her there–Stamper not only graduated in the Fall of 2017 from Southern University but then went back to her alma mater, McKinley Senior High, becoming a teacher of its Dance Department & official coach of the McKinley High Pantherettes.
The 2023 Yardrunner has had years of milestones upon graduating college, from running for Miss Louisiana in 2019 as Miss East Baton Rouge, releasing her very own activewear, The Stamped Collection, in 2020, auditioning & making The New Orleans Saints Cheer Team on July 7, 2021, representing as coach & coordinator of Texas Southern University’s Motion of the Ocean Dance Team, and now an official Nike Yardrunner for its 4.0 Campaign!
Nike Yardrunner is a campaign introduced in 2020 and was originally started by HBCU graduates working at the brand. Making its mark as the first-ever HBCU campaign for the world’s largest athletic apparel company.
Stamper was very candid in how she came across this amazing opportunity. In 2016, during her captain year as a Fabulous Dancing Doll, Stamper conveyed that one of the founders of Yard Runners reached out to her randomly while in her undergraduate time at Southern, Arinze Emeagwali.
As an influential individual in the HBCU community, The Howard Alum informed Danielle that Yard Runners was vowing to send her a box of shoes to show his appreciation as she has been an influencer in the HBCU community.
In 2021, Nike asked Stamper to participate as a Dance Consultant for the Nike Yardrunners Dance Showcase alongside celebrity judges of Houston’s Hotgirl, Megan The Stallion. In contrast, Danielle’s current team, Texas Southern University’s Motion of the Ocean, was one of four teams featured.
Stamper chuckled at how she is a girly girl and had never worn sneakers as much – but morally; she had been following and supporting the Nike brand before Nike Yardrunners even came about.
Ultimately, Nike Yardrunners personally reached out and selected Stamper for its official campaign for its 2023 class.
This Yardrunner class features nine Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The class includes Robert Covington III of Tennesse State University, Cameron Lide of Winston-Salem State University, Jawaun Daniels of Prairie View A&M University, Foggie Raw of Bowie State University, Javicia Leslie, Danielle Stamper of Southern University and A&M College, Melanie Mitchell of Florida A&M University, Lady London of Howard University, and Kayla White of North Carolina A&T State University. Southern University and A&M College makes their first highlighted appearance with the campaign in its 4.0 (fourth season).
Nike Yardrunners 4.0 titles this class “Draft Day” with the tagline, “Started on the Yard.”
Howard Alum and Sports Journalist Stephen A. Smith voiced this year’s official release video, available on Nike’s official social media platforms.
Stamper has many things she would love for people to gain from this experience. However, her main motif is, “Be true to who you are! You don’t have to go out seeking something that’s already written for you.”