NATCHEZ — Adalyn Boyd and Mallory Lancaster grew up watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV, but never imagined they might one day be walking the streets of New York City participating in the event.

The Trinity Episcopal Day School seniors were recently selected as Universal Cheerleaders Association All-Americans during a cheerleading camp in June at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“You’re performing in front of the whole camp, so it’s hundreds of people just watching you,” Boyd, 17, said. “Honestly, the only thing I could think about was to smile and not mess up.”

The two performed along with other Trinity students in the competition and were selected as All-Americans.

“I was just trying not to freak myself out the whole time,” Lancaster, 17, said. “I kept telling myself to stay calm and do what I knew I could do.

“I guess it worked because we were selected.”

Part of the perks of being selected, other than bragging rights, includes an invitation to attend two special events — the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a New Year’s Eve parade in London.

Boyd said the realization of being selected hadn’t hit her until Monday night when she made her final reservations for the New York City trip.

“We paid the deposit and then it hit me that this is all real and that I’m going to New York for the first time,” Boyd said. “I’ve always wanted to go and now it’s actually happening.”

Going across the pond to London is also a trip both cheerleaders want to take, but such a trip has significant costs.

“My mom said we were definitely going to New York, but I don’t know if we can go to London because it’s really expensive,” Lancaster said. “We’re going to try and raise enough money to go, though.”

Boyd and Lancaster said they plan to sell T-shirts, host car washes and seek any other sponsors who might be interested in funding their London trip.

“We’ll think of whatever we can to raise the money because I’ve always wanted to go to London,” Boyd said. “My grandmother was born in London, so she always told me about it growing up.”

Both trips, however, might require Lancaster to face one of her greatest fears.

“I’m scared of planes, so I’m pushing for us to go up on the train,” Lancaster said, laughing. “It’ll be a longer trip, but I’d rather do that than fly for the first time.”

Boyd is the daughter of Leslie Parker and Jeffrey Ross.

Lancaster is the daughter of Wendy and Sam Lancaster.