| Q&A with Wendy |
| Place of Residence: |
State College, Pennsylvania |
| Year in School: |
4th year |
| Major: |
Biomedical Engineering |
| When did you first start cheerleading or dancing? |
I danced on and off as a supplement to figure skating starting around age 6, and then began dancing more seriously in middle school. |
| Why did you choose the school you currently attend? |
Georgia Tech has one of the best Biomedical Engineering programs in the nation and I felt immediately at home when I visited the campus. Plus they had a dance team. :) |
| What is the biggest difference between cheer/dance in college versus high school/all-star? |
The level of performance required. My high school team was very uniform and tight. In college you definitely still have to sharp and tight, but you also have to perform big enough for tens of thousands people to see what you’re doing and be entertained. |
| Most memorable moment in collegiate cheer/dance career? |
The very first game I danced at – the first Georgia Tech football game of the 2006 season against Notre Dame. I remember standing in the end zone as 3 fighter jets flew over the stadium. The rush of being part of something that big was amazing. |
| Most embarrassing moment in college career? |
Luckily I’ve never fallen at a game or had anything really embarrassing happen. But last week at Yellow Jacket Fan Day my retractable Sharpie broke while I was signing a poster card and the top of the pen, spring, and ink cartridge shot into a crowd of people. Fortunately no one was hurt or covered in ink. |
| Most influential person in your life and why? |
My mom. She has always encouraged me to reach for the stars and has done everything in her power to help me do so. |
| My career ambition is: |
To be a surgeon. |
| I live by the following motto: |
Use no way as your way, and live with no limitation as your limitation. |
| Favorite course in school and why? |
Physiology or Biochemistry. Learning how the human body functions and being able to relate that to what I already know fascinates me. |
| Least favorite course and why? |
Signal Processing. I couldn’t see the connection between what I was learning and the application of it in real life. |
| Favorite tv show: |
Project Runway or Top Chef. Basically anything on Bravo! |
| Favorite hobbies: |
Dancing! Baking, shopping, dressing up and going out with my girls. |
| Favorite sports team growing up: |
We are… Penn State! |
| Favorite actor and actress? |
Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon |
| Favorite vacation spot: |
Disneyland!! |
| Favorite holiday and why? |
It’s a tie between Halloween and Christmas. I love to dress up and be goofy with my friends on Halloween, but I also love the snow, the decorations, and the special, warm atmosphere that only happens at Christmas time. |
| Best advice to give someone who wants to be a college cheerleader/dancer: |
If you want to do it, go for it! Prepare for auditions like you would for a test or anything thing else. Take classes, work with friends, practice, practice, practice, and ultimately, be confident in yourself. |
| No one knows this about me but… |
I have a black belt in Jeet Kune Do. |
| Is cheerleading/dancing a sport, why or why not? |
Dancing and cheerleading are definitely sports! We eat, exercise, practice, and perform/compete like all other athletes. |
