Brandon Schuster, star swimmer for CBU with Olympic prospects, is much more than the talent he shows in the pool. Schuster grew up in Samoa and came to CBU with an interest in several parts of S.T.E.M., which led him to study biomedical engineering with mechanical systems. He intends to pursue a career in prosthetics or neural engineering.

​“Growing up in a developing country I saw that there was always a lack of funding in our healthcare system. Be it medical devices, knowledge, qualified professionals and access. That was the main thing access. I didn’t plan on going into medical but it all kind of lined up. I love math and biology and like physics and the Engineering dean was like ‘hey we have biomedical engineering and that seems to cover all you like why don’t you try it’. Here I am 3 odd years later and I have seen how what I’m learning circles back to what I’ve seen lack in my country.”

Georgia Dale, star guard for CBU women’s basketball and international student from Melbourne, Australia, has a hidden talent for playing the piano. Basketball is a defining point in her life, but away from the court she uses music to relax.

​“To me, basketball is just part of my life. It helps define me but I like to think it’s just a special piece of who I am. I have played piano since childhood. Music is a release for me at the end of a long day. It takes me back to my childhood and walks me through calmness.”

Bryan Pope, star pitcher for CBU Baseball and accounting major, works hard to be the best athlete and student possible. After working hard all day he often spends time decompressing and relaxing by playing video games with friends and other teammates.

​“I enjoy baseball so much because I love being a part of team and being able to compete with my brothers. After finishing the grind of being at baseball and class all day, playing videos games is a fun way to relax and mess around. I play with a lot of other baseball players and it is fun to joke around and bond with them.”

Alley Johnson, former star player for CBU Softball and Kinesiology major, is passionate about softball but realized it was not her identity. Styling her hair and makeup helped her realize that her individuality was within herself, not her athletic ability.

​“Since the age of 4, I have identified myself as a softball player. 'Hey, my name is Alley and I play softball' seemed to always be the introduction of who I am to anyone who asked. I used my athletic ability to help me get through college with no debt after graduation. Along the way I realized that softball was not only a game but a way to express myself and my individuality. I began to express myself through hair style and makeup on game days while playing in front of hundreds, sometimes thousands of people. I quickly became known on my team for not only doing my own, but doing my teammates hair and makeup for game days as well. It sparked such an interest that now, post softball, I am still a lover of hair and makeup. This has not only become my avenue of creativity, but has allowed me to realize that softball is not now, nor has it ever been who I am, only a part of my journey.”

Sam Martirez is an accomplished golfer for CBU women’s golf and international student from the Philippines. She is more than an athlete and has used her education in journalism and interest in folklore to create a successful podcast that educates listeners on the legends and stories of other cultures.​

“Being a student-athlete has made a huge impact in my life. However, I wanted to be known as something more than just a golfer. I wanted people to know I have hobbies and interests that are not related to golf in the slightest, so I started a podcast called ‘Urban Legends and Other Dreadful Curiosities’.

​Podcasting gives me a chance to be someone other than a student-athlete and allows me to learn more about the horror genre and different cultures, which is something I enjoy immensely. My podcast is all about urban legends from different countries and cultures. I am a collegiate golfer, but I am also so much more and podcasting gives me the opportunity to express that.”

De’Jon Davis, star forward for CBU men’s basketball, is also a talented visual artist. “Basketball means the world to me. This sport is the reason I was able to come to college and achieve my ultimate goal of getting an education. CBU has given me a chance to pursue my love of art and learn more than I could have without school.”

Davis’s favorite art medium is graphite pencil on paper. Davis plans to pursue a professional basketball career and later a career as a tattoo artist.

Caitlyn Lloyd, star hitter for CBU softball and journalism major, has had her whole life wrapped up in sports, even when they are not her own. Lloyd has been pursuing an education and career in sports broadcasting, long after her softball career will be over.

“Sports has been my identity what seems like my whole life. The ability to play collegiate softball is one of my greatest blessings. However, attending CBU and earning a degree that will enable me to pursue my dream job will soon top that. Sports has meant so much to me that my professors joked that it was my ‘language’. It is natural for me to be on camera and talk about other athletes. Maybe because I can relate to their dedication and heart or maybe because I am drawn to all sports in general. Either way, softball has paved the way for my future and broadcasting will continue that journey.”

Brittney Colvin, dancer for CBU’s dance team and speech pathology major, has a big heart and loves loving people. She learned ASL to be able to better communicate with the deaf community in an effort to help them in any way she can. She is currently using her skills to translate the spoken word to ASL for church services at Crossroads Christian Church.

​“Dance is, honestly, my therapy. It is my safe place where I can express how I feel when I have no words to give. Being on a dance team isn’t just about looking pretty on stage. It’s about working hard and being all in, 110%, in everything that you do in and outside of practices and performances. Learning ASL has been such a humbling experience for me, because there is something so captivating about the uniqueness of the Deaf culture. Being a Speech Pathologist in training, I hope to one day work with families who are deaf or hard of hearing, and help provide the best lifestyle for them.”