Gwen Kahlke
Blandinsville, Illinois
Class of 2025
Why did you chose Central?
The small-town feel of Pella and the Central community reminds me a lot of my hometown. I knew that coming here would provide me with the opportunity to branch out and give me the space/freedom to figure out who I want to be in an atmosphere that is technically different than what I grew up in with similarities that would make the transition to college life easier for me.
Favorite professor and why?
My favorite professor has always been Dr. Pam Richards. Although she retired last year, in the two years that I was in her classes she stressed the importance of focus, excellence, and doing the little things right which I think are all very important lessons to learn as an underclassmen.
You’re majoring in kinesiology and secondary education because?
I’ve known for a very long time that I want to be a Physical Education teacher. I’ve always been very involved in athletics, I love kids, and my amazing relationships with my past P.E. teachers made the decision to go into this field easy. Also, there’s the added perk of getting to wear sweats every day. I’ll be getting my Health and Coaching endorsements as well.
Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?
I recently joined SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) and I help with volunteer opportunities with them and also through the Education Department.
Who are your go-to musical artists?
I listen to just about every kind of music but my number one artist is always going to be Taylor Swift. My taste in music ranges from The Weeknd and Juice Wrld to Jason Aldean and Morgan Wallen, it really just depends on my mood.
How has attending Central and playing a sport impacted your life?
Playing volleyball at Central has truly been one of the greatest opportunities of my life. Through all of the highs and lows so far, I’ve learned so much about myself and grown exponentially as a student, athlete, and overall person. I never thought I would get so much from a program in such a short amount of time. Central brought me my best friends, favorite mentors, and some of the best memories.
Describe the worst haircut you ever had
Unfortunately I was a victim to the inverted bob trend in the late 2000’s. I’m sure my mom thought it was super cute at the time but looking back at pictures now, the chubby cheeks and chin-length hair was NOT the look for me.
Favorite professional athlete(s)
Zoe Fleck and Sydney McLaughlin are my two favorite professional athletes to watch because they are very focused, driven, and passionate about what they do.
What do you absolutely refuse to share?
It can be difficult for me to share clothes sometimes because my twin sister used to steal my clothes literally every day (without asking) but I’m working on it. Other than that I would share just about anything I think.
All-time favorite Disney movie?
I’m a big Disney fan so this is an impossible question. Some of my favorites though would definitely be Tangled, The Princess and The Frog, and Hercules.
Favorite TV Show
Grey’s Anatomy and New Girl are classics that I could watch on repeat forever.
What’s it like to play for Coach Czipri
Playing for Coach Czipri is both fun and challenging. It’s so obvious how much she cares for her players as people and wants us to grow in every way possible which is something I love in a coach. Every day when I walk into the gym I honestly have no idea what to expect because she’s always coming up with new drills and things to push us out of our comfort zones and make all of us, including herself, better.
What’s your favorite part about being a member of the Central volleyball team?
My favorite part about the Central Volleyball team is the culture and the standards that we are creating. A lot of the culture pieces we are talking about going into this year are carried over from years past, but we’re focused on building off of that and putting our words into consistent, intentional actions. With a great culture comes great chemistry, trust, and success which are what this team wants and what we’re working towards every single day.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
All I want to be in 10 years is happy. Hopefully I’ll love my job and be in some kind of stable relationship and all that stuff that comes with getting older, but most importantly I want to not be scared of making changes in my life if I’m unhappy. Not to get all deep but I think people live so much of their lives trying to please others or fearing what’s coming next. I just want to value each day and do whatever is best for me, and although I’m not 100% sure of what that looks like yet I think that’s what makes life so exciting.
Favorite food from Central Market
I swear I could eat the Bourbon Chicken every day for the rest of my life but Kids Buffet and CTO Burger Bar are good honorable mentions.
Bucket list
I want to visit all 50 states, go skydiving, and run a marathon. Those last two are just because I want to be able to say I did it, hopefully get some kind of medal, and then probably never do it again.
