Sydney Buseman
Hampton, Iowa
Class of 2026
Why did you chose Central?
Choosing Central was an easy choice for me for so many reasons. I knew I wanted to attend a smaller Christian college, where I could easily get to know people and be involved in many different things. When I heard about Central College having a reputation for an outstanding Education Department, I knew this was somewhere I felt would prepare me well for my future as an educator. I have a long history of family members that graduated from Central and all had fantastic experiences attending this school. Growing up, I was always familiar with the town of Pella and Central College, because my dad used to take me on trips to Pella every summer to visit Central’s beautiful campus. Central is a place where I felt like I belonged, and now it feels like home.
Favorite professor and why?
One of my favorite professors is Mary Stark. Each day is always something new when you walk into Mary’s classroom. You’ve never experienced a fun classroom environment until you’ve been in one of Mary’s classes. Her passion and excitement for teaching leaves a lasting impact on all of her students.
You’re majoring in Elementary Education because?
I am majoring in Elementary Education because I have been surrounded by education my whole life. Both my parents and several of my other family members were educators. I have seen firsthand through them the impact being a teacher can have on students’ lives. I hope to build strong relationships with students in the future, much like many of my teachers did with me.
Besides athletics, what else are you involved in on campus?
Another thing I am involved in on campus is running the Zumba Club. Zumba is a dance workout that uses Latin-inspired dance music and exercises. Zumba is one of my favorite things to do each week
at Central, so if you are looking for a fun and different type of exercise, come check it out! I am also a part of the Central Education Club. The Central Education Club is a fun way for Education Majors or anyone interested in education to connect and learn from each other.
Who are your go-to musical artists?
My go-to musical artists are Harry Styles, Taylor Swift, and One Direction. Anytime I’m listening to music, it is most likely one of those three artists. My dream is for One Direction to get back together as a band and have a reunion tour where I can see them all perform together again.
How has attending Central and cheering impacted your life?
Attending Central and being on the cheer team has helped me become more independent and has allowed me to build confidence in my academics and extracurricular areas. Being on the Central cheer team has helped push me out of my comfort zone and helped me become a better person.
What do you wish people understand about on a collegiate cheer team?
Being on a collegiate cheer team involves a high level of commitment and teamwork to be successful. Much like any other team sport, our team works together to be the best version of ourselves that we can be.
Song you’d pick to audition on the Voice with?
The song I would audition on The Voice with is the song ‘Unwritten’ by Natasha Bedingfield. It is such a fun song to sing your heart out to, and it is a song from one of my favorite movies, Anyone But You.
What’s your best Central memory so far?
My best Central memory would have to be Dutch Dancing the past two years during Tulip Time. Dutch Dancing is one of my favorite things that Pella does, so getting to be a part of that has been such a cool experience. I love that there is a connection between Central College and the greater Pella community. Both my parents have shared stories of Dutch Dancing together during their time at Central, and I hope to share my memories of Dutch Dancing as well.
What’s your dream vacation?
My dream is to explore and travel to Europe. More specifically, I would love to visit either Greece or the Netherlands. They both have such beautiful cultures and breathtaking landscapes that I would love to experience.
Favorite TV Show
My favorite TV show would have to be either Gilmore Girls or Gossip Girl.
What’s it like to work with Coach Gbogbo?
These past two years getting to work with Coach Gbogbo have been incredibly rewarding and transformative. Her guidance and commitment towards our team has helped me grow as a person and as an athlete. She has instilled a sense of discipline, resilience, and confidence in me that I will carry well beyond my time on this team.
What’s your favorite part about being a member of Central Cheerleading?
My favorite part about being a member of Central Cheerleading is building life-long relationships with my teammates that I never would have built if I wasn’t a part of this team. I enjoy getting to cheer on some of Central’s other athletics and getting to represent this school in a positive way.
What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
In ten years from now, I hope to have established a teaching career and have grown within myself professionally to become the best teacher I can be.
Favorite food from Central Market
My favorite food from the Central Market is their fruit pizza. It is always a good day when the Market has fruit pizza!
Bucket list
One of the main items on my bucket list is to travel outside of the country sometime in my life. Of course, at the top of my bucket list will always be to meet Harry Styles in person or go tornado chasing with Glen Powell :)
