Don’t be fooled, Collegiettes™, behind her gorgeous smile Campbell University Cheerleader Lauren Dixon has a heart of gold. Whether it is lending a hand in club activities or cheering the Fighting Camels on at sporting events, this Campus Celebrity spreads Campbell pride everywhere she goes. In addition to cheering for Campbell, Lauren also helped get Campbell’s Dance Team off the ground and morphed into the skilled group of dancers that adorn the sidelines at games today. Despite her hectic schedule she also makes time to teach dance classes in Fuquay-Varina, talk about a well-rounded Campbell Collegiette™!
What is your major and what year are you?
I am a senior majoring in Health Communication, with a minor in Marketing.
Where are you from?
I am from Summerfield, North Carolina.
How long have you been dancing and cheering?
I have been dancing since I was 3 years old and cheering since I was in the seventh grade.
Please tell me a little bit about yourself.
I love to be involved in clubs, sports, and social events. I also enjoy holding leadership positions; it gets my adrenaline pumping and makes me feel accomplished. Having downtime often makes me bored so I always find something to do or go shopping!
What do you like most about Campbell?
I like the atmosphere at Campbell; it’s not too big and not too small. You get the feel of a big University with the athletic events and activities, but you can still walk to class and see familiar faces.
What do you hope to do when you graduate?
When I graduate, I want to pursue a career in the Marketing and Public Relations department at some sort of health facility, hopefully at hospital or a pharmaceutical sales company. I also plan to continue dancing/cheering and tryout for an NFL or NBA dance team that is close to where ever I wind up living!
I understand that your family won the Family of the Year Award at Campbell last year. Please give me a little bit of background about your family.
We did, it was a lot of fun to represent Campbell as the Family of the Year. My family has often been described as a puzzle. I grew up as an only child with my mother, Sharon. When I was 16 years-old she passed away from Ocular Melanoma and I was welcomed into my best-friend’s (who is now my sister!) family. I am now one of five children; I have an older sister, Morgan, a younger brother, Colby, and 2 younger sisters, Evin and Elli, who were adopted from China. Although the pieces of our puzzle don’t look alike, love fits them together.
What are your hobbies?
I love to dance and tumble, but I also enjoy teaching at a local dance studio and judging cheerleading competitions. I love traveling with my family and using my arts and crafts skills to design things.
I understand that you founded the Campbell Dance team. Please explain what inspired you to take on that responsibility.
A girl who was a year older than me actually founded the dance team, but it had some problems taking off and getting established throughout Campbell. I contacted her and offered to help with tryouts for the next year and to choreograph dances for them. Once people began to notice that we were actually good, we were asked by Athletics to dance on the side-lines and at half-times for football and basketball games. I am now the Club President for the Dance Team and am still choreographing the numbers that we perform.
Please tell me about the dance class you teach.
I teach ballet, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop, and cheer dance at Main Street Dance studio in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. I instruct all ages, from 6 year olds that are just starting out, to 18 year olds that are seniors in high school. It is what I look forward to every week. Seeing the kids’ faces light up when they finally master a step is so rewarding.
What is the most rewarding aspect of cheering and dancing at CU?
That’s really hard to narrow down, but I would have to say that being recognized out in the community is the most gratifying. We participate in many community service activities both as a team, and individually. It’s the cutest thing when little girls come up to you and ask, “Hey, are you that Campbell cheerleader who came to our classroom the other day?” It makes you feel like you left an impression on them, and that they look up to you.
The first home football game is this weekend. What all goes into preparing for a football game and what do you hope this season brings?
Practice, practice, practice! We have attended many camps throughout the summer and since we have been back to school. Each year our team has to gain trust with one another and be comfortable together. Our flyers need to know that we can get them into the air every time, and that we will always be there to catch them. At a typical practice we run and work-out, learn cheers and chants, stunt, and tumble.
Any fun facts about you or anything you feel the world should know about Lauren Dixon?
My favorite food is chips and salsa and I am addicted to Spearmint Stride gum; I go through two, or sometimes even three, packs a week!