As classes resume at Brevard College this fall, English major Christine Keever is gearing up for her junior year as a varsity cheerleader. Christine, who also serves as a Student Ambassador and an executive board member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, is quick to point out that cheer is a sport that develops self-confidence. She should know, as she was recruited by Brevard College while cheering for Brevard High School, and she currently assists with cheerleading at Brevard Middle School. The Brevard College cheer squad will be competing at the UCA Nationals in Disney World in January having won “Fan Favorite” last year at the Panel 9 in Asheville, the team’s first competition since 2015. According to Christine, “Cheerleaders are not just there to look pretty. We support the teams and provide entertainment.”
Christine Keever’s self-confidence as a cheerleader extends far beyond the sport. This Transylvania native has an inspiring story that makes her a highly deserving recipient of the Connestee Falls Student Scholarship that she was recently awarded. An admittedly introverted student who loves writing, hiking, and waterfalls, Christine was born and raised in Transylvania County, attending Pisgah Forest Elementary, BMS, and BHS. In high school, in addition to cheering, she was the publicity director in student government and participated in both choir and theater. Since the age of 15 Christine has worked the early shift at Dunkin Donuts, starting at 4:00 AM, even throughout the summers. After just one year, at the age of 16, she was promoted to shift manager, a position she still holds.
Raised by her grandmother who was the school secretary at BMS for 30 years, Christine spent many hours around the school and gained a deep appreciation for education, especially for women. She is the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend college. She started out as a music major but recently changed her major to English and plans to pursue her masters degree in order to obtain a teaching certificate. Her dream job would be to teach English and coach cheerleading at the same high school. So, whether you see her handing you a coffee at Dunkin Donuts or cheering on the Brevard College Tornados this fall, we can all be proud of this young woman who represents our community so well.
The Connestee Falls Student Scholarship Program began in 1987 and has raised more than $2 million dollars, awarding more than 1000 scholarships. For more information or to make a donation go to www.cfscholarships.org.
Beth Burney for the Transylvania Times