Baylor sophomore named Sports Illustrated’s Cheerleader of the Week

Having been named Sports Illustrated’s Cheerleader of the Week, complete with a detailed photo spread on the SI website, it would be easy to stereotype Casey Dervay. But you’d be underestimating this Baylor sophomore — by a mile.

Sure, Dervay is a songleader. But that’s just one of the hats she wears; she’s also a philanthropist, multi-linguist, Tri Delt and a Baylor Business Fellow, having earned a spot in the ultra-competitive business school program.

In between Spirit Squad practices, the Houston-area native is part of Baylor’s Global Living and Learning Community, where she has lived with native Mandarin Chinese speakers (last year) and native Spanish speakers (this year). She and her Tri Delta sisters will soon travel to St. Jude Children Research Hospital in Memphis to see firsthand the impact of the sorority’s fundraisers. And somehow, she’ll also find time to work on the Tri Delta homecoming float.

Dervay and her fellow spirit squad members were photographed by Sports Illustrated in January at the Fiesta Bowl, but with no promise of future recognition. So she was shocked to learn in September that she had been named Cheerleader of the Week.  “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent Baylor, and I think it truly is an honor for our university to be recognized,” she says.

Sic ’em, Casey!