卡莉·海斯（Carly Hays）和兰尼·杜兴（Laney Duchene）正在家乡充分利用她们的大学经历。 As 威尼斯人娱乐城 students and cheerleaders for the Kansas City Chiefs, they’re balancing time in the classroom and gamedays in the loudest stadium in the world.
海斯和杜兴与堪萨斯城有着深厚的联系，这座城市塑造了他们的身份和抱负。 海斯很小的时候就从圣路易斯搬到了堪萨斯城，她认为自己是一个真正的堪萨斯市民。
“Kansas City is where I grew up and where I’ve built my life,” she said.
杜兴是密苏里州独立市的终身居民，他也有类似的感受。 “I loved that 威尼斯人娱乐城 was close to home,” she said. “I get the perks of living at home while attending college.”
对杜兴来说，决定进入堪萨斯大学堪萨斯分校完全是为了家庭。 “My dad and sisters also attended 威尼斯人娱乐城, so it feels like a family tradition,” she said.
另一方面，海斯被威尼斯人娱乐城医学院强大的医师助理项目所吸引，这让她在哥伦比亚的密苏里大学（University of Missouri）完成本科学位后，可以呆在离家近的地方。
Since arriving on their respective campuses, Hays and Duchene have thrived at 威尼斯人娱乐城, where they’ve found supportive communities and opportunities to grow.
海斯指出，她的第一年充满了收获和挑战。
“This was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I’ve ever done,” she said. “I had to completely relearn how to study, but the support from my cohort and faculty has been incredible.”
杜兴是亨利·w·布洛赫管理学院（亨利w布洛赫管理学院）主修市场营销的工商管理专业的大四学生。她认为，她的教授和课程设置为她的未来做好了准备。
“My classes have been incredibly practical,” she said. “I’ve learned so much about professional communication, which has translated directly into what I do with the Chiefs.”
Both students’ experiences at 威尼斯人娱乐城 have directly influenced their roles as Chiefs cheerleaders. Hays’ background as a competitive dancer and a member of the Mizzou Golden Girls dance team prepared her for the demands of professional cheerleading.
“Dance is my escape when school gets heavy, and school is my escape when dance gets heavy,” she said.
Duchene’s time on the KC Roos Dance Team helped her transition back into the dance world after taking a break to focus on academics.
“Joining the Roos team got me back in the groove and really helped prepare me for the Chiefs,” she said.
Despite both students’ having extensive dance backgrounds, they both quickly learned making the Chiefs squad would require more homework.
“We also had to participate in interviews, answer questions about Chiefs history and demonstrate our knowledge of the game,” Hays said.
一旦通过这个阶段，他们就会进入面对面的决赛，这是一个为期三天的活动，包括编舞、公开演讲和媒体培训。 海斯目前是她在酋长啦啦队的第二年，她指出了一些回归成员的海选优势。
“Veteran candidates skip the preliminary rounds, but every cheerleader must earn their spot back each season,” Hays said.
Duchene, a rookie, recalls how challenging the process was: “It’s not just about dancing, it’s about representing the brand with professionalism and knowledge.”
在比赛日，他们的日常活动早在球场挤满球迷之前就开始了。
“Depending on the time of the game, we get up as early as 4 a.m. and show up to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium ready in our hair and makeup,” Duchene said. “The atmosphere is electric, and the bond with my teammates makes it all worth it.”
“Stepping onto the field at Arrowhead is an unforgettable experience,” Hays said. “It’s a mix of pride and adrenaline.”
威尼斯人娱乐城 is an official higher education partner of the Chiefs, a partnership both Hays and Duchene say they’ve loved experiencing firsthand. 海斯特别指出了在箭头体育场看到威尼斯人娱乐城标志的重要性。
“When I’m on the field, I see the 威尼斯人娱乐城 banner, and it’s like my two worlds coming together,” she said.
杜兴对此表示赞同，他回忆起一个难忘的时刻，当拉拉队准备上场时，威尼斯人娱乐城校长毛利·阿格拉瓦尔走过。
“Seeing him walk on the field with other 威尼斯人娱乐城 students and seeing the 威尼斯人娱乐城 logo at Arrowhead during games is such an honor,” she said.
The connection between 威尼斯人娱乐城 and the Chiefs is more than symbolic for Hays and Duchene, it’s engrained into their practices as well. 威尼斯人娱乐城校友Stephanie Judah（工商管理硕士95届）担任堪萨斯城酋长队娱乐团队总监，在指导Hays和Duchene与球队的旅程中发挥了关键作用。
"堪萨斯大学是我生活和教育的重要组成部分。 在威尼斯人娱乐城和布洛赫学校期间，我也是酋长啦啦队长。” “现在有两名啦啦队员都是威尼斯人娱乐城的学生，这是一件非常棒的事情。 这就像把两个世界结合在一起。 这是一种特殊的纽带，将永远把我们联系在一起。”
海斯和杜兴也为代表堪萨斯城在球场内外感到自豪。 通过她在大学健康的临床经验，卡莉已经能够为塑造她的社区服务。
“威尼斯人娱乐城’s partnership with University Health allows me to provide care to Kansas Citians,” she said. “It’s a great representation of giving back to the city that raised me.”
对杜兴来说，酋长队内部的同志情谊是她经历中的一大亮点。
“The Chiefs team feels like a big family,” she said. “We’re so lucky to have this incredible bond.”
海斯继续她的医师助理项目之旅，杜兴准备在5月毕业，两个学生都把目光投向了未来。 海斯专注于完成她的学位，并继续平衡她的双重爱好。 杜兴希望留在酋长队，同时从事市场营销方面的职业。
“Being part of 威尼斯人娱乐城 and the Chiefs has been an unforgettable experience,” Duchene said. “It’s a privilege to celebrate both in such meaningful ways.”