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A Lady Bear Revealed -
Meet Stephanie Busbey
By
Mary Chin
The
Marketing Department is delighted to boast that one of the Lady Bears
belongs to us – basketball star Stephanie Busbey. Quiet and
unassuming, Busbey garnered an impressive array of honors in her four-year
career at SMSU, including a coveted NCAA Final Four championship round. She
can also claim three years as a Missouri Valley Conference champion and an
academic all-conference honorable mention award. This honor is based on a
percentage of play time coupled with GPA requirements. Busbey’s success on
the court is equally impressive with her Cum Laude graduation status.
Busbey
began playing basketball in the fifth grade and became seriously involved at
the high school level playing AAU for a few area teams. Busbey recalls, “By
my sophomore year at El Dorado Springs, I started receiving interest
letters. That’s when university officials begin to scout the talent.” By her
senior year, Busbey was being courted not only by SMSU, but Mizzou, Drake
and Kansas State, to name a few.
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As a senior with
the Lady Bears, Busbey won her third Missouri Valley Conference Championship. |
She
recounts her initial visit to SMSU, “My campus visit spanned three days,
meeting with Coach Cheryl Burnett, her staff and the team. The most
impressive selling point was the team. The girls were the deciding factor, a
real sisterhood. To this day, we keep in touch. They are the best.”
The
road to Lady Bear stardom takes more than talent. Busbey explains,
“Commitment, dedication and a strong work ethic make basketball a full-time
job, and then you have to balance your academic studies. Additionally, we
made the transition between coaches—from Coach Burnett to Coach Abe [Katie
Abrahamson-Henderson]."
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"Commitment,
dedication and a strong work ethic make basketball a full-time job, and
then you have to balance your academic studies."
Stephanie Busbey |
A
typical season begins with practices in mid-October and exhibition games in
November. “Realistically, we work year-round with weights, individual
workouts and running in the off-season,” says Busbey. “Most students enjoy a
long Christmas break, but we continue to prepare for the rest of the season.
Spring semesters are the most difficult, considering our travel schedule.
Academic-wise, basketball was physically intense and mentally demanding.”
From
Busbey’s first days at SMS, she knew she wanted to be in business, but had
not quite decided on which major. In high school, she had participated in
DECA, a Marketing organization, so Marketing seemed to be the likely option.
She graduated with her degree in Marketing Management in May 2004.
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(continued)
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Busbey plays in
the last game of her career against Notre Dame in the NCAA
tournament. |
Presently, Busbey juggles her MBA academics with a graduate assistantship in
the Marketing Department. Busbey explains, “Attending school is much
different now that I don’t play basketball. I wanted to continue my
education and see how the other half lives. I was curious to experience
school without the weight of a full-time basketball schedule. I am fortunate
in that my undergraduate time management skills translate easily to graduate
school.”
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"Attending
school is much different now that I don't play basketball. I wanted to
continue my education and see how the other half lives..."
Stephanie Busbey |
Busbey
graduates with her MBA in December 2005. She reveals, “I’m ready to
spread my wings. My dream position would be with Nike, marrying my
athletic experience with my marketing know-how.” When asked if she
misses the basketball limelight, Busbey’s response reflects sentiment
with appreciation. "There is nothing more exciting than the end of the
season, when tournaments are captured and legends made. SMS fans are the
best. I am amazed at the recognition I still receive around town. Lady Bear
fans always want to talk shop with me and extend their appreciation.
But, I’m ready to move forward.”
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Busbey poses in
front of the monument on the Equator located just north of
Quito, Ecuador, while on a mission trip in March of this year. |
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