Cypress Guenther ’25, a standout scholar-athlete, explains why she traveled over a thousand miles from New Braunfels, Texas, to attend Berry: “I always said it would take a very special place to pull me away from Texas. Berry turned out to be that college. It offered what I was looking for: an outstanding nursing program and a competitive volleyball program.”
She helped lead the Vikings to four SAA conference championships and four NCAA tournament appearances — including finishes in the Elite 8, Sweet 16 and Round of 32. At the same time, she thrived in Berry’s nursing program, where she found flexibility and support to pursue her academic and athletic passions.
“The nursing faculty and my coaches worked together to make it possible for me to do both, something many colleges are not willing to do,” says Cypress. “Some days, I finished a 12-hour clinical rotation and headed straight to volleyball. It was challenging, but it taught me how to plan and stay prepared. High-pressure situations on the court also prepared me to stay calm and confident in critical health care situations.”
Cypress completed over 650 clinical hours in a range of specialties — from the neonatal intensive care unit and oncology to behavioral health and labor and delivery. Her final semester included a preceptorship in the intensive care unit, where she worked 180 hours alongside nursing staff.
Berry’s inclusion of study abroad in the nursing program was a factor in choosing Berry over other institutions. Traveling with the nursing faculty and fellow students on the department’s annual trip to Kenya was transformative. She worked in hospitals, observed surgeries and wound care, and helped run a two-day free medical camp that served more than 1,100 patients. Berry’s nursing students also helped build a mud house for a widow and her four children through a local program.
“Kenyan nurses taught us how to be resourceful,” Cypress notes. “I learned what to do when supplies are limited. It was both eye-opening and inspiring. I loved the landscape of Kenya, and I bonded with my nursing cohort and professors on a deeper level while there. I realized how much the faculty care about us as people, not just students.”
Cypress’s commitment to nursing is rooted in her desire to help others and her fascination with the medical field. “I am drawn to caring for people during vulnerable times,” she says. “Seeing patients recover and knowing I played a role in that is powerful.”
Looking ahead, Cypress hopes to pursue a degree as a nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist or nursing instructor. She has not ruled out travel nursing as a way to serve communities around the world.
Crediting Berry’s culture of mentorship and support, Cypress says, “Ashleigh Woods, a clinical assistant professor of nursing, acted as an advisor and mentor even before I decided to come to Berry. Her passion for the program made me confident I was in the right place at Berry College.”
