Get to Know Former Women's Tennis Student-Athlete Katie Zien '14

BETHLEHEM, Pa. --- The next alum in the Moravian College Department of Athletics & Recreation's Get to Know Series is former women's tennis student-athlete Katie Zien from the Class of 2014. Zien finished her career with a 44-21 singles record and a 47-18 doubles mark. She earned Landmark All-Conference First Team honors in doubles in 2011 and 2012 ans Second Team accolades in 2014, and Zien was an All-Conference First Team honoree in singles in 2014 and the Second Team in 2013.

Katie Zien
Class: 2014

How did you choose the sport you played when you were growing up? I grew up playing many different sports, but tennis is the one I was best at. I had a chance to use my leadership skills, work with a smaller, more intimate team and had a lot of fun. 

Why did you choose to come to Moravian College? Dawn Ketterman-Benner! We met at a tennis summer camp at Lehigh, and she drew my attention to Moravian. After an overnight visit, I knew it was the place for me. 

What experiences as a student-athlete at Moravian helped prepare you for life after college? Learning how to work with people with a variety of personality types. Not everyone operates the same way, and it is important to learn how to communicate to achieve a goal. 

How did you get into your current occupation? I'm a financial advisor with my Dad's practice. I always knew it was an option for me but after seeing what the work was like, I decided to major in econ and the rest is history. I love it and I'm working on my CFP designation now.

What was your favorite place on campus? The AST house. I lived there my senior year in the smallest room imaginable and never had more fun.

What activities/organizations were you involved in at Moravian College as a student-athlete? Tennis, AST, Events Council, SAAC, ODK

What was your most memorable moment at Moravian? When I presented and passed my honors thesis. Talk about nerve-wracking! You spend a year working on your project, present it to a board of professors that you look up to, and sit outside the room while they decide if you've done enough to pass. It was an amazing feeling to have achieved that goal. 

What advice do you have for prospective student-athletes looking to attend Moravian College? If possible, do an overnight visit at your top 2 or 3 schools. I was having a hard time choosing between two schools until I did an overnight visit and had two totally different experiences. After that, the choice was easy. 

What advice do you have for current student-athletes as they approach graduation? It goes quick, so participate in everything you can and enjoy every moment! 

What is the best piece of advice you've been given? "The harder you work, the luckier you get"

Who are your role models/most influential people? My parents are my biggest role models. They act with such kindness, creativity and ambition and I am so lucky to have them. 

Which three people, living or dead, would you like to share a meal with? Samin Nosrat, Olivia Coleman, Amy Poehler 

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise most people. If it can be homemade or DIY'd, I'm going to try to do it whether it's a good idea or not. Bread? Sure. Refinish the stairs? I watched a YouTube video, so it should be fine. 

Quick Hits:
Favorite Color – Yellow
Favorite Food – Just bought a waffle maker so currently, it's both savory and sweet waffles. 
Favorite Restaurant – Chez Ben (breakfast poutine!)
Favorite Movie – Tossup between Jurassic Park and Harry Potter
Favorite TV Show – Newsroom 
Favorite Musical Artist – Barenaked Ladies
Favorite Athlete – Shout out to Serena Williams for being a boss babe both on and off the court. 
Favorite Pro Team – Not a big pro-sports person. 
Hobbies – DIY projects with varying degrees of success 
Most Prized Possession – Anything I've made myself. I feel a lot of pride over doing things start to finish and learning how to improve along the way. 
Ideal Travel Destination – Somewhere in the mountains, any season. 
Your Spirit Animal – An online quiz told me I'm a bear. It checks out. 
Superpower you'd Like to Have – the ability to conjure any food in existence instantly and be able to eat it.