DARLINGTON - Shawni Smith's dreams of being a sideline sports broadcaster could become reality thanks to her favorite baseball team - the Milwaukee Brewers.
Now she is getting the chance to attend Marquette University as a scholarship winner in the Brewers Community Foundation's Scholars Program. Smith is one of six students to receive $10,000 Selig Scholarships, named in honor of former Brewers President and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
Smith, as a Selig Scholar, will receive up to $10,000 over four years to attend Marquette University. Selig Scholars will receive $2,500 for the 2011-12 school year and it's renewable for three years.
Smith, who is a Darlington High School graduate, was honored at the Brewers-Diamondbacks game on July 5. There were six other students who received scholarship money from Brewers players.
"I was kind of star struck," Smith said.
Smith had 37 family members and friends take a bus from Al's Trucking in Darlington to the Brewers game July 5 at Miller Park. For Smith, it was a special experience.
"There were a lot of other scholarship winners who are going to Marquette," she said. "It was good to meet some of the kids I will be going to school with."
Two weeks before the game, Smith received a letter in the mail from the Brewers.
"I thought it was going to be one of those letters where I didn't get it," Smith said. "When I opened it up, I was stunned."
Smith played basketball, ran cross country and track at Darlington. She recalls watching baseball, football and basketball games with her dad growing up. That sparked an interest in sports broadcasting. She is majoring in broadcast in electronic communication.
Smith said her favorite sports broadcasters are Michelle Tafoya and Erin Andrews. Tafoya joined ESPN and ABC Sports in 2000 and she continues to work as a sideline reporter for ESPN's Monday Night Football. Andrews is a sideline reporter for ESPN's college football Saturday telecast as well as its Saturday primetime and Big Ten college basketball coverage.
"I want to be a sports broadcaster," she said. "I've always been really interested in sports. It's something I always wanted to do when I was younger."
As a Selig Scholarship recipient, Smith has to agree to two scholar activities a year including job shadowing, internship opportunities or fundraising activities sponsored by Brewers Community Foundation Inc. Smith on Friday, July 30 will volunteer during the Famous Sausage 5K run/walk. She also will volunteer at the Aug. 12 Brewers-Pirates game during the Brewers Foundation week.
Now she is getting the chance to attend Marquette University as a scholarship winner in the Brewers Community Foundation's Scholars Program. Smith is one of six students to receive $10,000 Selig Scholarships, named in honor of former Brewers President and Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig.
Smith, as a Selig Scholar, will receive up to $10,000 over four years to attend Marquette University. Selig Scholars will receive $2,500 for the 2011-12 school year and it's renewable for three years.
Smith, who is a Darlington High School graduate, was honored at the Brewers-Diamondbacks game on July 5. There were six other students who received scholarship money from Brewers players.
"I was kind of star struck," Smith said.
Smith had 37 family members and friends take a bus from Al's Trucking in Darlington to the Brewers game July 5 at Miller Park. For Smith, it was a special experience.
"There were a lot of other scholarship winners who are going to Marquette," she said. "It was good to meet some of the kids I will be going to school with."
Two weeks before the game, Smith received a letter in the mail from the Brewers.
"I thought it was going to be one of those letters where I didn't get it," Smith said. "When I opened it up, I was stunned."
Smith played basketball, ran cross country and track at Darlington. She recalls watching baseball, football and basketball games with her dad growing up. That sparked an interest in sports broadcasting. She is majoring in broadcast in electronic communication.
Smith said her favorite sports broadcasters are Michelle Tafoya and Erin Andrews. Tafoya joined ESPN and ABC Sports in 2000 and she continues to work as a sideline reporter for ESPN's Monday Night Football. Andrews is a sideline reporter for ESPN's college football Saturday telecast as well as its Saturday primetime and Big Ten college basketball coverage.
"I want to be a sports broadcaster," she said. "I've always been really interested in sports. It's something I always wanted to do when I was younger."
As a Selig Scholarship recipient, Smith has to agree to two scholar activities a year including job shadowing, internship opportunities or fundraising activities sponsored by Brewers Community Foundation Inc. Smith on Friday, July 30 will volunteer during the Famous Sausage 5K run/walk. She also will volunteer at the Aug. 12 Brewers-Pirates game during the Brewers Foundation week.