Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship Rewards Deserving Wittenberg Seniors For A Second Year

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From left: Stephanie Boardman '10, Roger Smith and Danielle Remington '10

Photo by Erin Pence

Springfield, Ohio — The illustrious legacy of the late Pam Evans Smith, Wittenberg University class of 1982, continues in the 2009-10 school year through the scholarship founded in her name. This year, the Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Danielle Remington, class of 2010 from Homerville, Ohio, and Stephanie Boardman, class of 2010 from Cincinnati, Ohio. 

The scholarship is given annually to two deserving female seniors who have shown excellence in leadership and academic achievement throughout their careers at Wittenberg. The scholarship, which has raised more than $60,000, honors Smith's dedicated service to Wittenberg - including a 21-year basketball coaching career in which she led the Tigers to eight NCAA Division III Tournament appearances and 11 North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) regular season championships.

A seven-time NCAC Coach of the Year who amassed a 401-170 career record, Smith was as an inspiration to students both on and off the court, especially as she battled cancer for more than 15 years. Remington and Boardman excel in different areas of athletics at Wittenberg, and the selection committee determined that both embody the spirit of the award.

Remington spends much of her time mending the bumps and bruises of Wittenberg student-athletes as a valued member of the university's sports medicine staff. But she also takes full advantage of other campus activities, including the Emerging Leaders Program, intramurals, Myers Hall Government, the Student & Faculty Committee for Athletics, the Admissions Student Panel for Incoming Students, Relay for Life, Chair of 2010 Service Committee, Delta Gamma sorority, Summer Foods Volunteer, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Mortar Board Honor Society, Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society. In addition, Remington has participated in a community service trip to the impoverished African kingdom of Lesotho, and she has served an internship with John Downer, a local optometrist.

Remington considers herself privileged to have known Smith while working as a student trainer for the women's basketball team early in her collegiate career.

"Seeing her interact with the girls was truly inspiring," Remington said. "Winning her award makes me feel like I have upheld the standards that she would expect out of a person - to be the best person you can and to be a leader."

Boardman, a standout on the women's basketball team, also has a unique character that sets her apart from her peers. When she is not perfecting her game in the gym, Boardman has spent time volunteering at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital (which she has done every summer since 2005) or volunteering at Community Hospital in Springfield. She has also participated in Mortar Board and the Chi Alpha Sigma Honorary.

Boardman was one of the last players Smith ever recruited to Wittenberg, and she values the time she spent on the court with her during the 2006-07 school year.

"Coach Smith cared about each of her players as a person, and she was more concerned with their overall character and well-roundedness than their basketball skills," Boardman said. "Many times I sat in her office and talked about everything but basketball.

"She emphasized the importance of us being 'good' people. I believe I have molded myself into the well-rounded person she would have wanted me to be."

Both Remington and Boardman are biology majors planning to pursue graduate degrees after Wittenberg. Remington plans to pursue a career in optometry, while Boardman also hopes for a career in the medical field. These exceptional Wittenberg students personify not only everything the scholarship stands for, but what Smith stood for as well - pursuing dreams through leadership, academic achievement, integrity and good character.

Pam's husband, Roger, said he is very impressed with the 2009-10 recipients, and he looks forward to funding a third scholarship in 2010-11, since the fund has now surpassed $80,000. He continues to raise money for the scholarship fund through various activities, including the annual Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship Walk/Run in April.

"I want to say thanks to everyone who has supported the Pam Evans Smith '82 Memorial Scholarship Fund, and I hope they will continue to make contributions in the future," Roger Smith said. "Every gift, no matter how small, honors Pam's memory and makes a difference in the lives of Wittenberg students."

Written by: Trent Brunic '10

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