April 25, 2007

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University sophomore rower Stephen Smoker was named the Comcast Community All-Star Award winner for the month of March. He was presented the award by Mat Jachim of Comcast at the Broncos' baseball game against Fresno State on Tuesday, April 24.

Smoker, a Bellarmine Prep graduate, gave up a portion of his winter break last December to go on an immersion trip to New Orleans. There, he helped with the demolition of four houses in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Along with that trip he is also involved in a number of other service activities. He gives donations of platelets, a component of blood, twice a month to a local blood bank. In addition, he and his father help transport the swarming bees of springtime to new homes by moving them out of residential areas to one of his family's beehives or the hive of another beekeeper.

Smoker, a sophomore, rowed last year as a novice, but returns to the water this year as a member of the varsity team. Most recently, the team raced at the Lexington Cup where the team earned a third place finish. Next up for the team are the Western Intercollegiate Rowing Championships in Sacramento on April 28 and 29.

The Comcast Community All-Star Award is presented to Santa Clara student-athletes who are active in benefiting their local community. The award was developed two years ago and is presented monthly to a different student-athlete who is positively contributing their time and energy to help others.