Spring Break
University student wins Pontiac award
PEARMAN PARKER
Issue date: 1/29/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
|
It was their performance against the University of Florida that contributed to a $5,000 scholarship for a University student.
Although Caitlin Byrne, a junior from Cornelius, N.C., voted for the two-mascot team's play in the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year, her support was not in vain.
"Stuff like that never happens to me," Byrne said. "At first when she (Pontiac's representative) called, the girl thought I was crazy."
Byrne said she kept asking if it was real.
She voted for Tre Smith's touchdown after a blocked punt that strengthened Auburn's lead in the third quarter on Oct. 14.
The score was 27-17 and Florida's only loss for the season.
"I remember watching that game and thinking that was really cool," Byrne said.
Before Byrne came to the University, she was "a pretty big Auburn fan" because she lived in Alabama and was excited they were nominated, she said.
But she said her previous residence in the border state wasn't her deciding factor.
"Overall, it was really a great play - a great blocked punt," she said.
Pontiac awarded Auburn $100,000 for their general scholarship fund and randomly selected 10 to 15 students who voted for the play to receive a scholarship of $5,000.
Byrne is a resident assistant in Creswell Hall and a few of her residents said they are excited for her.
Christy Boudreau, a freshman from Woodstock, said she was very happy for Byrne.
"Not one of us thought it was real," Boudreau said. "It was a shocker."
Byrne said she found out she won while online looking at a scholarship for the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication.
She said she just couldn't believe it.
Mandy Morgan, a freshman from Powder Springs, said she thought it was awesome.
"We were really giggly," Morgan said.
Byrne called her parents, who were ecstatic, Morgan said.
Be the first to comment on this story