Steve Smith’s 2,263 points may have solidified him as the second leading scorer in MSU men’s basketball history, but it has been his generosity off the court that may make the lasting impression.
Smith, who graduated from MSU in 1991, announced during a Thursday press conference from Rose Sports Arena in Portland, Ore., that he would donate $600,000 toward scholarships for students at Detroit’s Pershing High School, his alma mater.
Smith called the endowment a “gift of opportunity” - a gift that will send one student to MSU each year on a full academic scholarship.
Initially, Smith, with his wife Millie, donated $2.5 million to MSU for use in building the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center and established a scholarship fund for graduates of the high school in January 1997.
Smith could not be reached for comment Monday.
Pershing High School Principal Emeral Crosby said he was appreciative of Smith’s generosity the last four years.
“(My first reaction) was one of great enthusiasm and gratitude that he remembered us,” Crosby said.
And MSU President M. Peter McPherson said the gift will open doors for Pershing students.
“It says a good deal to Pershing High School students that Steve Smith has high expectations of them and is helping them to achieve those expectations,” McPherson said. “He is setting up an expectation for Pershing High School students that they can do this, that they can get a college education, and that they should.”
Smith’s endowment raised his total contributions toward education atMSU to more than $3.1 million, a record among professional athletes contributing to their alma mater.
“It is a wonderful endorsement for what we’re doing here,” McPherson said. “What he is really saying is that he feels a high-quality education is available here.”
Although Crosby admitted being surprised at Smith’s added contribution, he said he suspected Smith might donate more money.
“(I did not expect it), but I kind of thought that he might because what he wanted was ambitious and I don’t think what he put up first would have taken care of what he wanted,” he said. “I think he wanted to make sure no student would be put out because of a shortage.”
Smith is currently in his 10th NBA season, his second with the Portland Trail Blazers. He was a first round draft pick of the Miami Heat in 1991 after achieving All-American status as a Spartan. And last summer, Smith helped bring home Olympic gold as a member of the U.S. “Dream Team.”
Regardless of his athletic achievements, Smith decided to pay respect to his departed mother, who believed highly in education. Therefore, he earmarked the scholarship for non-athletes only - paying tuition, fees, books and room and board for high-achieving students from Pershing High.
“I think he realized that athletes have advantages in getting scholarships and was trying to level the playing field,” Crosby said. “For him to provide a scholarship for kids academically, it gave us a sense of pride.
“In fact, that pride has spread throughout the whole community - it gave people another sense of allegiance to the school.”
The first recipient of the Smith Scholarship was human resource management freshman LaTonja Johnson, who attributes her academic standing and extracurricular activities to her being chosen.
Without the Smith Scholarship, Johnson said she would not have been able to attend MSU.
“It means a lot because I worked hard for it, and by me being the first one, I’m going to set an example for the rest of the recipients,” she said.
