UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — On Penn State’s academic calendar it’s commencement but it’s a family reunion as well — especially for those who know Preston Shoemaker.
Shoemaker, a senior journalism major, will represent the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications as its student marshal during commencement exercises Dec. 17 at the Bryce Jordan Center.
The Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, native piled up accomplishments, awards and honors inside the classroom and far beyond during his time on campus. He’s proud of what he’s done and he’s even more excited about celebrating commencement with his extended family, and that some of his accomplishments will provide ongoing opportunities for future students.
“It’s not often my eight grandparents and extended family and friends all get together at the same place and the same time,” Shoemaker said. “It’s exciting they’ll all be here. That’s going to make things really special.”
Shoemaker’s undergraduate career has been special from the start. He got involved with campus clubs and organizations, honed his skills, earned recognition and developed as a respected leader.
A consistent dean’s list student, he added a sports studies minor, a certificate from the Smeal College of Business, and a certificate from the John Curley Center for Sports Journalism to his accomplishments. He earned a Provost’s Scholarship and was selected as a Bellisario College Fellow — a small group of students chosen to be ambassadors and represent all communications students.
Shoemaker has been honing his professional skills almost since he arrived on campus and joined CommRadio as the route to his anticipated career as a sports broadcaster. He’s built a strong foundation toward that goal, thanks in large part to CommRadio.
“CommRadio offered me an environment to grow as a journalist and the credit for a lot of my accolades back to it,” Shoemaker said.
Shoemaker earned two Mid-Atlantic Regional Emmy Awards and was the only student with a top-10 finish in both the TV and writing divisions of the 2022 William Randolph Hearst Foundation’s Journalism Awards Program. He also won three Golden Quill Awards from the Western Pennsylvania Press Club and won numerous Keystone Awards.
Along with CommRadio, Shoemaker was an executive producer, reporter and anchor for the award-winning “Centre County Report” student newscast and worked as an on-camera talent and play-by-play broadcaster for Big Ten Plus covering several Penn State sports. He also helped host the live webcast of the Penn State Dance Marathon produced by communications students.
Shoemaker was part of a student team that partnered with the Associated Press to cover the Little League World Series in 2021 and 2022, as well as Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles. Plus, he served as a broadcaster for St. Francis University’s women’s basketball team for two seasons.
Even with all that, Shoemaker’s fondest memories and proudest moments are associated with the creation of “After the Whistle” — a weekly high school football highlights show that he helped create with ample support from Bellisario College faculty and staff. The weekly show focuses on games throughout central Pennsylvania, providing appreciated coverage of the high school football teams as well as valuable on-air and production experience for communications students.
“It’s been wonderful to be able to do so many things, and ‘After the Whistle’ is really the thing that makes me most proud. It was an idea that became a reality. There was so much work to make it happen,” Shoemaker said. “It’s been great to see it get off the ground and then keep improving. Plus, the best thing about it is that it’ll be here long after I leave. The show will provide opportunities for a lot of students in the future. That’s pretty rewarding.”
Shoemaker, who also credited the impact of advisers and faculty members who provided guidance and support for his success, has already determined the first steps of his career path. After graduation he’ll begin work as assistant director of communications for the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He’s been with the team for two seasons already. After graduation, he’ll serve as a play-by-play broadcaster and work on special projects regarding social media branding and media relations.