A Critical Assist from Financial Aid

When Selam Maher ’26 scores a basket for the Smith Bears, game announcers say she “connects for two.” At Smith, the senior economics major from Minnesota and co-captain of the varsity basketball team has taken every opportunity to connect off the court as well. Maher has volunteered, researched, advocated, interned—and even dad-joked her way to a robust social media following via her team’s TikTok account. “Being a Smithie is all about the community you’re able to build and find through the college,” she says.

The financial aid offer from Smith was Maher’s first glimpse of that community-building. That support turned her “dream of college” into a reality—a reality free from loans and financial stress. Crediting “alums and donors who have come before me” with making that reality possible, Maher is now determined to become one of those empowering alums herself.

“I chose Smith because of its incredible academic and basketball opportunities,” she says. “But I also knew how influential the Smith alum network is, and I wanted to be a part of that.”

The first-ever women’s college basketball game was played in the Alumnae Gymnasium in 1893. Brought to Smith by Senda Berenson, director of physical training, the intramural contest ended in a 5-4 win for the sophomore team. It also sparked a long-standing passion for basketball on the Smith campus.

This passion has reached a fever pitch in recent years, with standout stars and electric teamwork leading to packed stands, game after game—not to mention a record-setting six straight New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference titles. One of Maher’s proudest accomplishments has been helping to “raise the standard of winning and excellence for Smith basketball,” including securing a spot in three NCAA Division III Final Fours and two national championships.

But while “winning games is always great,” says Maher, the real win has been what the team has done with that platform. For instance, “through the increased viewership, we’ve been able to create a free youth mentorship program for girls across western Massachusetts.” Launched in 2024, the Smith Basketball Playmakers Club currently engages around 200 girls from kindergarten to eighth grade, teaching them court skills but also skills like cooperative leadership and “owning what you’re good at.”

The Bears team takes special joy from mentoring the next generation of athletes. “We’ve all been those little girls, so being able to give back to them is really fulfilling,” says Maher.

While Maher was drawn to Smith basketball for its storied history, coaching staff, and the chance to play in front of “some of the league’s best fans,” Smith’s academics and financial aid were what drove her decision to attend.

“I wanted to explore thoughts and views that were different from those I grew up around,” she recalls. “I came to Smith because I wanted the ability to be challenged and the resources to grow in all aspects of my world.”

The college has delivered on both counts. In terms of intellectual challenge, she says, “My favorite thing is how intensely and wholeheartedly students approach everything they do. Whether it’s in the classroom, at social events, in athletics, or in their relationships, Smith students show up fully and with purpose.”

Maher has also found ample resources to fuel her intellectual growth, including faculty mentorship and financial support for her own research. Earning a spot in the competitive STRIDE (Student Research in Departments) Program, Maher investigated the relationship between safety net benefits and children’s opportunities for physical activity alongside Robert A. Woods Professor and Chair of Economics Lucie Schmidt. “Getting to do research with her as a STRIDE Scholar allowed me to combine my interests in economics, social safety nets, and youth athletics,” Maher says. “Professor Schmidt is an amazing teacher who’s deeply passionate about her work, which makes it easy for her students to feel the same way.”

Maher has made active contributions to her peers in athletics by serving on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the Sport Committee for Inclusion and Diversity. She has also been a member of both the Black Student Alliance and Smithies in Business.

Her graduation later this year means Maher will be joining a new community—the community of Smith alums. She addressed this group as a panelist at the first gathering of Smith VOICES (in which a Variety of Opinions, Interests, Cohorts, and Experiences are Supported) in November.

The theme of the VOICES event was “taking care of ourselves and our communities.” That need for collective care became clear to Maher last year, when an ACL injury kept her on the sidelines for the season. “The whole recovery process was pretty grueling—I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone. But not being on the court also gave me the chance to analyze the game in a new way, and think more strategically about how I can contribute to our success as a unit.”

Throughout her recovery year, Maher leaned on her teammates and coaches to keep her spirits up. She also leaned into her own goofy humor, charming the Bears’ social media audience with her recurring “Witty Wednesdays.” (Sample joke: What does a clock do when it’s hungry? It goes back four seconds.)

Ultimately, the heartache of Maher’s missed season required her to find new ways to connect with her teammates and online fans. In giving her new insights into the game, it also strengthened her career goals: “Over my time at Smith, I’ve had the opportunity to intern in data analytics for both the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Sparks,” says Maher. “My goal is to continue working in professional sports and eventually become a general manager for a WNBA team.”

On a recent podcast, Smith basketball’s head coach Lynn Hersey shared her goal as a coach: getting student-athletes to “believe collectively and individually that they can achieve everything that the[ir] vision holds.”

Maher appeared with Hersey on that show. Reflecting later, she explained how vital alum support is to that goal. “The resources we receive don’t just elevate our experience; they also show us what it means to lead and succeed as women. Seeing how Smith alums have stepped up to invest in us inspires me to step up for others in the future.”