Schwartz is one of five semi-finalists who will attempt to throw 10 footballs into a 2-foot hole cut into an 8-foot soda can during a 30-second period. The winner receives $123,000 and the runner-up will receive $23,000. The final three contestants will each receive $5,000 scholarships.
“Only good can come from this,” said Schwartz, who is studying biochemistry. “If I blow it on national television, which I do not intend to do, at least I will leave knowing I tried and had fun.”
A serendipitous series of events led Schwartz into the competition. During Homecoming, Schwartz and her friends arrived on Francis Quadrangle for ESPN’s GameDay festivities at 2:30 a.m. Schawartz had painted her face like a tiger, which attracted the attention of a Dr Pepper representative, who asked her to submit a 30-second video for the contest. “My friends had a megaphone and flags used as capes, “ she recalled. “I guess we were a little crazy looking.”
Schwartz posted the video, although she didn’t think she had a chance of making the competition. She learned that out of 10,000 submissions, her video was among the top five.
Schwartz intends to go to medical school after graduation. Having studied piano, her initial undergraduate coursework at MU combined biochemistry and music. She switched to biochemistry and English, opting for a minor in music. “I love the classics like Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad,” she said. “I like both reading and writing.”
Schwartz is getting a jump on her medical training by working with Thomas Mawhinney, professor of biochemistry and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station Chemical Laboratories. As a lab assistant, she is helping study microorganisms associated with cystic fibrosis airway infection.
“This is an awesome opportunity,” she said. “This is the best chance that I have had to get experience in an important medical experiment. I’m even able to pursue a related research project of my own.”
Schwartz has played soccer since she was six years old, but she admits football is a new experience. “Throwing a football, well, my experience with that is exactly zero,” she noted. “But I’m practicing every day.”
— Randy Mertens