As California State University, San Bernardino celebrates 60 years of higher education excellence, it is launching its inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame Awards to recognize the professional accomplishments and community service of distinguished alumni.

Scott Keagy Smith, BA, marketing, ’91, will receive the Paw Prints Award, which recognizes alumni who have shown exemplary accomplishments that reflect the spirit of their academic college. He is being recognized for his leadership and influence on students and fellow teachers in the field of physical education.

For more than 25 years, Smith has been a high school physical education (PE) teacher in the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) and has spearheaded several groundbreaking programs that have revolutionized high school physical education in the district.

He has taught and coached varsity level sports (basketball, golf, baseball, tennis, softball and volleyball) in the district for over 25 years. A five-time recipient of the San Bernardino County Coach of the Year award, Smith was honored in 2011 with the Superintendent’s Certificated Employee of the Year Award.

Throughout his tenure as a teacher and coach, he has mentored other teachers and implemented innovative programs that make high school PE more engaging for students. One such program is the “Heart Zone Project,” an SBCUSD grant-funded initiative. Using GPS heart-rate-monitor bands, students receive instant feedback while doing the physical activity of their choice. This approach allows students to compete against themselves as they strengthen their bodies.

Smith has worked passionately to ensure students understand their health and fitness goals, inspiring them to become champions for their own wellness. As an Employee Development Department Demonstration Teacher for fellow PE teachers, he has had a tremendous impact, educating colleagues on the most effective techniques and strategies for teaching and learning. 

In 2020, after more than 20 years at Arroyo Valley High School, he was named PE program specialist in the Secondary Education Department of SBCUSD, serving as the lead for all PE programs in the district.

The alumni awardees will be honored during a dinner and award ceremony on Feb. 16 at CSUSB’s Santos Manuel Student Union North Ballrooms. Three university-wide awards – Distinguished Alumni, Emerging Leader and Coyote Spirit – will be presented, as well as the Paw Print Awards, which honor esteemed alumni from each of the university’s five colleges.

For more information about the inaugural Hall of Fame celebration, contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (909) 537-3700 or send an email to alumni@csusb.edu. The office provides opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and their alma mater and for CSUSB graduates to mentor and support current students through volunteer opportunities.