Every Student Has a Story: Taylor Smith '26

Taylor Smith '26 would have watched the NCAA Tournament selection show, but she left campus before the brackets were unveiled to celebrate her friend's 21st birthday. When her phone started blowing up, she knew that could only mean one thing: Greenville.

Kevin '08 and Heather Johnas '08 love their alma mater. They met at Siena, in neighboring townhouses, and passed their infectious love for the Saints onto their niece, Smith.

"They used to bring me to campus to walk around or walk the dogs. They would tell me stories about their days in the townhouses. I actually never toured another campus. For as long as I can remember, I just always wanted to be at Siena."

Seven years ago, Kevin and Heather relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, one of eight first and second round sites for this year's NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Weeks before Siena cut down the nets in Atlantic City to earn its tournament berth, Kevin was already dreaming.

"He was sending me texts like, 'Wouldn't it be great if Siena was in the tournament and played in Greenville?!'"

Sure enough, Siena drew Duke in the opening round... in Greenville.

"My dad and I decided we had to make it happen. We left right after my internship on Wednesday afternoon and got to my aunt and uncle's house around 1:00 in the morning on Thursday. I was a bit hesitant to miss my classes on Thursday, but I talked to my professors and they all said 'Go, get out of here.' It was all good. No questions."

Kevin had a can't-miss work trip in Florida (though he was able to watch the game at a bar and had everyone cheering for Siena), so Smith went to the game with her dad and aunt (below, left).

"The game was super exciting! We were standing the whole time. All the people around us, except for Duke fans, were cheering for Siena. we'd get up to grab food, and people would ask, 'Where's Siena?' I actually bumped into one person who said, 'Isn't that the school that opens doors for people?'"

Smith and her dad, Dave, left Greenville at 6:00 the next morning. The plan was to take shifts behind the wheel, but Smith spent the whole drive riding shotgun so she could write an essay and catch up on homework. The marketing major will graduate in May, one year early, and then finish out an internship at Sunmark Credit Union this summer. First though, on her aunt and uncle's advice, she'll treasure every moment she's got left on campus.

"I text with them every day, and they're always asking what I'm up to and how my friends are doing. My time here went by too fast, but I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I for sure made the right choice coming to Siena."

But really it wasn't choice. Some people are just born to be Saints.