SELINSGROVE - Selinsgrove leaders plan on giving local Olympian Keli Smith a gold medal round of applause today for representing Selinsgrove High School in Beijing.

Smith played on the U.S. women’s Olympic field hockey team, scoring two goals in the team’s first victory. The 1997 Selinsgrove High School graduate has played for a decade on U.S. national field hockey teams, drawing inspiration from her grandmother and her father, Neal, who was an All-American safety at Penn State.

“She’s a great young lady, we’re very proud of her,” Selinsgrove High School principal Reed Messmore said. “She brings pride to the school.”

How does Smith describe her stay in the Olympic village? In a word — indescribable.

“I say to everyone that words will never describe what it was like. It was amazing just to be a part of so many great athletes,” she said.

Messmore and Selinsgrove Mayor Pete Carroll will honor Smith tonight during a pre-game commemoration at the Selinsgrove High School football game vs. Mifflinburg at Harold L. Bolig Memorial Stadium. Smith will also speak to students next Friday, Messmore noted. She’ll be able to impart to them something that’s become a theme in her life: The idea that no matter where you go, your roots are always with you.

“Although hockey has allowed me to travel the world, I don’t feel any different as a person. It’s important to never forget where you came from,” said Smith. “I always love to come home.”

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