THE basketball goal that Ellen Schneeweis bought for her four sons as a Chanukah present in 2008 drew Andrew, the second oldest, to practice shot after shot.
Some attempts came from a pretty fair distance like the sidewalk in front of his neighbors house in Englewood, Colorado, on the other side of E. Berry Drive.
His diligence paid off: On Aug. 24, Andrew Schneeweis, now 18, swished a halfcourt shot at CSUs Moby Arena to earn a free year of tuition.
The reward for constant practice was well needed and is making this Thanksgiving and Chanukah an even more meaningful time for his family.
Money has been tight, Ellen Schneeweis said in an interview, since she and the boys dad, David Schneeweis, divorced five years ago.
Between Bar Mitzvah savings and student loans, they had somehow cobbled together some of the funds for college.
I really dont know how, Ellen told Andrew as they ate lunch after her son had settled in at his dormitory in August.
She recalled, I told him not to think about the loans, to just enjoy the four years take any class, meet new people.
While room, board, books and other expenses a total Andrew estimated at $14,000 arent covered by the contest-winning shot, Ellen Schneeweis says shes plenty grateful for what the family will be receiving.
Its like money that came from the sky. It feels like G-d sent it, she said. I feel that things happen for a reason. Its going to make the ride a little easier for us.
FOR Andrew Schneeweis, the journey to improved fortune began at a freshman pep rally with some 5,000 incoming students. He had been reveling in the evenings charged atmosphere, with the pep band playing and the mens basketball team warming up.
Schneeweis was chosen at random for the three chances to sink the long-distance attempt at the tuition prize.
The public address announcer for the evening Ryun Williams, coach of the womens basketball team was the one to reveal the seat number of the lucky shooter.
It had been chosen hours earlier, before any of the students had entered the gym.
Pausing dramatically for effect, Williams called out the lucky seat number.
First he called Section C, and I said OK. Then he called Row 18, and I said, No way. Then he called Seat 5, Schneeweis said this week from his dormitory room in Ft. Collins, where he is studying business, with an eye on a career in sports management.
There was so much excitement, and I knew I had a chance to make it, he said. I ran down to the court, and I really dont remember much. I just remember looking at the hoop, they handed me the ball and I thought, Hmmm, lets make this happen.
Wearing a green university T-shirt and a yellow bandana, the slightly built Schneeweis pumped his hands to pump up the crowd, turned around, dribbled twice and from the ram logo at midcourt, heaved the ball from behind his right shoulder toward a side basket. He took a stutter step in the manner of a shot putter watching the spheres flight.
Schneeweis considered his attempt near-perfect. It went far and stayed straight. But, he wondered, would the ball clear the front rim?
It did, prompting a deafening roar.
The schools mascot and several students who rushed the court hugged Schneeweis. So did mens basketball coach Larry Eustachy, who was on the hook for a portion of the $7,500 prize.
Just that morning, John Morris, CSUs assistant director for athletics, suggested that Eustachy, Williams and two other coaches footballs Jim McElwain and womens volleyballs Tom Hilbert sponsor his promotion idea. The coaches agreed.
Morris said this week that hed made the sponsorship suggestion half-kiddingly.
Its easy for me to say because its not my money, he said.
Morris said the shot and ensuing pandemonium were icing on the cake for an evening that was already a lot of fun.
A video of the prize-winning shot went viral on YouTube, and ESPN included it among the days top 10 highlights.
Within two weeks, the coaches wrote out their checks to cover the in-state tuition costs.
SCHNEEWEIS has had his share of fortune but nothing like this.
In February, he won $500 in a Super Bowl pool. And two years ago, he was wearing a Denver Nuggets cap while strolling in a mall with five friends when the NBA teams chaplain noticed and gave the teenagers multiple tickets for upcoming games.
Just a week before the tuition winner, Schneeweis sank a halfcourt shot at a rec center near the family home, now in the Denver suburb of Greenwood Village.
Did that success provide the boost in confidence that helped Schnee-weis replicate the feat before thousands of screaming fans with so much on the line?
Its possible. Practice always helps. It could have paid off, he said. Id have thought Id be nervous in front of [thousands of] people. But I was . . . calm as ever.
FROM the outside, it may seem like Chanukah came early this year for Schneeweis and his family. But for mom, the best was still to come.
A few days ago, Andrew arrived home for Thanksgiving break, which this year also includes Chanukah. His brother Robert, a Montana State University film student, came home, too, joining their younger brothers, Daniel and Joseph.
Being together for the two holidays is whats really important in life, their mother said. They are the best gift.