As a boy growing up in Charlottesville, Virginia, Will Stewart could never have imagined rooting against his hometown’s collegiate teams. Once he reached his teen years, though, whenever the Cavaliers battled the Hokies, the colors he bled were maroon and orange.

The founder of TechSideline.com, a website devoted to Virginia Tech athletics, Stewart is once again rooting for the university, but this time for its winning academics.

Through Tech Sideline, Stewart has pledged $100,000 over five years to create an endowed scholarship in the Virginia Tech Department of Communication. The scholarship will support students in the sports media and analytics program.

“I’ve been impressed with both the talent and passion of the students, who are just rock stars,” he said. “And I’m thrilled that Bill Roth is providing the mentorship they need to become the next great sports journalists.”

Roth, who gave radio play-by-play for Virginia Tech football and men’s basketball for 27 years, joined the department’s faculty in 2016.

“I was driving when Will told me he wanted to fund a scholarship for our sports media students,” Roth said. “I nearly drove off the road. What an amazing idea! And now the scholarship will help us recruit and retain students with the greatest promise.”