CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Dave Shinskie, a son of Dave and Joann Shinskie, of Kulpmont, was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from the Lynch School of Education at the 137th commencement of Boston College May 20.
Shinskie is a 2003 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School. In June 2003, he was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball amateur baseball draft. He competed in the AA level for the Twins and Toronto Blue Jays in the minor league system until May 2009, when he accepted a full athletic football scholarship at BC. He earned the starting quarterback spot early in that season and appeared in all 13 games for the Eagles. In 2009, he set BC freshman passing records with 2,049 yards and 15 touchdowns.
At Boston College, he majored in human development with a minor in communications. Along with other activities, Shinskie volunteered at the Boston College Campus School for Special Education. He took part in a charity called Team Impact that raised awareness for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and in the BC chapter of Uplifting Athletes in honor of teammate Mark Herzlich.
Shinskie's plans include a profession in teaching, counseling and administration in the field of education and possibly to continue studies in a graduate program and take advantage of one more year of athletic eligibility during 2013-14.