FMU goalkeeper busy in the nation’s capitol

FLORENCE, S.C. – Emily Brandenburg, a junior goalkeeper on the Francis Marion University women’s soccer team, has been busy in Washington, D.C., this spring.

She is currently interning in the United States Senate. The resident of West Columbia was also named the South Carolina Cherry Blossom Princess and represented the state in the 97th-annual national Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington three weeks ago.

The weeklong festival celebrates the 1912 gift to the city of Washington of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, and serves as an enduring symbol of friendship between the United States and Japan. Since 1948, state societies have selected accomplished young women to share their state’s rich culture, traditions, and history with national and international visitors and dignitaries at the annual festival and abroad. Brandenburg participated in educational, leadership, and cultural activities that nurture international relationships and cultural exchanges.

Brandenburg is majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish with hopes of attending law school. This past season, she appeared in 16 matches, with 13 starts, and compiled a 2.16 goal against average, while posting three shutouts and a 5.1 saves per match average that ranked 89th among all NCAA Division I goalkeepers.

In addition to playing soccer, Brandenburg is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority, has served as head delegate for National Model United Nations China, and is a member of the Student Leadership Advisory Board. She has been involved with FMU’s Campus Outreach, the Honors Student Association, been a University Marshall, and was named Miss Congeniality at the 2007 Miss FMU Pageant. She has been named to both the Peach Belt Conference Presidential and FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic honor rolls.

She is a graduate of Lakeside High School in Augusta, Ga., where she was a first-team All-Area selection on the soccer field.