Impact Of A Scholarship: Shannon Bustillos

Each time Shannon Bustillos took the diamond, she wasn’t just playing to stop runs and stack wins. She was playing for a college education through an athletic scholarship.

For her and many others, an athletic scholarship wasn’t just a way to play the game she loves — it was a gateway to education, a platform for personal growth, and a chance to chase dreams beyond the softball field.

“Maryland changed my life, and it only happened because of my scholarship,” she said.

For Bustillos, this was the ultimate goal and the defining moment that changed her future trajectory. As a first-generation college student, the Anaheim, California native grew up in a working-class family, with her mother spending over twenty years working as an AAA customer service representative and her father employed as a construction worker.

Bustillos began her career in baseball, following in the footsteps of her older brother, Ryan. General spectators and parents of other athletes encouraged Bustillos’ parents to get her involved in softball. The idea of being a pitcher was often mentioned to Bustillos, but her heart had always been set on being situated behind the plate as a catcher.

She transitioned to softball around the age of 10. Her passion for the sport led her into the competitive travel ball scene, and by the age of 14, she had joined the renowned Orange County Batbusters.

Softball is known to be an incredibly massive deal in Southern California. As she advanced in her youth career, Bustillos aimed for high school softball, eager to showcase her talents and gain notice from college recruiters. She had strong aspirations of progressing to the next level of competition. 

At Canyon High School, Bustillos established herself as a standout athlete, earning a spot as a varsity starter all four years. Her exceptional talent and relentless dedication earned her many accolades, solidifying her reputation as one of the school's most accomplished players. 

As a senior, she was named MVP and ultimately inducted into Canyon’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010. Bustillos’ team qualified for the CIF championship during her senior year but fell short of a championship win due to a walk-off grand slam.

“My high school experience was great. I loved it,” she said. “High school softball in Southern California is a big deal.”

Canyon High School’s varsity softball head coach, Dan Hay, contacted Laura Watten, the head coach of Maryland softball at the time. This sparked her recruitment process to Maryland. 

During Bustillos’ unofficial visit to Maryland with her father, Richard, the first thing that caught her attention was the brick buildings and colonial pillars on campus. Coach Watten and Coach Courtney Deifel hosted Bustillos, where she attended her first Maryland football game.

“I loved the architecture, the buildings,” Bustillos said. “That was what sold me when I first stepped on campus.”

When the Terps pulled off a 24-21 upset against the No. 24 ranked Clemson Tigers on Oct. 3, 2009, Bustillos knew it was the perfect sign to seal the deal and commit to Maryland. At that moment, Bustillos felt a deep bond with the university and realized — with absolute certainty — that Maryland was where she was meant to be.

Bustillos went on to have a standout four-year career from 2012-15. She regards assistant coaches Jillian Callaway and Shannon Riley as great coaches and leaders as she navigated her collegiate softball journey.

Bustillos ranks first in program history in career RBIs (153) and doubles (46). She also ranks second in home runs (30), ninth in hits (187) and 12th in runs (105). 

She made the All-Big Ten Second and Defensive Teams in 2015 as a senior. She even earned All-ACC Academic honors in 2012, 2013 and 2014. When the Terps joined the Big Ten Conference for the 2015 season, she was named to the All-Big Ten Academic Team.

In 2012 — Bustillos’ freshman year — Maryland went 34-22, making its third consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance for the first time in school history, all under the leadership of seventh-year Head Coach Watten. Before 2010, the Terrapins had only made one appearance in the NCAA Regionals, which was back in 1999.

“To be a Maryland student-athlete was an experience that was so awesome,” said Bustillos.

Bustillos credits Maryland for giving her solid relationships and lifelong friendships. Former teammates Bridget Hawvermale, Hannah Dewey, and Kaitlyn Schmeiser became some of her closest friends. During Bustillos’ destination wedding in Italy, several Terps showed up to celebrate the special milestone. Being surrounded by many loved ones creates the camaraderie that only a shared history can create.

“I would not have been able to go to Maryland without my scholarship, point blank,” Bustillos said. “Who I am today is because of my scholarship.”

After graduating from Maryland, Bustillos earned a spot to play softball in Mannheim, Germany, for six months. During her time in Germany, Bustillos also coached a younger team within the Mannheim Tornados organization.

Before this overseas career experience, Bustillos had never traveled outside the country, so she made the most of it by traveling to Spain, Greece, France and Ireland during her free time.

Upon her return to the United States, Bustillos attended law school at Western State College of Law in Irvine, California. She graduated with her J.D. in December 2020 and then earned a Certificate in Federal Contract Administration at UCLA.

Today, Bustillos works as a Contracts Manager at Bespoke Partners, the largest software executive search firm exclusively focused on business consulting, leadership advisory services and private equity-backed SaaS companies. Her passion for learning is still ignited in Bustillos, and she is working towards earning an MBA at Boston University to secure a C-level position eventually.

Bustillos lives in Southern California with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Harvey. As avid travelers, they have experienced the cultures of several European and Japanese countries.

“I’m just so fortunate and thankful that I was able to call it home for four years, and I hope one day I can pass it down and pay for a scholarship for someone,” Bustillos said. “That’s one of my goals, to be able to pass on the experience that I got because it’s truly life-changing.”