Oct. 2, 2003
The Eastern College Athletic Conference's (ECAC) Fall Convention was highlighted by the annual Honors Dinner presented by Jostens at the Sheraton Hyannis Resort on Tuesday, September 30. Wayne Soares, a nationally syndicated sports radio broadcaster, acted as the master of ceremonies for the event and entertained the crowd throughout the night.
The first awards of the evening, the ECAC Robbins Scholar-Athletes were presented to six student-athletes who have shown both skill and dedication on the field and in the classroom. Lafayette's Herb Kennedy, Bentley's Jennifer Walker, and West Chester's Ryan Weathers accepted their awards and thanked their respective athletic departments and parents for their encouragement and guidance. Lafayette's Megan Ramsey, SUNY New Paltz's Heather Downey, and College Misercordia's Todd Matukaitis could not attend.
Linda Case, director of athletics at SUNY Brockport, and Larry Schiner, director of athletics at New Jersey City University accepted their awards for the Jostens Male and Female Administrators of the Year.
Two institutions were honored for their successful 2002-03 athletic seasons. Harvard University was named the Jostens Institution of the Year for their successes in athletics throughout the year. Athletics director, Robert Scalise accepted the honor for the Crimson. Michael Cross, senior associate athletics director at Princeton accepted the Boathouse Sports Trophy for the Tigers' rowing teams.
Rita Castagna, the former Assumption College athletics director was not in attendance to accept the Katherine Ley Award. State University of New York Athletic Conference's (SUNYAC) first and only commissioner Dr. Patrick Damore and United State Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) executive director, John Spring were presented with the Distinguished Achievement Awards.
John Garnjost looked back on his experiences in the rowing profession as he accepted one of the two George L. Schiebler awards. Steve Rossetti, ECAC director of soccer officiating, accepted the award on behalf of the late Charlie Lee.
Inspirational stories were told in the presentation of the Award of Valor. John and Katherine Geppi received a standing ovation as they accepted the Alumni Award of Valor for their daughter, the late Diane Geppi-Aikens. The former Loyola women's lacrosse coach passed away in June. Ricky Beecher of Towson University thanked his parents for his award, and Sherri Brown of St. John's University thanked her mother and her coach. Amanda Walton, received a standing ovation for her speech as an Award of Valor recipient. Walton was a two-sport Ivy League all-star as a freshman prior to a debilitating car accident.
The ECAC's membership includes 314 Divisions I, II, and III colleges and universities from Maine to North Carolina. The conference provides services to its constituents that include: administration of 111 championships and events in 35 men's and women's sports; assigning officials in 15 sports; coordinating awards; administration of affiliate organizations, conventions, meetings, marketing initiatives, officiating, playing leagues, public relations and special events. The ECAC serves as the primary conference for selected members in the sports of men's and women's ice hockey, men's lacrosse, men's gymnastics, wrestling, fencing and rowing.