BOSTON – The Suffolk University Hall of Fame officially welcomed five new members and one perfect team Friday night in front of a sold-out audience at Sargent Hall on Suffolk's campus. Acting President Marisa Kelly and Director of Athletics Cary McConnell joined alumni, fans, family and friends of Suffolk Athletics to comprise the enthusiastic guests for the ceremony.
The sixth class of Hall of Famers comprised of five individuals and one team covers more than four decades of Suffolk's athletic history.
Paul Vaccaroo BS '86, MBA '92, has been a staple on the athletics Hall of Fame podium as Masters of Ceremonies since the inaugural event in 2007 and returned to his post for the sixth time this year. For the second straight year, current student-athletes also graced the podium as men's ice hockey Danyil Medvedev and Sydney Littlefield of the softball and volleyball teams and President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), spoke on the tradition these inductees have set forth for current and future Rams.
Among the members of the Class of 2016 are an NCAA Division III statistical division leader and two-time Charles Law Outstanding Student Athlete softball's Erin (Pagel) Carey, BS '05. Another Charles Law Outstanding Student Athlete recipient received the nod in Dan Florian, BSBA '01, a men's basketball's Jewish Review Division II, III All-American. One of the first players to net 1,000 points Jay Crowley, BA '68, MAE '72, along with one of the most gifted hockey players to don blue and gold, Sean O'Driscoll, BSBA'93. Larry Chabre, dubbed "Mr. Baseball" during his time on campus from 1983-86, was also inducted.
In the team category, the 2007 women's tennis team sealed its place among the Rams greats after the perfect season. Suffolk posted a 14-0 record and captured the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) regular season and tournament title to make the program's first-ever and only NCAA Tournament Appearance.
THE SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME
The Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame was established in 2007 with a charter membership of eight individuals and two teams. After this year's induction ceremony, membership will consist of 38 individuals and five teams.
Membership includes those who laid the foundation of Suffolk's athletic success; including Charles Law, the first athletic director, Jim " Coach" Nelson, men's basketball coach and 30-year Director of Athletics and Joe Walsh, as well as those who have continued to push Suffolk Athletics into the national spotlight.
Former student-athletes become eligible for the Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame induction five years after completing their athletics eligibility. Championship teams are eligible seven years after their year of achievement. In addition, an non-student athlete alumnus, whose distinguished contributed to Suffolk Athletics have made a profound impact to the Department and its student-athletes have a five-year waiting period before being induction, while non-alumni, coach, athletic or college administration merits immediate induction into the hall of fame.
Each year, the Suffolk University Athletics Hall of Fame Selection Committee, composed of administrators, faculty, staff and alumni, reviews the accomplishments of hundreds of alumni student-athletes who have been privileged to wear the University's blue and gold. The Committee's task is to identify those few who meet the qualifications for induction.
Selection is based upon the candidate meeting one or more of the following criteria: First-team All-American, NCAA Champion, world record setter, Olympic medalist, NCAA Statistical leader, professional athletic success, distinguished him/herself as a "pioneer" student-athlete or significant contributor to Suffolk Athletics while at the University or after graduation. Nomination forms can be found at GoSuffolkRams.com, under Hall of Fame.
2016 Hall of Fame
