Neumann College honors
five archdiocesan coaches

 


Richard Papirio, head baseball coach at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, has received a lifetime achievement award from Neumann College’s Center for Sport, Spirituality and Character Development and its Sport Management program.

In all, five coaches from the the Archdiocese of Philadelphia were honored by the college at its second annual awards program.

The program recognizes leaders who have had a positive impact upon young athletes who play on teams sponsored by Catholic organizations in the Camden and Wilmington dioceses, and the Philadelphia Archdiocese.

The coaching awards acknowledge Catholic role models who help the young people they work with in developing character and good sportsmanship and in spiritual formation.

The lifetime achievement prize honors a Catholic leader who has positively influenced youth sports by creating and supporting an environment that fosters Catholic virtues.

Paul Jefferis, the athletic director at Lansdale Catholic High School, was a finalist for the lifetime achievement award.

In addition to that award, the college recognized outstanding coaches elementary-grade-level coaching and secondary-grade-level coatching.

One winner was named in each category, and eight others were recognized as finalists.

In the elementary-level coaching category, the award went to Jim Fedena, varsity boys’ basketball coach at St. Helena School, Wilmington, Del.

The secondary-level coaching award went to Susan Heiss, athletic director and volleyball coach at Ursuline Academy, also in Wilmington.

Philadelphia archdiocesan coaches who were honored as finalists were: Richard Adamsky, Nativity or Our Lord CYO, and Melissa and Brenda Dougherty, Merion Mercy Academy.

The Center is dedicated to using sports as a vehicle for spiritual, ethical and emotional growth.

“There are hundreds of people in this region who teach positive values and embody good sportsmanship every day,” said Ed Hastings, director of the Center. “These awards are meant to generate greater awareness of their outstanding contributions,” he said.


Villanova Men’s basketball team to receive 2006 Wanamaker Award


Alex’s Lemonade Stand and Afleet Alex to receive community service award

The Villanova University men’s basketball team has been named the 2006 winner of the John Wanamaker Athletic Award for its impressive 2005-2006 season. Since 1961, the award has been presented to the “athlete, team or organization that has done the most to reflect credit upon Philadelphia and to the team or sport in which they excel.” The Philadelphia Sports Congress (PSC), a division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, presents the award each year in conjunction with IPC/Amerimar Management Company.

In addition, Afleet Alex and Alex’s Lemonade Stand will jointly receive the Philadelphia Sports Congress Community Service Award, which is presented to the “individual, business or organization that has done the most to contribute to the quality of life in Philadelphia through sports.”

The recipients will be honored at an awards ceremony on Wednesday, June 28, at the Wanamaker building’s Crystal Tea Room in Philadelphia.