The Southern Connecticut State University Alumni Association has announced its honorees for the 2009 Alumni Awards Celebration. In all, six individuals will be recognized for their contributions on Friday, March 13 at the Michael J. Adanti Student Center Ballroom. Three former student-athletes will be inducted into the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame – Joe Andruzzi (football) (liberal studies major), Dr. Loretta Di Pietro '79, MS '82 (field hockey) (both degrees in health science) and Abegboyega 'Bo' Oshoniyi, '95 (men's soccer) (communication major).
In addition, three alumni will also be recognized for their accomplishments and dedication to the SCSU community. Patty Pursell '95, MS '99, 6th Year '02 (majors: BA-Phys. Ed; MS-Phys.Ed/school health ed.; 6th year-education foundations) will receive the Alumni Citation Award. Carolyn Vanacore '52, MS '68, 6th Year '73, (major BS and MS –Education; major 6th year Administrative Supervision) will receive the Alumni Service Award. Lastly, George “The Coach” DeMaio, Jr., '70, MS '78 (education) will be recognized with the Alumni Appreciation Award.
Andruzzi enjoyed an extremely decorated career during his four years at Southern Connecticut (1993-96). The anchor of the offensive line, he was named an All-American by the American Football Coaches Association as a junior and senior. Andruzzi was also twice selected to the All-ECAC squad and captured All-New England laurels as a sophomore, junior and senior. He served as team captain as a senior.
Following his playing days at SCSU, Andruzzi spent 10 years in the National Football League with the Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. He won three Super Bowl titles while with the Patriots.
Andruzzi currently serves as the CEO of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, an organization is leading the fight to tackle cancer by funding cancer research; assisting cancer institutes in achieving the highest level of patient care possible and by providing financial assistance to cancer patients and their caregivers-helping to ease the burden treatment places on their lives.
Di Pietro was one of the Owls' stalwarts on a dominant field hockey squad during the 1970's. She was a four-year starter for Southern Connecticut (1975-78) and served as team captain as a senior. Di Pietro was also a part of the 1976 squad that finished in sixth place at the USFHA/AIAW National Tournament.
Following her collegiate career, Di Pietro remained active as a player, coach and official within the sport. She has served as an assistant field hockey coach at the collegiate level with both Southern Connecticut and Yale and at the high school level with Hamden High as an assistant girls' lacrosse coach and Hopkins School as head field hockey and girls' lacrosse coach.
The consummate goalkeeper, Oshoniyi led Southern to NCAA titles in 1990 and 1992. He capped off his four-year career (1990-93) as the recipient of the Golden Boot Award as the nation's outstanding collegiate goalkeeper. He was the first Division II player in history to earn the award.
Oshoniyi tied a national collegiate record with 50 shutouts in his four seasons and a goals against average of just 0.47. He was a two-time NSCAA First-Team Division II All-America selection and a two-time New England Collegiate Conference player of the year.
Following his SCSU career, Oshoniyi was a member of the 1995 U.S. Cup team and played with Kansas City and Columbus of Major League Soccer. He also played in 1993 with the United States National “B” team and competed with the U.S. World University Games team at Buffalo.
Oshoniyi is currently an assistant coach at the University of South Florida for fellow Owl alum George Kiefer, and also serves as a scout for U.S. Soccer.
One of the leaders within the field of physical education in the state of Connecticut, Pursell earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut in 1995 and went on to add a master's degree in health education in 1999. She also completed a sixth-year certificate in educational foundations in 2002.
Pursell has served as a physical education teacher at Choate Rosemary Hall (Wallingford, Conn.) and in the North Haven and Wallingford school systems since 1989.
However, she has distinguished herself through extensive professional development activities, associations and laurels. Among the notable posts that Pursell has held include stints as President of the Connecticut Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CTAHPERD) and Secretary for the Governor's Committee for Physical Fitness.
The only Physical Education teacher in state history to be named a finalist for the Connecticut State Teacher of the Year award, Pursell also successfully wrote and secured the highly lucrative Carol M. White PEP (Physical Education Program) grant valued at more than $300,000.
Vanacore, the director emeritus of the division of health, physical education, recreation, and safety at Southern, has been a longtime advocate for SCSU and its athletic programs, but specifically for female student-athletes and offerings.
Vanacore began her teaching career at North Haven High School, and during the next 13 years served as a teacher, coach and intramural activity director at numerous area schools.
In 1965 she joined Southern as an assistant professor of women's physical education and was named the director of the division of health, physical education, recreation and safety (now exercise science) in 1982, a position she held until her retirement in 1989.
In addition to serving on the Alumni Association board, Vanacore has been active with numerous organizations and causes on campus through the years and remains as one of the biggest supporters of Owls' athletics.
DeMaio, known affectionately as 'The Coach' to his loyal radio listeners in Connecticut, helped found the university radio station while an undergraduate and has been a fixture on the local sports scene for the past 25 years.
He received honorary inductions into the Connecticut Scholastic and Collegiate Softball Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Connecticut Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001. In 2007, he was inducted into the New Haven Gridiron Club's Hall of Fame. In 2008, he was honored by the Connecticut Association of Athletic Directors with the Distinguished Service Award - Outside the Field of Athletic Administration.
Most recently, DeMaio – who completed a teaching career spanning more than two decades in January – was named an 'Elm City Legend' by the March of Dimes organization in November, 2008.
If you are interested in attending the celebration, please call Charlie at 203-392-6500 at the SCSU Office of Alumni Relations.
