PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. – The Pace University Department of Athletics has selected President Stephen J. Friedman as the newest recipient of the Peter X. Finnerty Leadership Award. President Friedman will receive the award as part of the 2016 Pace Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which will be held at Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, N.Y. on Friday, April 29. Friedman became the seventh president of Pace University on June 4, 2007.
"President Friedman's unwavering commitment to the Pace community as a whole has been instrumental to the tremendous growth we have seen in our athletics enrollment and competitiveness," said Director of Athletics Mark Brown. "The Peter X. Finnerty Award is our premiere athletics recognition, so much so that it has only been awarded five times. During President Friedman's tenure, he has exhibited the level of leadership that we associate with Mr. Finnerty's legacy and his vision will continue to strengthen our programs and will position us for success for many years to come."
During his time as president, Friedman has overseen a number of initiatives that have raised the profile of the Pace Athletics Department and have enhanced the student-athlete experience. Most recently, Pace completed expansive renovations and upgrades to Pace Stadium and Peter X. Finnerty Field, which opened in the fall of 2015. The upgrades include FieldTurf, lights, press boxes, and new seating. The brand new, state-of-the-art Ianniello Field House, a 14,010-square-foot structure located next to Pace Stadium, was also recently completed. It provides student-athletes and coaches with one of the finest facilities in the region for strength and conditioning, and also includes locker rooms, a VIP room and a sports medicine component. In addition, a new field for the Pace softball team has been constructed near the entrance to the Pleasantville Campus.
"To receive an award named after Peter Finnerty is a great honor," Friedman said. "He saw how athletics could enhance the student experience and established and nurtured our athletic efforts over 40 years. Our new athletic facilities in Pleasantville will infuse even more of the 'Finnerty Spirit' into our programs and enrich residential campus life for everyone," the Pace President added.
As president of Pace, Friedman has presided over a substantial increase in core enrollment, while sustaining the University's historic commitment to providing access for students from all economic backgrounds. An advocate of education for the professions, he regards the combination of liberal arts and career preparation as critical for creating opportunity and improving the nation's global competitiveness.
Under his leadership, Pace has established an increasing number of new academic programs, placed greater emphasis on study abroad and other international experiences for students, launched an ongoing revitalization of the major campuses in New York and Pleasantville, and built a solid financial foundation for advancing Pace's mission. Prior to being named president, he served for three years as dean of Pace University School of Law.
The Peter X. Finnerty Award is named after former Director of Athletics, Director of Alumni Relations, athlete, professor, coach and inductee of the Pace University Hall of Fame who established the Athletics and Recreation program at Pace University in 1947. The award is presented to a member or members of the Pace University athletics community for outstanding leadership and service to the University or to society as a whole. The individual/s selected shall exemplify those characteristics for which Peter Finnerty was best known: hard work, a spirit of competition, and the ability to serve and lead with integrity and to inspire others to do the same.
President Friedman will be recognized with this year's Athletics Hall of Fame inductees. The newest members will be former Director of Athletics Joe O'Donnell, Suzette Gehl (Softball '99), Rich Johnson (Football '87), Ginny Ziogas Torreso (Women's Basketball '96) and Todd Ziogas (Men's Basketball '98). The Pace Athletics Hall of Fame was started in 1997 with this year's ceremony marking the fifteenth induction class.
Tickets for the event are available for $110 per person. For more information on the 2016 Pace University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, please contact Associate Athletics Director for External Operations
Drew Brown at 914-773-3271 or
dbrown4@pace.edu. To register for the event
click here.
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