Nevins Legacy to Live Through PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
Nevins Legacy to Live Through PSAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards
(January 31, 2007)
Release Prepared by Lauren Packer, PSAC Intern
Hard-working, diligent, dedicated, unique; All words that could be used to illustrate qualities of the select few chosen as Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year.
Those same words were often used to describe Pete Nevins, a long-time sports information director at East Stroudsburg University who recently passed away after a short battle with cancer.
Given the similar character traits, their importance and value to the PSAC, it seems only fitting that the two should share an association. Due to a recent suggestion by the league’s sports information directors, and the wholeheartedly supported legislation by the league’s athletics administrators, they now will have a common bond.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference is pleased to announce its top annual female and male scholar-athletes will henceforth be known as Pete Nevins Scholar-Athlete Award winners.
“Pete was not only a respected publicist for East Stroudsburg University, but he was also a strong ambassador for the entire conference,” said PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray. “Given his tireless work ethic, his willingness to help others and the time he spent promoting the student-athletes of this conference, it makes a lot of sense to honor him in this way. I cannot think of a more appropriate award to bear his name.”
Nevins served as the ESU sports information director from 1969 until his retirement in 2002. Until his recent passing, he remained active in the sports realm by writing a weekly column for the Pocono Record which chronicled the achievements of local students who chose to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. Furthermore, he was a volunteer for various university functions, including athletic events and school-sponsored committees.
“Pete was so many things to so many people,” said Will Adair, the PSAC’s Assistant Commissioner for Media Relations. “He was a mentor and role model for so many people getting started in this profession, including me. Even approaching the age of 70, he had more passion and love for what he did than anyone I know. It makes me extremely happy to know that passion will continue to live with his name on the award.”
A member of the College Sports Information Directors of America, Nevins was inducted into that group’s Hall of Fame in 1987. Throughout his career, it is estimated that Nevins wrote articles on more than 12,000 ESU athletic events that covered over 5,000 student-athletes.
He received numerous honors for his contributions to his profession, most notably the Warren Berg Award as the nation’s outstanding College Division SID. Others include a pair from Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Sports Information Directors Association – the league’s top honor with the Irving T. Marsh Award and most recently the Bob Kenworthy Good Person Award.
A proud family man, Nevins is survived by his wife Gail, two married sons and six grandchildren.
The PSAC’s Scholar-Athletes of the Year are selected by the league’s 14 sports information directors and announced in early July. To be nominated for the award, student-athletes must first be selected as a Top Ten recipient.
The Top Ten Awards are given to five male and five female candidates following each of the sports seasons throughout the academic year: fall, winter and spring. A student-athlete has to achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and have reached sophomore athletic standing. Those recognized often possess outstanding athletic credentials, as well.
The first group of candidates to eligible for the Pete Nevins Scholar-Athletes of the Year Awards – the 2006 Fall Top Ten winners – will be announced tomorrow by the PSAC.