Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Point Park University's Student-Run Newspaper

Point Park Globe

Hall of Fame inductees honored

Golfer Sam Depe III, basketball player Linda Keibler-Guercio, soccer player Chris Heh and baseball playerDonnie Kelly were all inducted to the Pioneer Hall of Fame on Sunday Oct. 10 in Lawrence Hall in front of family, friends and members of the Point Park University community.            The ceremony began with a welcome from the Director of Athletics, Dan Swalga. Swalga briefly discussed the accomplishments of the inductees and then mentioned several people in the crowd including current athletes, as well as the panel that determined who would be in this year’s Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame class.He also singled out Kevin Taylor, director of athletic communications. In addition to being a part of the panel, Taylor gave every panel member a booklet of all of the 30 nominees for consideration in the 2009-2010 class, “… and it really helped get the ball rolling,” Swalga noted. Swalga then passed on the microphone to Dean of Student Affairs, Keith Paylo and President Paul Hennigan.            After a quick dinner, Master of Ceremonies, Chris Shovlin, began to introduce the Hall of Fame Recipients.            Depe III would be presented his award first by Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette..      After Depe III was introduced by Dulac, the room gave him a standing ovation.      As a golfer, Depe III relied on one trait to help him throughout his career, “Well, I was kind of a grinder,” he said. “I did not always have the best talent, and I never gave up, and I’d like to be remembered for that.”      Depe III has had to overcome a lot of adversity in his life, most notably a 1998 car accident that cost him both of his legs.      Before introducing Depe III, Dulac reflected on Depe III and his hardships.”‘Wanna know how dedicated and determined Sam Depe III really is? He lost 60 to 70 units of blood the night of September 22, 1998, the night his car flipped over on Route 28 in Millvale. Lying in the hospital, he promised himself he would be on the first tee for the opening day of golf season at South Hills Country Club. Seven months later, there he was on the first tee greeting members as though nothing had ever happened.”      “When I had my accident, I would never would take ‘no’ for an answer,” Depe said. “There was no way in the world that I would let this beat me. I think that helped my positive attitude.”      Linda Keibler-Guercio was the lone female athlete inducted into this year’s Pioneer Hall of Fame and did so as a tri-sport athlete.      For Keibler-Guercio, it was flattering to receive such an honor, “It’s very exciting to be honored like this. Point Park’s come a long way, and I feel very proud and privileged to be a part of it.”      Keibler-Guercio also hopes when students see her as a member of the Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame they look at more than that. “I want them to see the hard work and commitment it takes to be a student athlete and to always put your family first.”      Keibler-Guercio also made it a point not be a superstitious person going as far as far as to say, “My superstition was to not have a superstition”.      Chris Heh, much like Keibler-Guercio, excelled in multiple sports. Despite this, Heh made sure he made time for his academics. “In my case; being a two sport athlete, you really had to utilize time management,” Heh said. “You had to set a couple hours a night to get school work done and maintain my GPA.” For Heh, quitting was never an option. “I got injured in my senior year of high school and ever since then, I play every game like it’s my last game because you never know when you’ll get a season-ending injury.” Heh thinks very highly of Point Park, so much so, he added praise for the university.”Point Park is a great place” he said. “It really gave me a lot of opportunities and everyone was really nice here. Anyone looking to come to Point Park University make that decision and come here. It’s a great place and has everything you need for a great college experience.”Donnie Kelly was introduced by his father, Tom Kelly, and was supported by his family, as well as Jim Leyland who currently manages the Detroit Tigers and has been to two World Series Championships-winning one and losing one.When students see Kelly’s name as a member of the Pioneer Hall of Fame, Kelly hopes that students receive another message.”I want them to know that you can do anything that you put your mind to. Not only was I a good athlete but a good person as well.”For Kelly, perseverance played a vital role in his baseball career.”Everybody sees the guys in the Major Leagues but you never see the guys in the Minor Leagues struggling to get up there playing every day battling for just one shot at the big leagues and you’ve got to have that perseverance and that drive to make it,” he said.      This class was the largest Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame class since the class of 2003, in which five people were recognized.      At the end of the ceremony, all of the recipients stayed to take pictures, sign autographs and talk with the guests.

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