Slevin Award: After four-year absence, memorial award returns
By John Baracani
It has been three years since the football program was dropped at IVCC. Along with football, the school also lost another long tradition, the Patrick Slevin Most Valuable Player Award. The award was given annually to honor the MVP of the football team.
The award, which was named in honor of the late son of WLPO Sports Director Lanny Slevin, was first awarded in 1980.
Patrick was the fourth child of Slevin and his wife, Joanne. He passed away on Nov. 5, 1979, succumbing to leukemia at age 3.
"Patrick was a big football fan," said the elder Slevin. "He really loved I.V. football, so we'd go over to watch practice in the afternoon. He became close to the players."
After the disease claimed his son, Slevin talked with Al Wisgoski, president of IVCC at the time, and asked if there was something that could be done to help preserve the memory of young Patrick.
The Patrick Slevin Memorial Trophy was founded and continued to signify high honor and excellence until the final football season in 1996.
Athletic Director Mike Riley had the idea to bring the award back to the college, although for the first time ever, a football player will not be the recipient.
"Since there is no football, and I do not foresee it coming back, we did not want to discard such a distinguished award," he said.
He called Slevin asking his permission to reinstate a redesigned trophy bearing his son's name.
Slevin and his wife were both thrilled by the thought of a new award in honor of their son.
"I said yeah, absolutely," said Slevin. "We were really honored, not only for the first opportunity, but for this one as well. Without hesitation I said that it would be wonderful, a way to keep his memory alive."
Stressing the importance of the "student" aspect of the student athlete, nominees will be judged on criteria such as academics and citizenship, as well as their contributions to the team and overall athletic ability.
"We want to make it a very prestigious award," Riley said. "We want it to be something the student will be proud of."
At the end of the year, coaches from all of IVCC's sports programs will submit ballots nominating their pick for recipient of the award.
The ballots will then be presented to the selection committee who will select one male and one female athlete from all entries to receive the honor.
The Slevin's have remained involved in various aspects of the programs at IVCC, including some of their children attending the college, and they hope to be on hand to present the inaugural Patrick Slevin Award for Most Outstanding Male and Female Athlete of the Year.
The presentation is set to be held at graduation this May.