UNSUNG HERO

HEMPSTEAD, NY - Hofstra University Director of Athletics Jack Hayes today announced that the Pride's Unsung Hero Award, which was established in 2007, will be named in memory of former Hofstra Men's Lacrosse player Nick Colleluori beginning with the 2008 Awards Banquet this Spring.

Colleluori, who waged a courageous 14-month fight against non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, passed away in November 2006 at 21 years old. The Holmes, Pennsylvania, native, whose brother Michael is a junior midfielder at Hofstra, played in all 16 games as a freshman defender for the Pride in 2005.

He lettered in lacrosse, football and wrestling at Ridley High School, and was a member of three state championship teams. Colleluori was named to All-Southeastern Pennsylvania, All-Central, and all-area teams, and was a two-time All-Delco selection in high school.

The Nick Colleluori Unsung Hero Award recognizes the accomplishments of student-athletes who help their respective teams achieve success in ways that may not always be measured by statistics. The 2007 recipients were women's basketball player Lana Harshaw and men's soccer player Gary Flood.

"Nick was an outstanding representative of Hofstra University and he embodied everything good about college athletics," Hayes said. "Nick was hard-working, honest, enthusiastic and courageous. He was a student-athlete who totally embraced the philosophy of team. We look forward to annually recognizing two student-athletes that share the qualities that Nick so proudly displayed. "