DePaul University Athletics
DePaul's Jean Lenti Ponsetto to Receive Prestigious Honor
5/5/2016 12:00:00 AM | ATHLETICS
May 5, 2016
CHICAGO - DePaul athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto travels to New York this weekend to be honored by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations with its Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Since 1986, the NECO honors distinguished Americans with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of the nation's most prestigious honors.
Ponsetto and the other honorees will be recognized Saturday evening at Ellis Island with a ceremony and dinner followed by fireworks over the Manhattan skyline. This year's event is the 30th anniversary of the Medal.
The NECO describes the Ellis Island Medals of Honor as awards that embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.
Among the winners of the award are six Presidents of the United States, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as esteemed Americans such as Frank Sinatra, Lee Iacocca, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Louis Zamperini and Rosa Parks.
Ponsetto is in her 14th year as athletics director at DePaul and her 41st as a member of the athletics department. During her tenure at the helm of the department, 14 of the 15 programs have represented the school in NCAA championships including 14 straight appearances by the women's basketball team, two trips to the Women's College World Series for the softball program and men's soccer's initial trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the BIG EAST Conference regular season title.
Success has also come in the classroom during Ponsetto's tenure as more than 1,000 student-athletes have been named to conference academic honor rolls. DePaul continued the academic trend in 2014-15 as a record-tying eight programs earned a BIG EAST Team Academic Award marking the fifth straight year leading the conference in the team academic honors.
Aside from her duties at DePaul, she has served on numerous NCAA committees and most recently was selected as a member of the NCAA Council and was chosen by the council to serve as chair of the NCAA Women's Basketball Oversight Committee.
CHICAGO - DePaul athletics director Jean Lenti Ponsetto travels to New York this weekend to be honored by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations with its Ellis Island Medal of Honor. Since 1986, the NECO honors distinguished Americans with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, which has been officially recognized by both Houses of Congress as one of the nation's most prestigious honors.
Ponsetto and the other honorees will be recognized Saturday evening at Ellis Island with a ceremony and dinner followed by fireworks over the Manhattan skyline. This year's event is the 30th anniversary of the Medal.
The NECO describes the Ellis Island Medals of Honor as awards that embody the spirit of America in their celebration of patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity. They recognize individuals who have made it their mission to share with those less fortunate their wealth of knowledge, indomitable courage, boundless compassion, unique talents and selfless generosity; all while maintaining the traditions of their ethnic heritage as they uphold the ideals and spirit of America.
Among the winners of the award are six Presidents of the United States, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as well as esteemed Americans such as Frank Sinatra, Lee Iacocca, Quincy Jones, Muhammad Ali, Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Louis Zamperini and Rosa Parks.
Ponsetto is in her 14th year as athletics director at DePaul and her 41st as a member of the athletics department. During her tenure at the helm of the department, 14 of the 15 programs have represented the school in NCAA championships including 14 straight appearances by the women's basketball team, two trips to the Women's College World Series for the softball program and men's soccer's initial trip to the NCAA Tournament after winning the BIG EAST Conference regular season title.
Success has also come in the classroom during Ponsetto's tenure as more than 1,000 student-athletes have been named to conference academic honor rolls. DePaul continued the academic trend in 2014-15 as a record-tying eight programs earned a BIG EAST Team Academic Award marking the fifth straight year leading the conference in the team academic honors.
Aside from her duties at DePaul, she has served on numerous NCAA committees and most recently was selected as a member of the NCAA Council and was chosen by the council to serve as chair of the NCAA Women's Basketball Oversight Committee.
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