Ron Waske Receives John P. Taylor Award at Convocation

by: 

Tara Freeman

Ron Waske (left) receives the John P. Taylor Award from President Bill Fox.

Aug. 27: Ron Waske, a 1969 graduate of St. Lawrence University and recently retired athletic trainer, was the recipient of the 2010 John P. Taylor Award at the Convocation ceremony, which marks the start of the academic year. 

The John P. "Jack" Taylor Distinguished Career Service Award was established in 1995 at Taylor's retirement as dining services director, recognizing distinguished service to the University by an administrator who has worked at least 12 years at St. Lawrence and who sustains the high standards of performance exemplified by Taylor.

Waske, a Canton native, retired earlier this year from the athletic department. Prior to joining the St. Lawrence staff, he worked for the National Hockey League's New York Islanders during a time when the team won four straight Stanley Cups. Waske was elected to the Professional Athletic Trainers Society Hall of Fame in 2006 and has a plaque in the Hockey Hall of Fame's section for trainers. He also received, in 2010, the inaugural Littlejohn-Waske Award, which recognizes someone who has made significant contributions to help the Athletic Department continue to grow and succeed.

"Ron was a vital member of our department for many years, and he is very deserving of this prestigious honor," said Margie Strait, the Director of Athletics at St. Lawrence.  "His passion for the University and his dedication to a profession that he loved made him an excellent choice for the John P. Taylor Award."

Other award winners from Wednesday's ceremony include Professor and R. Sheldon '68 and Virginia H. Johnson Chair of Science Joseph Erlichman, who received the J. Calvin Keene Award; Kirk Fuoss, an Associate Professor of Performance and Communication Arts, won the Louis and Frances Maslow Award; Elaine White, executive secretary in student life, winner of the inaugural Thomas Coakley Award.