Tom Hermanowski Named 2016 Zunic Award Winner
8/25/2016 3:23:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Three-time Orange football letterwinner Tom Hermanowski '70 has been named the 2016 recipient of the Zunic Award. Hermanowski will be honored on Friday, Sept. 16 during a dinner at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino and recognized on the field when Syracuse hosts USF Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Carrier Dome.
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Presented by the Syracuse Football Club, the Zunic Award was created in 2001 to honor Mike and Judy Zunic, who died tragically on July 18, 1989 when a United Airlines plane crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. The pilot, anticipating landing difficulties, requested if some strong passengers would volunteer to give up their seats and sit at the exit doors to assist passengers in the event of an emergency. Mike and Judy gave up their seats in first class to sit at one of the exit doors. They both died in the crash and those in the Zunics' original seats survived.
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Mike Zunic was a four-year starter at linebacker and earned a bachelor's degree (1981) and master's degree (1982) in speech communication from SU.
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A leader in the fight against substance abuse, Hermanowski is the executive director of ADAPT Consultants, which provides comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse education, prevention and intervention programs for school-age children in Southern New England. His work has helped hundreds of kids to better understand the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.
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In addition, Hermanowski also works as both a coach and counselor. He holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Syracuse University and a master's of education degree from Bridgewater State.
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Hermanowski was a defensive back for the Orange from 1967-69. Syracuse posted a 19-11 record during his three seasons. As a sophomore in 1967, Hermanowski intercepted one pass and helped the Orange to an 8-2 record and the No. 12 ranking in the final United Press International (UPI) poll.
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Zunic Award Recipients
2001: Mr. and Mrs. Zunic, Frank Maloney, Gene Grabosky '60 (posthumous)
2002: Pat '88 and Kari Kelly, Roberta DeLeone
2003: Jim DaRin '77
2004: Joshua Frase
2005: Jim Rooney
2006: Rockette Pirro Brunetti, Horace Landry
2007: Sylvia Mackey, Chris Ingram '89 (posthumous)
2008: Robin Griffin '72, Carlmon Jones, Ron Page '74
2009: Bill Coghill '72, Norm Mordue '66
2010: Jim Jerome '76
2011: John Lally '82
2012: Tim Byrne '87 (posthumous)
2013: Pat Killorin '66
2014: Dick Beyer '53
2015: Frank Conover '91Â
2016: Tom Hermanowski '70
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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Presented by the Syracuse Football Club, the Zunic Award was created in 2001 to honor Mike and Judy Zunic, who died tragically on July 18, 1989 when a United Airlines plane crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. The pilot, anticipating landing difficulties, requested if some strong passengers would volunteer to give up their seats and sit at the exit doors to assist passengers in the event of an emergency. Mike and Judy gave up their seats in first class to sit at one of the exit doors. They both died in the crash and those in the Zunics' original seats survived.
Â
Mike Zunic was a four-year starter at linebacker and earned a bachelor's degree (1981) and master's degree (1982) in speech communication from SU.
Â
A leader in the fight against substance abuse, Hermanowski is the executive director of ADAPT Consultants, which provides comprehensive alcohol and substance abuse education, prevention and intervention programs for school-age children in Southern New England. His work has helped hundreds of kids to better understand the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol.
Â
In addition, Hermanowski also works as both a coach and counselor. He holds a bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Syracuse University and a master's of education degree from Bridgewater State.
Â
Hermanowski was a defensive back for the Orange from 1967-69. Syracuse posted a 19-11 record during his three seasons. As a sophomore in 1967, Hermanowski intercepted one pass and helped the Orange to an 8-2 record and the No. 12 ranking in the final United Press International (UPI) poll.
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Zunic Award Recipients
2001: Mr. and Mrs. Zunic, Frank Maloney, Gene Grabosky '60 (posthumous)
2002: Pat '88 and Kari Kelly, Roberta DeLeone
2003: Jim DaRin '77
2004: Joshua Frase
2005: Jim Rooney
2006: Rockette Pirro Brunetti, Horace Landry
2007: Sylvia Mackey, Chris Ingram '89 (posthumous)
2008: Robin Griffin '72, Carlmon Jones, Ron Page '74
2009: Bill Coghill '72, Norm Mordue '66
2010: Jim Jerome '76
2011: John Lally '82
2012: Tim Byrne '87 (posthumous)
2013: Pat Killorin '66
2014: Dick Beyer '53
2015: Frank Conover '91Â
2016: Tom Hermanowski '70
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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