April 28, 2003

UConn Club To Honor President Austin

President Philip E. Austin will be presented with the Crystal Award by the UConn Club, when the group holds its 50th Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, May 2 at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center in Cromwell.

The Crystal Award is given by the UConn Club to an individual who has made extraordinary contributions to the University and its athletic programs. Austin has led the University through a period of unprecedented academic and physical growth, that has been mirrored in the progress of the Division of Athletics.

While support of the athletic programs is an important criteria for the award, contribution to the University as a whole is the distinguishing characteristic of the Crystal Award.

The award is presented only when the UConn Club considers it warranted, not on an annual basis.

Austin has advocated for achievement in the classroom and laboratory as well as on the playing field. During his tenure at UConn, he has celebrated many athletic championships, as well as the individual accomplishments of hundreds of UConn student-athletes.

He played a vital role in the passage of legislation that led to the construction of the stadium at Rentschler Field, scheduled to become home to University of Connecticut football later this year.

In addition, Larry G. Schilling, executive director of architectural and engineering services, will be presented with the UConn Club Outstanding Contribution Award at the event.

Schilling is responsible for the managing, planning and design of all construction activities on the Storrs campus, the law school campus in West Hartford, and at various regional campuses.

He has worked on a number of projects for the Division of Athletics, including the Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, the Wolff-Zackin Natatorium, the George J. Sherman-Family Sports Complex, the UConn Ice Arena, and the renovation of the Hugh Greer Field House.

Leo Pinsky '50 will receive the Red O'Neill Award, which is given annually to a former Husky student-athlete who has gone on to a distinguishing career in their chosen career.

Pinsky played football and baseball at UConn and served as the head baseball coach at Farmington High School from 1954-84, when his teams won 411 games, 12 league championships, and three state titles.

He was also a social studies teacher at the school, and was a Marine during World War II.

Long-time Division of Athletics member Pat Babcock will receive the Varsity C Award at the event. She has served as a coach, athletic department administrator, and instructor at the school for the past 36 years.

Babcock currently serves as associate director of athletics/women's senior administrator at UConn, a position she has held since 1993.

She also established the Husky women's tennis program during the 1974-75 academic year.

Babcock served as head coach for 19 years and compiled an overall record of 222-92-2 in 37 seasons - fall and spring - in charge of the Husky program, She had 32 winning seasons.

The UConn Club will also honor a number of student-athletes with the UConn Club Outstanding Senior Athlete Award and the UConn Club Outstanding Senior Scholar-Athlete Award.

For more information on the UConn Club Dinner, including ticket information, please call the Athletic Development Office at 860.486.3863.