Feb. 15, 2012
Nine West Coast Conference standouts will be inducted to the 2012 West Coast Conference Hall of Honor on Saturday, March 3 at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, NV. The induction ceremony will be part of the Conference's celebration of its rich history in athletics and academics during the 2012 Zappos.com West Coast Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships from February 29-March 5 at the Orleans Arena. Former USD Vice President for Student Affairs, Thomas Burke, will be the Toreros' inductee.
"This year's WCC Hall of Honor class includes nine, highly accomplished student-athletes and administrators who have made their marks on their respective institutions and beyond," said WCC Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich. "We look forward to recognizing our inductees in Las Vegas as part of our celebration to honor those who represent the West Coast Conference and its long history of athletic and academic excellence."
Thomas F. Burke served as Vice President for Student Affairs at the University of San Diego for 28 years. He arrived in 1973 as dean of students, and played a major role in building a strong student affairs division from the ground up. He put his stamp on the university by helping shape the identity it enjoys today on a national level. With athletics under his watch, he guided USD's move up to the NCAA Division I collegiate ranks and membership in the West Coast Conference in 1979. Under his leadership, USD was able to build a successful athletic program while maintaining the academic integrity of the university's educational mission.
He worked closely with the development of the Sports Banquet, USD's single largest fund-raising event for athletics; he was President of the West Coast Conference Executive Cabinet from 1983-1994; and he played an important role in seeing a dream become a reality with the opening of the Jenny Craig Pavilion in October, 2000. He was inducted into USD's Chet and Marguerite Pagni Family Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
His legacy also includes the Hahn University Center, expanded on-campus housing, and scores of student organizations. Known to introduce himself to parents of USD students as the "Dean of Wildlife," Burke's faith, patience, directness, fairness, hands-on approach, determination and legendary "dry wit" helped shape the lives of countless students, as well as the very spirit of the non-academic side of the university.
Each year a USD student affairs employee is the recipient of the Thomas F. Burke Employee of the Year award. The recipient is someone who exemplifies the same traits and values Tom Burke instilled during his 28 years of service - character, sense of humor, common sense, honest, "other" centered, respectful, focused on employee and student development, competent, consistently supportive of the University's Catholic tradition, helped students and employees to fulfill the potential within themselves, and the gift of love to others.
Besides Burke, the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class includes: BYU's Elaine Michaelis (Volleyball/Administration), Gonzaga University's Blake Stepp (Men's Basketball), Loyola Marymount University's Billy Bean (Baseball), Pepperdine University's Dana Jones (Men's Basketball), University of Portland's Kasey Keller (Men's Soccer), Saint Mary's College's Tom Candiotti (Baseball), University of San Diego's Thomas Burke (Administration), University of San Francisco's K.C. Jones (Men's Basketball), and Santa Clara University's Kurt Rambis (Men's Basketball).
All nine Hall of Honor members will be formally inducted at the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch on Saturday, March 5 at 9:00 AM at the Mardi Gras Ballroom in the Orleans Hotel and will be honored during halftime of the first men's semifinal later that evening.
Tickets to the WCC Hall of Honor Brunch & Induction Ceremony are available to the public for $40 each and may be purchased online using the Hall of Honor Ticket Form on WCCsports.com. Tickets must be purchased by Tuesday, February 28.
Single game tickets for the Zappos.com WCC BasketballChampionships will also be on sale at the Orleans Arena each morning. Hotel rooms at the Orleans Hotel are limited but still available for purchase.
For more information on the 2012 WCC Hall of Honor class and how to purchase tickets, please view the complete online release at www.WCCsports.com.
