The Perspectives That Divide Us - Rockhurst University

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4Tocco Receives NAIA’s Highest HonorThis fall, Rockhurst University men’s soccer coachTony Tocco received the highest honor bestowedby the National Association of IntercollegiateAthletics.Tocco, Ph.D., professor of accounting, is the winningestcoach in the history of NAIA men’s soccer. He was inductedinto the NAIA Hall of Fame Nov. 13 in Olathe, Kan.“Being part of the NAIA were some of the best yearsin my coaching career,” said Tocco, who ranks secondamong active intercollegiate coaches and is third on theall-time coaching list. “I developed some great friendshipsin the NAIA that have stayed with me over the years. To bepart of the NAIA Hall of Fame along with some of the toppeople I’ve coached against is an honor and a privilege.”Rockhurst was a perennial power in the NAIA from1973-1997 under Tocco. The Hawks played in 17 nationalchampionship tournaments, advanced to the Final Four10 times and finished national runner-up four times.Tocco was a three-time NAIA National Coach ofthe Year. His teams won 20 or more games eighttimes, including his past four teams that competed inthe NAIA. He had 24players earn NAIAAll-American honors.Individuals inductedinto the NAIA Hall ofFame must be personsof outstanding quality,high moral character, fineleadership ability and heldin high esteem by theircolleagues, former coachesand former athletes.Known throughoutthe community as a rolemodel, Tocco is considered Tony Tocco, Ph.D.one of the best classroomteachers at Rockhurst. He maintains the proper balancebetween academics and athletics for his student-athletesand is recognized for his deep faith and unwaveringcommitment to his team.Grant Helps Rockhurst Women Pursue ScienceDid you knowthat nearly47 percent ofstudents inRockhurst’s math, physics,chemistry and biochemistryprograms are women?That’s up from only 29percent a decade ago.The University’s effortsto close the gender gapin these fields of studyreceived a boost this yearwhen Rockhurst receiveda $258,000 grant from theClare Boothe Luce Programof the Henry Luce Foundation.The grant will supportfour undergraduate femalejuniors and seniors majoringin the sciences. Thisprogram is unique in thatit seeks to address thenational shortage ofstudents in general, andwomen in particular, whoare entering the nonmedicalfields of science.The grant will providescholarships, faculty mentoring,summer researchfellowships, regional ornational presentationopportunities and thechance for recipients tomentor younger peers.Annie Lee, Ph.D., associateprofessor of chemistry,received a five-year professorshipfrom the ClareBoothe Luce Program in2001. Now she is servingon the selection committeeand will be a faculty mentorto one or more of thescholarship recipients.“Students who receivethese funds will be able tofocus on learning scienceand math year-round,” saidLee, “which will help toensure they are successfulat Rockhurst and that theyare prepared to continuetheir studies in the bestgraduate schools throughoutthe country.”Clare Boothe Luce,the widow of Henry R.Luce, was a playwright,journalist, U.S. Ambassadorto Italy and first womanelected to Congress fromConnecticut. Her bequestthat established the programsought to encouragewomen to enter, study,graduate and teach inthe sciences, math andengineering.Ro c k h u r s t4w i n t e r 2007 7