Monroe County Recognizes Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano for Sportsmanship
The Monroe County Legislature will recognize Empire 8 Commissioner Chuck Mitrano for his life-long commitment to sportsmanship and fair play in competition on Tuesday. He will receive a proclamation after it is read by the Clerk of the Legislature.
Earlier this year, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of National Sportsmanship Day, Mitrano was named as one of 20 living Americans who have made significant contributions to the practice of fair play and has enhanced the national consciousness regarding the central importance of sportsmanship.
Mitrano joined an elite group in “The 20 Living Americans” category, including Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy, 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom honoree Billie Jean King, baseball Hall of Famers Stan Musial and Cal Ripken, Jr., and golf legend Jack Nicklaus.
A national expert that speaks across the country on the topics of sportsmanship, ethics, and leadership, Mitrano was named one of the “100 Most Influential Sports Educators in America” by the IIS in November of 2007. He created the “Conduct Foul Program” which was adopted by NCAA Division III as part of its strategic plan. The program serves 11 sports, more than 400 institutions, hundreds of athletic teams, and thousands of student-athletes across the country.
Under his leadership Empire 8 was named an “All-American Sportsmanship Conference” by the IIS, the first athletic conference in any division or level to ever receive this prestigious honor. Mitrano was also tagged as the Director of Collegiate Partnerships for National Sportsmanship Day in 2009. In 2007 he successfully lobbied the NCAA to host a first of its kind Hazing Summit which he moderated and was widely attended by all three divisions.
Mitrano is a 1991 graduate of Greece Olympia High School, a 1995 graduate of St. John Fisher College, and received his Master’s Degree from SUNY Brockport in 1999. Mitrano and his family reside in Greece.
Empire 8 consists of Alfred University (NY), Elmira College (NY), Hartwick College (NY), Ithaca College (NY), Nazareth College (NY), St. John Fisher College (NY), Stevens Institute of Technology (NJ) and Utica College (NY).