Stephen L. Pavela, a 1948 University of Notre Dame graduate and former Irish baseball and basketball player from La Crosse, Wis., will receive the Harvey G. Foster Award during halftime ceremonies at the Notre Dame-Michigan football game Sept. 11.p. Established in 1982, the Foster Award is presented annually by the Notre Dame Alumni Association to a graduate distinguished for athletic endeavors and civic or University service.p. A member of Notre Dames basketball team for two years and baseball team for four years, Pavela earned three monograms in baseball and was elected team captain as a senior. He turned down opportunities to play professional baseball and entered the field of state high school athletic administration. Pavela was instrumental in the formation of the Wisconsin Catholic Interscholastic Athletic Association (WCIAA) and served for nine years as its first executive director. His leadership helped open WCIAA membership to all non-public Wisconsin high schools, which resulted in the formation of the nationally recognized Wisconsin Independent Schools Athletic Association.p. Pavelawas inducted into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Hall as a friend of basketball in 2002.He has held leadership positions in numerous civic, charitable and religious organizations, including the La Crosse Parks and Recreation Board, the Aquinas Area Schools Endowment Trust Campaign, and the St. Francis Medical Center Elder Care Board.p. _Contact: Mary Patricia Dowling, editor, Notre Dame Alumni Association,574-631-4638, dowling.2@nd.edu _ p.
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