FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RIVERDALE, NEW YORK, RESIDENT BROTHER FRANCIS BOWERS, F.S.C INDUCTED INTO MANHATTAN COLLEGE’S ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME

RIVERDALE, N.Y. – Brother Francis R. Bowers, F.S.C., past Manhattan College provost and dean of the school of arts, has been inducted into the College’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The 26th annual event, sponsored by the Manhattan College Alumni Society, was held Dec. 4, 2004 in Smith Auditorium at the college campus.

Br. Francis, who resides in the Christian Brothers Center in Riverdale, New York, was a major asset to the entire College community. During his long history at the College, Br. Francis served as professor of English, dean of arts and sciences and interim provost. But it was his work on the faculty committee on athletics and as the first coordinator of academic advisement for athletics and scholarships that earned him a place in the College’s prestigious Athletic Hall of Fame. His work on the athletics committee in the 1960s helped strengthen the sports program by improving the quality of team schedules, increasing financial aid and establishing the position of sports information officer. He also helped integrate women into the athletics program when the College became coeducational in 1974.      

As coordinator of athletic advisement from 1988 to his retirement in 2003, he raised the bar for student athletes and the College by boosting the graduation rate to one of the highest in the nation. In his 16 years as coordinator, more than 50 percent Jasper athletes have attained a 3.0 grade point average or higher.         

Manhattan College was founded in 1853 upon the Lasallian heritage of excellence in teaching. Manhattan College is an independent, Catholic, coeducational institution of higher learning that offers more than 40 major programs in the arts, business, education, engineering and science. For more information about the College, visit www.manhattan.edu.

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