Four individuals will be inducted into the Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 21.  Carolyn Schlie Femovich, Eric Kenesie, Laura (Rolf) Krupar and Gary Schroeder comprise the 18^th class in Hall of Fame history.

A 1971 graduate of Valparaiso University, Carolyn Schlie Femovich competed in athletics during her time at Valpo and has made her mark on the intercollegiate athletics world since her graduation.  Femovich was named Executive Director of the Patriot League in 1999 and continues to hold the post today, one of just six women to hold the top post of an NCAA Division I conference.  She has served in national leadership positions with the NCAA as chair of the Division I Championship/Competition Cabinet, as the League representative on the NCAA Management Council and was president of the Collegiate Commissioners' Association from 2011-2013.  Femovich was chairperson of the prestigious Collegiate Women's Sports Award Program, where she continues to serve as a board member, and has also served on the board of the National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrator (NACWAA).

Eric Kenesie was a standout on the gridiron for the Crusader football team from 1996 through 1999.  As a senior, the safety was named an AP Second Team All-American and was also a Coaches All-American selection, finishing the year with seven interceptions – best in the PFL and tied for second nationally in I-AA –a team-high 90 tackles, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.  Kenesie helped lead Valpo to a nine-win season in 1999, tying the program’s single-season wins record.  As a junior the previous year, Kenesie was named an AP Third Team All-American, leading the nation with nine interceptions and recording a team-best 103 tackles.  Kenesie closed his career with 312 tackles and 20 interceptions.

Laura (Rolf) Krupar was one of the top distance runners in Crusader history, competing for Valpo from 2005 through 2009.  Krupar earned her top accolade indoors on the track, as she was named an All-American after finishing tenth in the one mile run at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.  She won the 3,000m run at the 2007 Mid-Continent Conference Indoor Championships, and was named Outstanding Running Performer at the 2009 Horizon League Indoor Championships as she crossed the line first in the 3,000m and 5,000m runs.  Also a standout on the cross country trails, she was a four-time First Team All-League honoree and won the Horizon League Championship in each of her final two seasons.  Krupar earned All-Region honors at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional each of her four years – including a third-place finish at the meet her sophomore season – and twice placed in the top-50 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Gary Schroeder stood out for the Crusader cross country and track and field teams from 1970 through 1974.  Schroeder was named Indiana Collegiate Conference cross country Runner of the Year in 1970 after winning the conference championship, and finished runner-up at the ICC Cross Country Championship in 1972.  On the track, Schroeder advanced to the NCAA Championships in 1971 and finished in tenth place in the six mile run.  Also a conference champion on the track in the one mile and two mile runs in 1972, Schroeder set Crusader records indoors in the two mile and three mile runs, as well as outdoors in the two mile and ten mile runs.  He still ranks second in program history in the 10,000m run and is also second all-time at Valpo in cross country at the 8K distance.

The Valparaiso University Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21 in the Christopher Center on campus.  The banquet is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m.  The cost of the banquet is $30 per person, and reservations can be made by contacting Lori Babcock at 219.464.6942 or via e-mail at Lori.Babcock@valpo.edu.  The deadline for making reservations is Friday, Feb. 13.  The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the men’s and women’s basketball games played that day.