The spirit of Laurentian pride was on full display Friday evening at the Robert J. Sheldon Hall of Fame Induction Dinner, as the St. Lawrence University community came together at a new venue, the Newell Field House, to celebrate six individuals and three teams entering the hall.

"This class embodies a wide range of success throughout the St. Lawrence athletic community," said Franco Bari, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. "Their contributions have clearly displayed significant impacts on their peers, coaches, student-athletes, Saints athletics and the University as a whole. This evening, we gathered to recognize and celebrating their outstanding contributions to Saints athletics, as they have truly left an everlasting mark for future generations of Saints."

The program opened with the induction of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 women's rowing teams – three dominant squads that earned three straight NCAA Championship appearances and helped set the standard for the program. Current program head coach Nick Hughes, who guided the rowing teams of the late 2000s and early 2010s, delivered articulate and poignant remarks filled with emotion, humor, and appreciation for his team.

Following that, the program inducted its individuals, beginning with three squash players. Daniel McElvaine '08 led them off with a thoughtful and eloquent speech, recalling the people who shaped the memories of his time at St. Lawrence.

James McAvity '07 kept the crowd smiling with a speech that blended gratitude with candidness. As a two-time Liberty League champion in men's squash, McAvity recounted his fun times as a student-athlete and credited St. Lawrence for instilling the confidence and creativity he now applies as an entrepreneur.

Next to the stage was Keith Merrill '06, whose four-time All-Conference squash career set records and led to the Saints' first Liberty League title. Merrill spoke with conviction about his friends and family, also congratulating the other athletes and administrators who entered the hall.

Ross Molloy '98, a former men's tennis captain, delivered a speech that connected the lessons of sport to the demands of leadership in his career at CBS Sports. He spoke passionately about the lifelong friendships formed in the locker room and the high standards that St. Lawrence set for its student-athletes. His reflections highlighted how character and competitiveness learned on the court still guide him today.

Margie Strait M'73 commanded the attention of the audience as she reflected on her career as an administrator, guiding everyone through a timeline of her career at St. Lawrence. It began from her career as a tennis coach, weaving through her time as an administrator, where she added many anecdotes which highlighted the highs of her distinguished career.

Closing the evening was President Emeritus Dan Sullivan '65, whose career spanned from student-athlete to university president. He spoke with wisdom and warmth about his years at St. Lawrence as an administrator, and about his mission as president to elevate both academic and athletic success. His remarks emphasized the importance of integrity, opportunity, and the transformative power of sport within a liberal arts education.

The Saints Athletics Hall of Fame committee will now convene and select next year's induction class, which will be inducted into the hall over Reunion Weekend of 2026.