Following are remarks by Western New England College President Anthony Caprio during a recent ceremony in which he was inducted into the school's athletics hall of fame.

It is an honor for me to be inducted into the William Downes Athletic Hall of Fame. The induction allows me to be even more closely associated with such an important component of the college -- our growing and strong athletics program, which has continued to be on the rise because of the leadership and vision of Athletics Director Mike Theulen and the outstanding staff who are part of his finely tuned team. Without him and them, any aspirations I have for athletics at Western New England College could never be realized.

Initially, I had thought that there might be a slight incongruity in my being inducted. After all, there are so many outstanding athletes and coaches in our history who significantly merit induction. So this honor was a bit unexpected, but upon inspection, the incongruity seemed less and less such. This is primarily because I realize that athletics are an integral part of a well-rounded education and therefore a part of my function as president of the college. Athletics stand side by side with our academic programs and with our student-development programs that educate and transform our students over the course of their years with us.

When I arrived at Western New England College, our student-athletes did not view athletics in a favorable light. I learned quickly from our students that a change needed to take place.

My decision then to recast athletics into a more positive light was the result of observing the college and understanding that this area could have a much greater impact on so many more of our students. Since our students are first and foremost our primary responsibility and concern, it was clear to me that athletics, especially after the findings of the college's 1997 Study of Athletics, known as the Walker Report (led by professor Sharianne Walker), required and deserved my full attention, support, and endorsement so that athletics would flourish and realize its potential.

We all know the Latin aphorism Mens sana in corpore sano (healthy mind in a healthy body); each is more possible with the other. And we all readily see the educative role athletics play on campus. Athletics give students self-esteem and the added benefit of providing them the opportunity to feel good in their activity -- whenever they put on a mitt, throw a ball, swing a racket or a club, or simply play in any game.

Athletics provide many life lessons for students. It teaches discipline, integrity and perseverance. Sports teach our young women and men the importance of many intangibles:

* They experience passion -- they learn the importance of passion in any endeavor. Only through passion can the inner drive to succeed and to win lead to positive results.

* They learn patience. It takes time, training, work and planning to become the best they can be on the playing field. Learning the sport and practicing it require enormous patience -- and hard work. The life lesson: Everything in life requires patience and work for it to be successful and long-lasting.

* They learn the power of tenacity. If you don't cultivate your ability to never quit, to fight on to the bitter end, you'll never see what the real outcome could have been. This is another of the many life lessons athletics teach.

* Through athletics, students come to understand how important it is to know one's limits. In all of life, we must know our strengths so that they can be used effectively, and we must know our limits so that the strengths of others can be summoned to compensate for our weaknesses. You have to know what you can do, and then do it well. The true meaning of team and the value of team then become obvious.

* Humility is taught through sport. The field has a way of evening things out. Of course we want to win as players, and fans seem hungry to see victory. But the reality is that wins and losses are quickly forgotten. There is always the next game that preoccupies player and spectator. There is the realization that anything can happen in the game. Possibilities are unlimited. You win some, you lose some. All the athlete's hard work and training may be outweighed by a host of circumstances. An athlete never knows when he or she will encounter the opponent who is simply better, and there is always someone better. Athletics teach all this. Humility is a very significant attribute acquired through sport.

I have a list of these intangibles, of these matters that athletics teach us. Certainly through athletics and the experiences lived on the playing field, the education of students becomes more complete. And it is an education they do not forget and on which they can base their whole lives.

I am proud of athletics at Western New England College. I am proud of our staff, of our coaches, and of our athletics director. They educate and enable our students in profound and in multiple ways. They enrich our learning community. I am so honored to be a part of the entire athletics enterprise.

Anthony Caprio is the president of Western New England College.