CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (Conference News) – DeSales University Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator Gracia Perilli was honored on Tuesday with the MAC Lou Sorrentino Award at its annual awards luncheon held on the campus of DeSales University.
 
The MAC Lou Sorrentino Award was established in 2011 and is presented to an athletics administrator who has had a sustained and influential role in the conference and national affairs as well as embodying the NCAA Division III philosophy.  In recognition of Sorrentino’s career in which he served Lebanon Valley College as a student-athlete, coach, and athletic director for nearly 60 years from 1950 until his passing in November of 2010, this award sets a high standard for participation and leadership in Division athletics.
 
Perilli is in her 17^th year at DeSales University as the assistant athletic director after spending seven years as the director of athletics at nearby Cedar Crest College.  She has served a myriad of roles while at DeSales and has participated on numerous committees that include the NCAA Choices Grant committee, Middle States Steering committee, and the Salesian Leadership Institute.
 
Within the MAC she is on the Awards committee, serving as chair from 2001-08, is a MAC SAAC advisor, was the chair of the Snell-Shillingford Coaching Symposium for four years, served on the Operations committee for four years, and continues to be on the Hall of Fame committee.
 
Perilli has also served as the Tournament Director for a host of NCAA Championships while at DeSales including the Mid-Atlantic Baseball Regional from 2001-03, women’s basketball second round in 2003, men’s basketball first round in 2009, and the Mid-East Cross Country Regional in 2011 and 2016.
 
Just a few weeks ago she was also honored by DeSales being the named the Professional Staff Employee of the Year. She has helped raise more than $28,000 for local cancer agencies through Pink game events and has paired varsity teams with Lehigh County Children and Youth to make sure at-risk kids have gifts to open at Christmas.