SLATE HILL- Using shamrocks and green Skittle candies to keep long-standing and much-loved traditions alive, the Minisink Valley School District officially named the high school’s varsity soccer field as “The Coach Sean T. Cunningham Soccer Pitch” at an August 22nd ceremony.
Students, alumni, district officials and community members and Coach Cunningham’s family and friends listened to heartfelt comments and watched as his soccer program rituals were explained and executed as he’d always done. That led up to the revealing of his name — along with shamrocks — on the soccer field’s scoreboard.
A role model’s ‘role model’
“The naming of any building or field at Minisink Valley is a true rarity,” said Superintendent Brian Monahan. “It really, really is. To do this for Coach Cunningham is truly something all of us here are honored and proud to do. We are recognizing a man who epitomizes what it means to be a teacher, leader, mentor, coach and all of the important roles that help positively shape the character of our students.”
Superintendent Monahan called Coach Cunningham a role model’s “role model.”
“And one of Coach Cunningham’s best gifts to this district is that he’s helped shape the future role models we need,” he added. “And we are very grateful.”
Board of Education Vice President William Cooper agreed, telling the crowd the district was beyond fortunate to have a man of such caliber to guide students. The lessons he was committed to sharing to students made this community a better place, he added, and the Board of Education knew naming the soccer pitch after him was a fitting tribute.
Life lessons
Alumnus Erin Natalizio said Coach Cunningham’s persona was so much more than soccer.
“He taught us life lessons that we were able to carry over into college, the workforce, and within our homes with our loved ones,” she explained. “He taught us, in order to be a great player, you need to be a…
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