Dr. Tom Shipka has been one of the biggest supporters of YSU athletics since he became a member of the school's faculty more than 30 years ago.
Shipka, who has been the Master of Ceremonies for all of the Hall of Fame Inductions since 1990, will now join all the people he has inducted as the Contributor selection to the YSU Athletics Hall of Fame this year.
A University professor and administrator at Youngstown State, he is Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. Shipka became a YSU faculty member in 1969 and ahs been a YSU athletics fan and supporter ever since.
He is most visible as the emcee at the Hall of Fame Banquet, the annual football banquet and the Penguin Club Jamboree. This past year he was the Master of Ceremonies at the Jim Tressel Tribute Banquet and the 2001 Penguin Club/Scholarship Ring Dinner.
But his behind the scenes efforts have been unmatched. He has been a Penguin Club member since the organization's formation and served on the Board of Directors for three terms. He had the honor of selecting the first seat in Stambaugh Stadium after being the top ticket salesperson in 1980 and 1981 as chosen by the YSU Athletic Department. He spoke at the groundbreaking of the Stadium as the YSU faculty and staff representative. He was part of the fundraising committee that raised $140,000 for the Complex.
He has given his time and donations in other ways as well. He served as the faculty advisor for the YSU Track Club for several years before track was reinstated as a full time intercollegiate sport. He has discussed academic programs with student-athlete recruits. He donates royalties from a successful text in introductory philosophy to the Penguin Club and other YSU departments and programs and was a contributor to the YSU Brick Campaign. He is a 14 year member of the YSU Hall of Fame Selection Committee. Showing his dedication, he has been a football and basketball season ticket holder since joining the YSU faculty in 1969.
He is a two time recipient of the YSU Watson Merit Award for administrative leadership and a two time recipient of the YSU Distinguished Professor Award for achievements in teaching, scholarship and community service. He has authored an introductory philosophy text for college that remains successful after 25 years. In the early 1970's he spearheaded the unionization of full time faculty.
He graduated with honors from John Carroll University with a degree in Philosophy in 1966. Impressively, he earned his doctorate three years later from Boston College in 1969.
After high school he attended the Athenaeum of Ohio from 1962-63. There he won an oratorical championship with a speech on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a 1961 graduate of Ursuline High School, he was class president, captain on the basketball team, quarterback on the football team and was voted most likely to succeed.
Shipka currently resides in Youngstown. Tom and his wife Katherine have two children, Anne White (33) and Andrew (23). His wife and children are Youngstown State University graduates.
