Pro Athletes Share The Secrets of Success with Stamford High Students

Stamford High School’s Pride Day last week, the 1,700-member student body welcomed back student-athletes who went on to successful sports careers in the Kuczo Gymnasium. The entire Stamford High community of its 1,700 students, faculty and staff all attended the morning assembly.

The featured speakers were many of Stamford’s greatest athletes including football standouts Craig Bingham, Khairi Fortt and Alex Joseph, who have all played in the NFL. Chordale Booker, who recently won a USA Boxing national title and is headed for the Olympic trials, and lawyer Matt Mandewal, a former basketball and baseball star who attended Yale, also spoke.

Also included was Rick Robustelli, the son of the late Andy Robustelli who was a Stamford High graduate and is a member of the National Football Hall of Fame. The field at SHS’s Boyle Stadium is named for the elder Robustelli.

Former NFL player and alumni Garry Cobb was unable to attend but he sent a video message to share with his alma mater.

Other guests included Kelley Dugan, the daughter of SHS graduate and another NFL player Fred Dugan, former Black Knights’ football coach Marc Lyons and Steve Thurlow, the ex-NY Giants running back who is now the president of the NFL Alumni Chapter in Connecticut.

Stamford High alum and the longtime voice of Stamford sports Len Gambino was the emcee.

There also was a panel discussion on “Empowering Through Education and Athletics” that was followed by a question-and-answer session with the students.

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Photo credit: From left, Dan Zelazny, Stamford High team doctor, Rick Robustelli representing his late father Andy, Alex Joseph, Khairi Fortt, Chordale Booker, Craig Bingham, Matt Manewal and emcee Len Gambino. Credit: Lifetouch Studios.