Shortino Family Gift Gives Hartwick Men’s Lacrosse A New Home

A gift from Hartwick College lacrosse alumnus Matt Shortino ’96 P’25 and his wife, Bonnie ’97 P’25, has given the Hartwick men’s lacrosse program a new home in the Binder Physical Education Center while also creating an opportunity for the College’s football program to expand its locker room.

The Shortino family’s lead gift supported the creation of the Shortino Family Men’s Lacrosse Locker Room, a modern, welcoming space with brand-new lockers and a dedicated home for the Hawks. For decades, the men’s lacrosse and football programs shared locker room space. With the new lacrosse locker room now complete, the two programs now have dedicated, year-round spaces.

Shortino played lacrosse at Hartwick, and his family’s connection to the College continued through his daughter, Sami Shortino ’25, who was a four-year member of the Hawks field hockey team. For Matt Shortino, the opportunity to give back to the men’s lacrosse program carries particular meaning.

“For a program with so much rich tradition, it means the world to me to be able to provide the current and future teams with a locker room that the program deserves,” he said. 

Executive Director of Athletics Paul Vecchio said the Shortino family’s generosity will have a lasting effect on the men’s lacrosse program and its student-athletes.

“We are indebted to the Shortino family for their generous support of this project and for the tremendous impact it will have on the men’s lacrosse program,” Vecchio said. “This is truly a transformative gift and puts the student-athletes in our men’s lacrosse program, as well as future recruits, in an outstanding new home to make memories and celebrate successes both on and off the field.”

Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Connor Bishop said having a dedicated locker room gives the program a space that reflects the pride and tradition of Hartwick lacrosse.

“I’m beyond grateful to Matt and his family for this gift,” Bishop said. “Having a dedicated locker room gives our men a place they can call home. It’s an incredible reflection of the pride and tradition of the program while having an even greater impact on the next generation of Hartwick men’s lacrosse players.”

The changes also created an opportunity to expand the football locker room. With support from 11 donors who purchased lockers in their names or in remembrance of loved ones, along with a fundraising drive led by the football program last year and support from friends, alumni and family, the College added 25 lockers to the football locker room this summer.

Vecchio said the support from football alumni and friends has strengthened the program while improving the team’s facilities.

“Our football alumni have really responded and supported our program in numerous ways over the past few years,” he said. “Their generosity allowed us to expand the locker room, which greatly increases the depth of our football team, as well as creating a year-round locker room space for the team, which greatly aids in recruiting as well.” 

Head Football Coach Matt Rogers said the expanded space will benefit the program both on and off the field.

“The expanded locker room gives our football student-athletes more space to prepare, connect and build the relationships that are so important to our program,” Rogers said. “The support from our alumni, families and friends shows the pride they have in Hartwick football and in the experience we are building for our student-athletes.”

The Shortino family returned to campus during True Blue Weekend and on Sunday, Sept. 27, the College held a dedication ceremony for the Shortino Family Men’s Lacrosse Locker Room. Current members of the men’s lacrosse team and coaching staff, along with Vecchio and Matt and Bonnie Shortino, attended the ceremony, marking the completion of a project that gives the program a dedicated space to call its own.