SPRINGFIELD, Mass. The American International College Department of Athletics has announced that the 2006 Women's Basketball team will become the first "team" inducted into the Hall of Fame to highlight eight individual members being honored as the class of 2015.

To go along with the 2006 Women's Basketball team, the class of 2015 features former student-athletes Dan Della-Giustina '55 (Basketball), Major Jennings '80 (Basketball), Stephanie Laskey '09 (Field Hockey), Ted Pinkerman '84 (Men's Soccer), Vezio Sacratini '90 (Ice Hockey), John Slomback '65 (Ice Hockey/Baseball/Football/Soccer) and Michael Smith '78 (Ice Hockey), as well as former Athletic Director and longtime coach Robert Burke MED '74.

The 2006 Women's Basketball team was the first American International team to vie for a National Championship. Head Coach Peter Cinella's team finished the season 26-8, the second most wins in program history. The Yellow Jackets ousted St. Cloud State in the National Semifinal to advance to the National Championship game against Grand Valley State.

During the season, AIC rose as high as 13th in the polls and began the season 11-0 before finally dropping a road game to No. 17 Stonehill.

Dan Della-Giustina (Morgantown, W.V.) was a prominent member of one of the best Men's Basketball teams in program history. Della-Giustina helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a berth in the 32-team national tournament in Kansas City following a NAIA New England championship. Della-Giustina and AIC upended Providence College, now a Big East member, before ousting regional favorite Colby College on the road to take crown and earn the berth into the national tournament.

Della-Giustina went on to become a nationally known Professor of Safety and Environmental Management for 35 years at West Virginia University. He was on the Board of Trustee's at the College for many years.

Major Jennings (Montclair, N.J.) joins Della-Giustina as a 2015 men's basketball inductee. Jennings was a heavily decorated player in the late '70s for the Yellow Jacket squad. Among his awards were the Bob Cousy Award he received his junior year, the team's Most Valuable Player Award his senior season and was a four-year Most Outstanding Athlete for the College. Following his outstanding collegiate career, Jennings was invited to the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA) Rookie Camp.

Jennings finished his career fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,730 points and remains fifth after 35 years. He was able to do all this without the benefit of the 3-point line which was added the season after his graduation.

Bob Burke began his work at the College in 1968, joining the football staff as an assistant coach following a successful stint at Cathedral High School. In 1980, Burke was elevated to Head Football Coach and Associate Athletic Director. Burke spent seven seasons as head coach before transitioning to Athletic Director and Chairman of the Department of Physical Education.

Burke became the Commissioner of the Northeast-10 Conference in 1988 and served for six years in that role. He was inducted into the NE-10 Hall of Fame in 2006.

Prior to his days at AIC, Burke played football at the University of Massachusetts where he earned All-Yankee Conference, All-New England and All-East honors.

Laskey (Erving, Mass.) started in all 68 games played during her field hockey career and was one of the best defenders AIC has seen since the program began. She became the program's first ever All-American as she landed on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association second-team following her senior season in 2008. She scored six goals and added 10 assists for 22 career points. Laskey was a two time NE-10 All-Conference selection earning second-team recognition in 2007 and first-team during her senior season of 2008.

Coached by his father Jack, Pinkerman (West Springfield, Mass.) was a four year standout during his career for the men's soccer team and currently sits fourth on the all-time points list with 92 and tied-third for career goals with 40. Splitting time between back and forward Pinkerman earned All-Conference recognition all four years as he was recognized on the second-team three times and was a first-team selection after a record-setting 1982 season.

That 1982 season still stands as the best season in program history as Pinkerman netted 17 goals and collected 40 points for 2.22 points per game average. That was also tops in the then Northeast-8 for the '82 season. He was awarded the F.J. Maloney Award in 1984 as the most outstanding athlete for four years at the college and also received the ECAC Medal of Merit.

Smith (Lynnfield, Mass.) was one of the most prolific scoring defensemen in the history of the AIC hockey program as he currently sits 11th on the all-time scoring list notching 51 goals and 105 assists in 97 career games. Smith also holds a record with six goals in a single contest which he achieved during the 1977-78 season against Boston State. That season was certainly one to remember as Smith shattered over a dozen college records in addition to three New England career defenseman scoring marks at that time. He scored 21 goals and added 31 assists and was named a CCM All-American, ECAC All-Star, ECAC Player of the Year as well as receiving the ECAC Academic Merit Medal. Smith signed a professional contract with the Boston Bruins before leaving hockey to earn a law degree from Suffolk University Law School.

Sacratini (Pincourt, Quebec) had an impressive three years on the ice for Head Coach Gary Wright from 1987-90 as in only 70 career games he amassed 163 points or 2.33 per game. He scored 49 goals and added 114 assists, a mark tied for fourth in the programs history. He also sits tied for ninth on the all-time scoring list with his 163 total points.

Sacratini played professional hockey in Europe for 10 years and competed for Italy in the 1994 Olympic Winter Games in Lillehammer, Norway. The Italian team placed ninth overall in those games.

Slomback (Ellsworth, Maine) was a pure athlete for AIC during the mid-60's as he starred in baseball, football, soccer and ice hockey over his four years. Slomback graduated with 10 varsity letters and earned team and/or league honors in every sport he played.

Slomback earned All-Western Mass. honors on the baseball diamond both as an infielder and an outfielder showing off his true athleticism. He was twice named Team MVP for soccer as the goalie and during his one season playing football, Jack was named to the All New England Team as a split-end hauling in eight touchdown passes.

On the ice, Slomback again proved his athleticism as he moved to defense after his freshman year as a forward and he returned to forward for his senior season. During those four years, Slomback never finished lower than fourth on the team in scoring and was fourth in ECAC division II during his senior season.

The Class of 2015 is the seventh to be inducted into the American International College Athletics Hall of Fame. The first class was established in 2005 and with the 2015 honorees brings the total number of inductees to 76 individual and one team.

Doors open at 6 p.m. in Metcalf Gymnasium with a refreshment hour before the induction ceremony begins in the Hall of Fame Room at 7 p.m. Those looking to come can pay at the door.