California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Vic Shandor was a four-year starting wide receiver for the football team from 1989-92.

A two-time, first-team all-conference selection, Shandor was also the team's offensive Most Valuable Player in his junior and senior years. 

He was notified of his Hall of Fame selection from current Vulcans' head football coach Gary Dunn '94, '96, who was Cal U's starting center during Shandor's final two seasons. 

"It was very special to get the news from Gary and it's an absolute honor to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," said Shandor. "But I am going in representing all the guys I played with."

Shandor played under head coach Jeff Petrucci ´69, who was part of Cal U's inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 1995. The starting quarterback during Shandor's first two seasons was All-American and 1997 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee Sam Mannery ´92.

After being a 1988 medical redshirt, Shandor made an immediate impact as freshman by catching 23 balls for 402 yards and three touchdowns in 1989.

During his sophomore season, Shandor led all Cal receivers in yards (685), touchdowns (7), yards per catch (18.0) and yards per game (68.5).

His most productive game that season was a seven-reception, 179-yard effort with four touchdowns in a game at Clarion. Shandor's final touchdown that day came with three seconds left to clinch a memorable 33-30 victory. 

At the time, that was the second-highest, single-game receiving yardage total in school history — and it earned Shandor PSAC West and Football Gazette Player of the Week honors.

Shandor again emphasized team play while recalling that memorable game.

"That was a great and exciting moment, but that whole day was about Sam putting the ball on the spot and our coaches believing that I could possibly make a play for us," he said.  

He helped the 1990 Vulcans lead the PSAC that season in both passing offense (288.6 ypg) and total offense (448.1 ypg).

Despite a 1-9 showing in 1991, Shandor's play caught the attention of opposing coaches who voted him to the first-team all-conference squad.

During his senior year, Shandor led the team in every receiving category with 59 receptions for 884 yards and seven touchdowns. That marked the third-straight year he led the team in receiving yards.

A 1992 team tri-captain, Shandor was nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy, the award for the best player in NCAA Division II, and he again earned first-team all-conference recognition.

He finished with 138 career receptions; 2,349 yards, which ranks fourth in program history; and 22 career touchdowns, a school record that lasted until 2009.

Dunn, who was a freshman and sophomore during Shandor's final two seasons, described Shandor as a fast, tall receiver with great hands who could go up and get the ball and forced defenses to focus on where he was on the field at all times.

"Vic was a big-play receiver for us, but was also one of the hardest working guys on the team," Dunn explained. "As a younger player, I looked up to him because of the great effort he gave every day. 

"He was a leader."

Not so surprisingly Shandor spoke highly of Dunn, who guided the Vulcans to an 11-1 season this past fall, which culminated with Cal U winning the PSAC championship and advancing to the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals.

"I'm so proud of this program and admire what Gary has done with it," Shandor said. "He's a fiery competitor who is very passionate about life and not just football. He has a heart of gold and is extremely supportive. His number one priority is to help his former teammates and current players be successful."

Shandor also praised Chuck Colborn ´84, who was his receivers' coach and the offensive coordinator.

"He was a father figure to us who we all respected and always wanted to play hard for him," said Shandor.

A native of Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, Shandor is a graduate of Elizabeth Forward High School, where he was an All-Big 10 Conference receiver in his senior year. He helped the Warriors reach the WPIAL playoffs twice, and he was also a three-year jumper on the track & field squad. He was inducted into the school's alumni hall of fame in 2016.

Shandor earned his Cal U bachelor's degree in communication studies in 1992. 

He moved to Virginia after graduation and served as a teacher assistant. The experience inspired him to earn a master's degree in exceptional education from Old Dominion University. In 2015, he was named a Darden College of Education Fellow at ODU. 

Shandor also earned an education specialist degree from George Washington University and a doctorate in educational leadership from Wingate University. 

His nearly 25-year career in public education includes experience as a teacher, principal and district administrator.

The former superintendent of Fulton County Schools in Georgia, Shandor has been superintendent of the York County (Yorktown, Virginia) School Division since 2014, overseeing 19 schools and more than 12,600 students. 

Shandor enjoyed his time at Cal U and believes his experience has helped him in his professional career. He added that the Vulcan teams his final two years were young but resilient, which left an everlasting impact.

"I think the struggles we endured made us all close and that's why we are so close now 25 years later," he said. "We all have families, have gone on to successful careers but we maintain that relationship and I believe that's rare in today's world.

"I feel very fortunate to still have those friendships."

He and his wife, Melissa, live in Yorktown. The couple has three children—daughter Lena 12, and sons V.J., 9, and Caine, 6.

Shandor returned to campus to see four games this past fall and his oldest son ran receiving routes on the Adamson Stadium field after the 2016 Spring Game.

"All of us are blown away when we come back and it's amazing to see basketball courts where Longanecker dormitory used to be," Shandor said. "I am proud of how the school has progressed and the administration clearly has done a great job moving the university forward."

updated 04/16/17