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Princeton University Athletics
Ron Celestin Recognized As "Unsung Hero" For Contributions To Local African-American Community
February 11, 2005 | Women's Soccer
Feb. 11, 2005
Ron Celestin, an assistant coach with the Princeton women's soccer team and long-time teacher in the Princeton public school district, will be honored for his contributions to Princeton's African-American community at a public reception at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, in the Princeton Public Library's Community Room.
The celebration, titled "Unsung Heroes," is co-sponsored by Princeton University's Community House and the Princeton Public Library. It will honor members of Princeton's African-American community "who in their own way have contributed vastly to the overall development and fiber of Princeton and the surrounding area through their profession, community service activities, talent or their everyday lives," said Marjorie Young, director of Community House.
Each day during the month of February, a photo and short biography of one of the honorees will be on display in the public library. Booklets featuring poems about the honorees and their photos will be distributed at the event which free and open to the public.
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Celestin has been with the Princeton women's soccer team since Julie Shackford became head coach in 1995. He helped Shackford guide the Tigers to the NCAA Final Four this past season and helped earn Shackford national Division I Coach of the Year honors.
"Ron does so many things for so many people," Shackford said. "Nobody ever hears about it, because he's the last person in the world who would ever call attention to himself. I'm thrilled that he's being honored like this, and I'm so lucky to have been able to work with him for the last 10 years."
Celestin currently teaches at the Riverside Elementary School in Princeton. A graduate of Princeton High and West Virginia Wesleyan, he also coached Princeton High to one New Jersey Group II state championship.
His contributions to the area include coaching and teaching, as well as many structured community service projects and unstructured assistance to many who need it.