WASHINGTON - The Georgetown University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics inducted seven Hoya luminaries into the Hall of Fame on Friday evening. The Letter Winner of Distinction Award was also given out at the annual celebration of those who have excelled on the Hilltop.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame were men's lacrosse All-Americans Daniel F. Martin (C'97) and Matthew C. Rienzo (C'97), football stars Janne P. Kouri (B'97) and Stephen J. Iorio (B'98), women's basketball MVP Ebiho Ahonkhai (F'97), volleyball standout Melissa K. Tytko (B'99) and former NFL commissioner and basketball captain Paul J. Tagliabue (C'62).

Additionally, James F. Higgins (B'70) of the 1970 men's basketball team was honored with the Letter Winner of Distinction Award presented from time
to time to a past varsity letter winner who, through his or her personal and professional life, nobly reflects those virtues that Georgetown aspires to foster in every student-athlete on the Hilltop. Previous recipients include former Director of Central Intelligence George Tenet '76, former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue '62, and former U.S. Army Chief of Staff George Casey '70.

The event was held at Leavey Center on campus with a ceremony followed by a reception.

Daniel F. Martin (C'97)
Men's Lacrosse
A three-time All-America midfielder, a two-time team captain and most valuable player, Martin was selected to play in the North/ South Senior All-Star Lacrosse Game at the end of his senior season. A 1997 graduate, he ranks among the all-time leaders at Georgetown in career points (136), goals (78), assists (58) and average points per game (2.51), as well as among the single season leaders in assists (27).

Janne P. Kouri (B'97)
Football
A two-time all-conference defensive lineman in football, Kouri was named an All- America tackle and Metro Atlantic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his senior season. The 6-4, 283 lb senior defensive tackle and team captain was named GU's outstanding lineman as a junior and most valuable player for the Hoyas as a senior. Graduating in 1997, holds the all-time Georgetown career record holder for sacks (31.5).

Ebiho T. Ahonkhai (F'97)
Women's Basketball
A two-time team captain and most valuable player, Ahonkhai led the Hoya basketball team in scoring as a junior and received All-BIG EAST recognition in her final two years. She ranks second at Georgetown in career field goal percentage at 50.5 percent, and earned BIG EAST Academic All-Star honors as well as the BIG EAST Scholar-Athlete Award as a senior before graduating in 1997.

Stephen J. Iorio (B'98)
Football
Iorio was a three-time all-conference selection and a three-time GU outstanding back honoree on the Hoya football team. He is the current all-time holder of three career records and three single-game records on the Hilltop. A four-time Academic All-America honoree, and an NCAA post-graduate scholarship awardee, Iorio graduated cum laude in 1998 as the Georgetown's most outstanding scholar-athlete.

Melissa K. Tytko (B'99)
Volleyball
Team captain and most valuable player, Tytko Andretta earned All-BIG EAST honors in her final two seasons on the Hilltop. She was ranked 14th in the nation in hitting percentage as a senior and set the then-all-time Georgetown record for hitting percentage (.333). An All-District team selection by the Volleyball Coaches Association, Tytko Andretta graduated in 1999 as a four-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star and District I All-Academic selection.

Matthew C. Rienzo (C'97)
Men's Lacrosse
Rienzo anchored a Hoya defense that cemented the Hoyas' first-ever lacrosse victory over highly-ranked Syracuse, and that helped secure the team's first-ever NCAA tournament bid. An All-America long-stick defenseman, team captain and two-time most valuable player, Rienzo represented Georgetown in the North/South Senior All-Star Game at the conclusion of his college career, graduating in 1997.

Paul J. Tagliabue (C'62)
Men's Basketball
A basketball captain, class president and Rhodes Scholarship finalist, Tagliabue received the Duffey Award as Georgetown's outstanding scholar-athlete before graduating in 1962. The former Commissioner of the NFL, Tagliabue served as chairman of the University's Board of Directors from 2009-15. As a trusted advisor on athletic matters for both the President and the Director of Athletics, his leadership, vision and commitment to Georgetown was instrumental in guiding the transformative Thompson Athletic Center project to completion.

James F. Higgins (B'70)
Letter Winner of Distinction
Co-captain of the Hoya basketball team in the 1970 NIT season, Higgins graduated that same year and began his professional career with the financial services firm of Dean Witter. A co-founder of Georgetown's Wall Street Alliance in New York City, he retired in 2005 as an admired businessman and prominent leader on Wall Street. A long-time volunteer and supporter of the University and Department of Athletics, Higgins served on and led several University boards and committees, providing valued counsel to four different directors of athletics.