Scott Guise, York College Director of Athletic Communications, is the recipient of the 2025 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Giant Steps Award.
Guise was formally honored by his colleagues and peers at the MAC Annual Awards Luncheon hosted by Widener University on Tuesday, May 6.
Established in 2003, the MAC Giant Steps Award is given to individuals who have overcome adversity while still succeeding in life, who use sports as a vehicle for positive social change, who break down barriers to provide opportunities to those who follow behind them, and individuals who inspire us to do great things using the positive aspects of sport.
“I am extremely humbled to be selected as a Giant Steps Award winner. I am incredibly blessed to work with the student-athletes, coaches and administrators at York College. Their support, not only through the last few years, but during my entire time at York has been invaluable,” said Guise. “I am so fortunate to get to come to school every day looking forward to working with a group of people who are excited to be a part of what we do. It's a group of people united in a common goal of giving our student-athletes the resources to achieve their goals. I am able to draw great energy from our culture and mission each and every day. I am thankful to be a part of such a great department. Thank you to the Middle Atlantic Conference for this meaningful award.”
For over two decades, Guise has been the director of athletic communications at York College and as with any long-tenured career, challenges arise along the way. For Scott, he has faced adversity that has required him to go above and beyond the call of duty. In recent years, he has dealt with many personal battles which have tested his physical, emotional and mental fortitude, but has persevered through it all. Guise has continued to be a steady teammate to the athletic department and his perseverance is an inspiration to all who know him.
Guise has been in a battle with stage four colorectal cancer for the past four years, while also dealing with the heartache from the sudden losses of both of his parents. Throughout all of this, Scott has been fiercely committed to fulfilling his duties as York College’s Athletic Communications Director and a consistent figure at home athletic events.
In the fall of 2021, Scott received the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with cancer of the colon that had spread to his liver. This news came with significant timing as it was less than a year after his father suffered a fall and sustained injuries that would ultimately claim his life. Scott would go on to have surgery to remove portions of both his colon and liver, and eventually receive the good news in the fall of 2022 that he was cancer free.
Since undergoing the surgery which removed the cancerous portions of his organs, Scott’s bout with cancer had really just begun. In December of 2022, he received the news that his cancer had returned, and he has been through the ringer ever since. He has undergone several surgeries, as well as more than 40 rounds of chemotherapy and experimental treatment which have required routine trips to treatment centers initially in Pittsburgh, PA and now Baltimore, MD. Due to his intense and strenuous treatment schedule, his body’s immune system has been pushed to the brink and left him susceptible to other infections. Along the way, he’s had to overcome a blood infection and also had a toe amputated due to an infected blister that developed on his foot.
Tragedy struck the Guise family yet again in February of this year as they laid to rest Scott’s mother who also passed unexpectedly.
All while going through his many rounds of treatment, the heartache, the physical and mental hardships, Scott’s spirit and dedication to the York College athletic department has been unwavering.
“He’s shown a lot of bravery in all of this. It’s been incredible watching Scott persevere through all of it. His attitude has not wavered,” said Paul Saikia, York College Assistant Dean of Athletics and Recreation. “He’s deeply embedded here in our program. He’s a long, long member of the family who certainly contributes more than just the work that he does.”
Despite having gone through all the physical and emotional pain, he has been omnipresent at Spartan athletic events either behind the computer, with a camera, or wearing a broadcast headset. Even while traveling to and from treatments, or sitting in a hospital room receiving his latest round of chemotherapy, you can bet he has his laptop open and is working on the game programs for that week’s home games or the latest news release about a Spartan student-athlete accomplishment.
“Scott cares about the athletes, he cares about the coaches and he cares about his coworkers,” said York College women’s basketball head coach Betsy Witman. “Sometimes it’s hard to believe what all he’s dealing with because he comes into work everyday and has a smile on his face. He just shows tremendous strength.”
Scott’s commitment to his craft and to Spartan athletics throughout a time of intense trials and tribulations has been nothing short of amazing. He has maintained a humble attitude and has never used his personal struggles as a crutch while serving others over himself.
