Peter's Education

 Both of Palivos' parents only had a grammar school education. Therefore, they stressed the importance of a good education for all of their children.

Palivos attended the University of Illinois at Chicago where he majored in political science and history. He also attended Trinity University and earned a bachelor's degree in History. While in College, Palivos was a star athlete and student. He was named twice to the All-Illinois, All-Midwest and All-American soccer teams.

After college, Palivos was offered a contract to play professional soccer for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the former North American Soccer League. Simultaneously he was accepted by three different law schools into their programs.

Palivos chose a legal career and decided to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology-Chicago Kent College of Law. He was honored by the school with the Bar & Gavel award and graduated with honors in 1983 earning a Juris Doctorate. Palivos says choosing to attend Law School instead of playing professional soccer was one of the toughest decisions of his life. However, his decision was driven by reality. In those years the average professional soccer player's career lasted three years. However, the average attorney's career could last over 40.