Alumni Association Honors 284 Pitt Scholar-Athletes

The Pitt Alumni Association honored 284 student-athletes during the annual University of Pittsburgh Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast, held Feb. 7 in Alumni Hall’s Connolly Ballroom. Pitt Alumni Association President Jack Smith delivered opening remarks, while Austin Ransom, coordinator of Pitt’s Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program, served as the master of ceremonies.

“We are extremely proud of our student-athletes and their exceptional performance in the classroom,” Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “It takes an incredible amount of commitment, discipline, and sacrifice to achieve scholar-athlete honors at the University of Pittsburgh. These young men and women truly embody the very best of Pitt and Pitt Athletics.”

Members of Pitt’s Academic Support Services for student-athletes handed out blue and gold awards to students who earned a GPA of 3.0 or higher during the 2011 calendar year. There were 163 student-athletes who accumulated a GPA of 3.0-3.49 (blue) and 121 who posted a 3.5-4.0 (gold)— including 18 student-athletes who achieved a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The list of 4.0 student-athletes included Adela Aprodu (tennis), Abbigail Baldys (women’s soccer), Justin Boehm (men’s soccer), Kimmy Borza (tennis), Abby Dowd (women’s basketball), Keli Gaynor (softball), Philip Konieczny (baseball), Jennifer Larimore (tennis), Susan Martinez (women’s track), Courtney McIntyre (women’s swimming and diving), Kristen McMullan (women’s swimming and diving), Pierre-Antoine Meunier (men’s swimming and diving), Lauren Mills (women’s swimming and diving), Korinne Piper (women’s track), Lisa Taylor (gymnastics), Ryan Tomei (wrestling), Leah Ulizio (women’s track) and Sarah Zetlmeisl (women’s swimming and diving). Also recognized at the breakfast were Kellyn Black, a member of Pitt’s Dance Team, and Ben Rubino, Pitt’s “Roc” mascot, both of whom held 4.0 GPAs during 2011.

Pederson also announced the Academic Team Awards.

The Most Improved Team was gymnastics, which earned a cumulative 3.10 GPA.

Earning the Top Men’s Academic Award for the third-consecutive year was the men’s soccer team.

The women’s tennis team was named both the Top Women’s Team and the Overall Team awardee for the second-consecutive year, boasting a collective 3.33 GPA. Seven members of the squad  earned a 3.5 GPA or better, including two with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

The tennis team improved its overall GPA from the 3.32 GPA it held during 2010, the first time it won Top Women’s Team and the Overall Team.

“On behalf of the women’s tennis team, I would like to thank Athletic Director Steve Pederson, the Provost’s office, and Academic Support Services for the academic award we earned today,” Pitt women’s tennis head coach George Dieffenbach said. “I want to congratulate all of the student-athletes honored today and personally thank them for their discipline and hard work. We also owe thanks to our student-athletes’ parents, who did an outstanding job of instilling in their children pride in the achievement of academic excellence.”

BLUE AWARDS (3.0-3.49 GPA)

BASEBALL
Jonathan Danielczyk, Richard Devereaux, Michael Douglas, Joseph Harvey, Matt Iannazzo, Kevin Johnson, Joseph Leonardi, and Steven Shelinsky Jr.
Graduates: Kevin Dooley, Lucas Ellex, Kevan Smith, and Cole Taylor

MEN’S BASKETBALL
Malcolm Gilbert, Durand Johnson, John Johnson, Aron Nwankwo, Nick Rivers, and Cameron Wright

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Ashlee Anderson, Leeza Burdgess, and Brittaney Thomas

CHEER AND DANCE TEAM
Brandy Ardolino, Laura Brouse, Katie Casella, Shannon Dugan, Justin Gilbert, Bethany Gottshall, TJ Gresko, Katie Hall, Olivia Heidenfelder, Samantha Herman, John Kornaga, Karli Minick, Morgan Mohney, Madisyn Pina, Kajsa Siewczak, Doug Stouch, Katie Sullivan, Kristin Weir, and Zara Wroblewski

FOOTBALL
Kevin Barthelemy, Joshua Brinson, Desmond Brown, Keegan Buck, Malcom Crockett, Zenel Demhasaj, Carl Fleming, Hubie Graham, Drake Greer, Kevin Harper, Chris Jacobson, Jack Lippert, Khaynin Mosley-Smith, Bryan Murphy, Marco Pecora, Tristan Roberts, Matt Rotheram, Artie Rowell, Ryan Schlieper, Michael Shanahan, Andrew Taglianetti, Joe Trebitz, Ryan Turnley, Ray Vinopal, Kris Wildman, and Steve Williams
Graduates: Pat Bostick, Daniel Hutchins, and Henry Hynoski

GYMNASTICS
Kelsey Ainsworth, Brittney Harris, Maya Ketner, Brittany Marcsisin, Katie O’Rourke, Laura Rigney, and Amy Varela

MEN’S SOCCER
Alex Fischetti, Shane Flowers, Robert Iledare, Lee Johnston, Hami Kara, Alex Lowman, Daniel Mark, Dan Prete, and Matt Walbert Graduates: Alex Betancourt, Chris Cline, and Andy Kalas

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Danielle Benner, Ashley Cuba, Kari Cunard, Caroline Keefer, Hayley Neal, and Lauren Yobbi
Graduates: Liz Carroll, Alex Jaffe, and Kat Weiler

SOFTBALL
Niki Cognigni, Ciera Damon, Courtney Derus, Amanda Heitmeier, Kelly Hmiel, Alicia Keough, Savannah King, Alexa Larkin, Maggie Sevilla, and Holly Stevens

MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Austin Caldwell, Collin Forner, Dawid Goszczycki, Rousseau Kluever, and Aaron Snyder
Graduates: Alex Kubicek and Alex McLaren

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Joanna Budzis, Renee Deschenes, Kelsey DiGilio, Brittany DiSanti, Kate Dunseith, Julie Harrison, Tamara Lelli, and Alec Shaeffer Graduates: Mallory Mullady and Morgan Speece

WOMEN’S TENNIS
Molly Wickman

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Richard Addison, Kurt Barnhart, Alec Bleacher, Antony Hobwana, Kevin Hulbert, Jermaine Lowery, Jerome Lowery, Brett Millar, Josh Mindlin, Bryce Rupp, and Aaron Turner Graduates: Edward Miller and Maka Mudekunye

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Kalene Anderson, Shannon Casey, Julia Christensen, Kelsey Coates, Ashley Corum, Arielle Fonrose, Robin Gilmore, Jordan Hoyt, Caroline Kirkby, Julia Koloski, Jonnique Lawrence, Casey Meier, Stephanie Powers, Jessica Rocco, Natalie Ryan, Veronica Schacht, Chelsea Scott, Brooke Shasteen, Haley Springman, Kristen Stain, Valerie Wilson, and Ashley Woodford Graduates: Wunmi Fapohunda, Ashley Moore, Shanae Thomas, and Alexis Wilder

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Margy Acton, Kiesha Leggs, Monica Wignot, and Lindsey Zitzke Graduates: Melanie Feldman, Tara Rohall, and Amy Town

WRESTLING
Nicholas Bonaccorsi, Karl DeCiantis, Zach Grove, Shelton Mack, Jordan Moss, Tyler Nauman, Josh Pascazi, Pat Tasser, Zachary Thomusseit, Andrew Vaughan, and Matt Wilps

GOLD AWARDS (3.5-4.0 GPA)

BASEBALL
Luke Curtis, Anthony DeFabio, Eric Hess, and Luke Novosel
Graduates: David Kaye, John Schultz, and Travis Whitmore

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Loliya Briggs and Marquel Davis

CHEER AND DANCE TEAM
Derek Bradley, Hannah Brady, Juliana Bursic, Samantha Bursic, Teassa Eddy, Dorinda Fella, Marlee Hartenstein, Cat Hoel, Emma Holmes, Mallory Karavolis, Jessica Litten, Danielle Narlesky, Hilary Nickels, Michael Nuzzo, Jill Palski, Brittany Post, Natalie Runco, Ali Sanders, Danielle Scalise, Adam Slabicki, Jeralyn Smith, Alyssa Standlick, and Anna Sweeney

FOOTBALL
Myles Caragein, Devin Cook, Greg Gaskins, Jarred Holley, Adam Lazenga, Michael Theys, Chris Yankoski, Matt Yoklic, and Brett Zuck
Graduates: Jabaal Sheard and Tyler Tkach

WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS
Alyssa Adrian, Bri Hogan, Kori Macdonald, Alexa Riech, and Alicia Talucci
Graduate: Jennifer Liberato

MEN’S SOCCER
Terry Akpua, Andy Clifford, Julian Dickenson, and Keegan Gunderson
Graduate: Joe Prince-Wright

WOMEN’S SOCCER
Madison Gritsch, Katelyn Lippert, Alyssa Meier, Taylor Parisse, Lyndsay Pierson, Kristina Rioux, Katelyn Ruhe, and Morgan Sharick
Graduates: Laura Berbert and Morie Kephart

SOFTBALL
Graduates: Alyssa O”Connell and Reba Tutt

MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Adam Maczewski, Tyler Matheny, Hussein Mohamed, Otto Pagel, John Pidgeon, and Jacob Van Roekel
Graduates: Andrzej Dubiel and Charles Hauser

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
Emily Bolek, Tori Brungo, Kimberlee Cadell, Kimberly Ciotti, Kelsey Herbst, Veronica Lee, Lauren Matevish, Jessica Nederlanden, Alison Swafford, Yolandi Van Der Merwe, Yolandi Van Rooyen, and Leigh Waltz
Graduates: Sarah Looney and Caitlyn Trant

WOMEN’S TENNIS
Melissa Bostwick, Minh Evans, Jocelyn Lu, and Karma Parbhu
Graduate: Elizabeth Adams

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Andrew Cerrito, Luke Gallaher, Kevin Hull, Folarin Ijelu, Benjamin Kisley, Daniel O’Toole, Bradley Rocco,  and Luke Swomley
Graduate: Joshua Christopher

WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY
Anyssa Barbour, Emily Barno, Jessica Catalano, Megan Hebda, Elizabeth Kline, Amanda Kuhl, and Michelle Magyar
Graduates: Sarah Anderson, Brianna Broyles, Kaitlyn Flynn, Anita James, Carrie Mavrikis, Victoria Toso, and Kelsey Voltz

WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Alexa Campbell, Lauren Hartman, and Maria Nicholas
Graduates: Imani Harper, Allyson Hodnik, and Rachel Kalberer

WRESTLING
Victor Konno, Donald Tasser, and Tyler Wilps
Graduate: Christian Fagan