University Honors 290 Scholar-Athletes at Annual Awards Breakfast

Pitt's 4.0 Scholar Athletes: Seated, from left, Kimmy Borza (tennis), Sarah Looney (swimming and diving), Cookie McIntyre (swimming and diving), Kristen McMullan (swimming and diving), Minh Evans (tennis), Lauren Zammerilla (cheer and dance) and Kellyn Black (cheer and dance). Standing, from left, are Pitt Alumni Association President Jack Smith, Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia Beeson, Ben Rubino (cheer and dance), Dan Schneider (football), Aaron Hassett (football), Leah Ulizio (track and field), Kaitlyn Flynn (track and field), Philip Konieczny (baseball), Brad Rocco (track and field), Pierre-Antoine Meunier (swimming and diving), Rousseau Kluever (swimming and diving), Elizabeth Adams (tennis), and Pitt Athletics Director Steve Pederson. Not pictured are: Jonathan Buchanan (swimming and diving), Meagan Dooley (volleyball), Morie Kephart (soccer), Krista Rubini (cheer and dance), Allison Sanders (cheer and dance), Ryan Tomei (wrestling) and Samson Weiser (track and field).

The Pitt Alumni Association honored 290 scholar-athletes Feb. 21 at its annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast in Alumni Hall. Assistant Athletic Director for Student Life Penny Semaia served as the master of ceremonies; Alumni Association President Jack Smith (CAS ‘69, MED ‘73) was among the invited guests.

Members of Pitt’s Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes handed out Blue and Gold awards to students who earned at least a 3.0 GPA in 2010. One-hundred-sixty student-athletes had a GPA of 3.0-3.49, and 130 earned a 3.5 or higher GPA, including 25 students who achieved a perfect 4.0.

“When you think about the demands placed upon student-athletes at a great University, for 290 of our students to achieve a grade point average of more than 3.0 is extremely impressive,” Pitt Athletic Director Steve Pederson said. “Special thanks should be extended to the coaches and staff, who encourage and support this kind of excellence. We also are proud of the many good works of our student-athletes, including their more than 2,700 hours of community service and their commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.”

The 4.0 student-athletes were: Elizabeth Adams (tennis), Kellyn Black (cheer and dance), Kimmy Borza (women’s tennis), Jonathan Buchanan (men’s swimming and diving), Meagan Dooley (volleyball), Minh Evans (tennis), Kaitlyn Flynn (women’s track and field), Aaron Hassett (football), Morie Kephart (women’s soccer), Rousseau Kluever (men’s swimming and diving), Philip Konieczny (baseball), Sarah Looney (women’s swimming and diving), Cookie McIntyre (women’s swimming and diving), Kristen McMullan (women’s swimming and diving), Pierre-Antoine Meunier (men’s swimming and diving), Alyssa O’Connell (softball), Bradley Rocco (men’s track and field), Krista Rubini (gymnastics), Ben Rubino (cheer and dance), Allison Sanders (cheer and dance), Daniel Schneider (football), Ryan Tomei (wrestling), Leah Ulizio (women’s track and field), Samson Weiser (men’s track and field), and Lauren Zammerilla (cheer and dance).

“For 25 students to achieve a perfect 4.0 GPA is astounding,” Pederson added. “While we admire and appreciate their successes in their chosen sport, we value their commitment to education more.”

Pederson also announced the Academic Team Awards. The Most Improved Team was softball, which earned a cumulative 2.92 GPA.

The Top Men’s Academic Award for the second year in a row was the men’s soccer team, boasting a collective 2.89 GPA. The women’s tennis team earned the Top Women’s Team and Overall Team award for the first time ever. The team recorded an impressive 3.32 GPA overall, with seven members earning a 3.5 GPA or better and three earning a 4.0 GPA.

PERFECT 4.0 GPA AWARDS

Baseball

Philip Konieczny

Cheer and Dance Team

Kellyn Black, Ben Rubino, Allison Sanders, and Lauren Zammerilla

Football

Aaron Hassett and Daniel Schneider

Gymnastics

Krista Rubini

Men’s Swimming and Diving

Jonathan Buchanan, Rousseau Kluever, and Pierre-Antoine Meunier

Men’s Track and Field

Bradley Rocco and Samson Weiser

Softball

Alyssa O’Connell

Tennis

Elizabeth Adams, Kimmy Borza, and Minh Evans

Women’s Swimming and Diving

Sarah Looney, Cookie McIntyre, and Kristen McMullan

Women’s Track and Field

Kaitlyn Flynn and Leah Ulizio

Women’s Soccer

Morie Kephart

Volleyball

Meagan Dooley

Wrestling

Ryan Tomei

GOLD AWARDS (3.5-4.0 GPA)

Baseball

Matt Iannazzo, David Kaye, Philip Konieczny, and Kevan Smith

Men’s Basketball

Ashton Gibbs, J.J. Richardson, and Nick Rivers

Women’s Basketball

Abigail Dowd and Kate Popovec

Cheer and Dance Team

Kellyn Black, Juliana Bursic, Chelsie Conn, Brittany Ferrone, Jillian Grossman, Cathryn Hoel, Brittany Jackson, Nicole Jackson, Erin Kenny, Marissa Lee, Kyle Loftus, Alyssa Miller, Kayla Missigman, Ben Rubino, Iovanna Ritter, Allison Sanders, Hannah Scrim, Adam Slabicki, Tiana Smith, Kristin Weir, Zara Wroblewski, and Lauren Zammerilla

Football

Pat Bostick, Myles Caragein, Pat Costello, John Fieger, Kolby Gray, Kevin Harper, Aaron Hassett, Dan Schneider, Mike Shanahan, Andrew Taglianetti, Tyler Tkach, Christopher Yankoski, and Tyler Yonchiuk

Women’s Gymnastics

Alyssa Adrian, Danielle Bryan, Jennifer Liberato, Molly Moyer, Krista Rubini, Lisa Taylor, and Sarah Thompson

Men’s Soccer

Justin Boehm, Orane Gordon, Andrew Kalas, Daniel Mark, Zachary Matthews, and Joe Prince-Wright

Women’s Soccer

Abbigail Baldys, Lauren Berbert, Alison Finch, Ashley Habbel, Morie Kephart, Katheryn Kunugi, Katelyn Lippert, Emily Peters, Kristina Rioux, Katelyn Ruhe, and Morgan Sharick

Softball

Ciera Damon, Keli Gaynor, Alyssa O’Connell, Reba Tutt, and Kayla Zinger

Men’s Swimming and Diving

Jonathan Buchanan, Andrzej Dubiel, Charles Hauser, Rousseau Kluever, Adam Maczewski, David McLaren, Hussein Mohamed, Geoffrey Morgan, Pierre-Antoine Meunier, and Charles Zettel

Women’s Swimming and Diving

Victoria Alland, Sophie Cross, Emily DeStefano, Allison Horvath, Ryann Kishbaugh, Veronica Lee, Tamara Lelli, Sara Looney, Tiff any Malatesta, Lauren Matevish, Lisa McDonnell, Cookie McIntyre, Kristen McMullan, Beth Newell, Megan Sisko, Elena Spak, Sara Sullivan, Caitlin Trant, Yolandi Van Der Merwe, and Yolandi Van Rooyen

Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country

Chase Broussard, Vincent DePalma, Kyle Kaminiski, Garrett Larkin, Maka Mudekunye, Bradley Rocco, Samson Weiser, and Patrick Wylie

Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country

Janelle Adams, Sarah Anderson, Ogadinma Anyanwu, Kathry Bannantine, Emily Barno, Shannon Casey, Kaitlyn Flynn, Robin Gilmore, Kari Hedderick, Rachel Hess, Anita James, Lindsey Kramer, Elizabeth Kline, Amanda Kuhl, Susan Martinez, Carrie Mavrikis, Korinne Piper, Stephanie Powers, Emily Setlock, Victoria Toso, Leah Ulizio, and Kelsey Voltz

Women’s Tennis

Elizabeth Adams, Kimmy Borza, Adela Aprodu, Melissa Bostwick, Minh Evans, Jocelyn Lu, and Karma Parbhu

Women’s Volleyball

Meagan Dooley, Lauren Hartman, Allyson Hodnik, Rachel Kalberer, Tara Rohall, Melissa Stadelman, and Amy Town

Wrestling

Christian Fagan, Zachary Grove, Donald Tasser, Ryan Tomei, and Tyler Wilps

BLUE AWARDS (3.0-3.49 GPA)

Baseball

Ray Black, David Chester, Jonathan Danielczyk, Anthony DeFabio, Zach Duggan, Lucas Ellex, Chris Harner, Brad Lalli, Jeff Kelly, J. R. Leonardi, John Schultz, Josh Smith, Travis Whitmore, and Derik Wilson

Men’s Basketball

Gilbert Brown, Tim Frye, Aron Nwankwo, Lamar Patterson, Dante Taylor, Austin Wallace, and Cameron Wright

Women’s Basketball

Chelsea Cole, Kyra Dunn, Selena Nwude, and Shayla Scott

Cheer and Dance Team

Nicolette Benick, Joe Bickel, Hannah Brady, Katie Casella, Brianna Clare, Amanda Eggert, Dorinda Fella, Justin Gilbert, Katie Hall, Caylen Harris, Olivia Heidenfelder, Emma Holmes, Jessica Litten, Caitlyn McCann, Corey McMillen, Danielle Narlesky, Brianna Norris, Michael Nuzzo, Fallon O’Donnell, Madisyn Pina, Brittany Post, Michelle Proviano, Kajsa Siewczak, Brooke Slemons, Jeralyn Smith, Alyssa Standlick, Anna Sweeney, Caitlin Timoney, Kyle Yurkewicz, and Julie Wislie

Football

Kevin Barthelemy, Jeremiah Davis, Dom DeCicco, T. J. Clemmings, Jacob Delmonico, Jarred Holley, Henry Hynoski, Andrew Janocko, Adam Lazenga, John Malecki, Chris Mike, Randel Morris, Marco Pecora, Tristan Roberts, Tino Sunseri, Joseph Trebitz, Kristopher Wildman, Manny Williams, Matt Yoklic, and Brett Zuck

Women’s Gymnastics

Kelsey Ainsworth, Mallory Brewer, Jessica Byich, Kori Macdonald, Shannon McConnell, Laura Rigney, Shannon Vafiadou, and Amy Varela

Men’s Soccer

Wils Alpern, Matt Baker, Alex Betancourt, Terence Boland, Andrew Clifford, John Cordier, Alex Fischetti, Keegan Gunderson, Sam Luffy, Connor Malone, Ethan Talbott, and Michael Whitaker

Women’s Soccer

Klarissa Ames, Danielle Benner, Elizabeth Carroll, Kathleen Caslin, Ashley Cuba, Alexandra Jaffe, Morgan Masci, and Lyndsay Pierson

Softball

Ashley Amistade, Cory Berliner, Kristen Cheesebrew, Niki Cognigni,,Courtney Derus, Amanda Heitmeier, Kelly Hmiel, Jessica Rhodunda, and Krista Rodgers

Men’s Swimming and Diving

Christoph Berger, Aidan Considine, Jonathan Du, Jason Erdeljac, Collin Forner, Zane McLain, and Jacob Van Roekel

Women’s Swimming and Diving

Laura Barnes, Megan Bender, Kimberlee Cadell, Kimberly Ciotti, Kelsey DiGilio, Brittany DiSanti, Alyssa Ferraro, Leah Harper, Christina Lisella, Mallory Mullady, Liz Tabor, Margaret Walker, and Leah Waltz

Men’s Track and Field/Cross Country

Andrew Cerrito, Josh Christopher, Dontave Cowsette, Kevin Hull, Folarin Ijelu, Gregory Kareis, Idris Kasumu, Dan Kwiatkowski, Jermaine Lowery, Caleb Matthews, Edward Miller, Daniel O’Toole, Elliot Rhodes, Bryce Rupp, and Kevin Wilbank

Women’s Track and Field/Cross Country

Anyssa Barbour, Kaetlyn Brown, Brianna Broyles, Heather Calisto Marsden, Brittany Carroll, Jessica Catalano, Nicole Cherry, Kelsey Coates, Rachel Erny, Brittany Giannotti, Julia Koloski, Alyssa Kunkel, Megan Leake, Alicia Lichvar, Rachael McIntosh, Taylor Myers, Lanesha Pugh, Jacquelyn Rucker, Kari Weimerskirch, Alexis Wilder, and Ashley Woodford

Women’s Tennis

Marie Eanes-Fennelly, Brittney Russell, and Sabrina Visram

Women’s Volleyball

Margaret Acton, Alexa Campbell, Melanie Feldman, Imani Harper, Alyssa King, Maria Nicholas, and Michelle Walker

Wrestling

Adam Counterman, Kyle Flick, Victor Konno, Tyler Nauman, Mark Powell, Troy Reaghard, Philip Sorrentino, Michael Tully, Andrew Vaughan, and Anthony Zanetta