Feb. 18, 2008

PITTSBURGH--305 student-athletes were honored as the Pitt Alumni Association sponsored the University of Pittsburgh Scholar-Athlete Awards Breakfast in Alumni Hall this morning. The Associate Vice Chancellor Executive Director of the Pitt Alumni Association, Dr. Lee Patouillet and WPXI Channel 11 sports anchor Rich Walsh were the program's special guests.

Patouillet helped make it possible to acknowledge the student-athletes, while Walsh, a former Pitt scholar-athlete, was the master of ceremonies.

Another honored guest was Athletic Director Steve Pederson, who announced the Academic Team Awards, including Most Improved and the Top Men's and Women's Team Awards.

The Most Improved Team was baseball, who tallied a collective 2.81 GPA during the 2006-07 semesters. Additionally, graduate Kyle Landis and senior Nick Mullins were among the 21 student-athletes honored with a perfect 4.0 during the breakfast.

Pitt's men's swimming and diving team earned the Top Men's Team GPA Award, as seven members of the team were deemed Gold Awardees with a 3.5-4.0 GPA. Graduate Andrew Sheaff and junior Jonathan Buchanan are the team's 4.0 honorees.

Junior Monica Macellari and sophomore Meagan Dooley led the women's volleyball team with 4.0s, as they garnered the Top Women's Team Award and the Overall Top GPA Award for the second consecutive year. All 11 members of the squad honored were Gold Award selections.