University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt's O'Neill Selected as a Wuerffel Trophy Semifinalist
11/2/2017 11:30:00 AM | Football
PITTSBURGH—Pitt junior offensive lineman Brian O'Neill is a semifinalist selection for the Wuerffel Trophy, which is annually presented to the Football Bowl Subdivision player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement.
Regarded as college football's premier award for community service, the trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the former University of Florida quarterback and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner.
Known throughout college football as the touchdown-scoring offensive lineman, the defending winner of SB Nation's Piesman Trophy and an All-ACC caliber tackle, O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) has also spent much of his time as a Pitt student-athlete giving back through numerous volunteering ventures.
O'Neill bypassed the opportunity to vacation during his 2016 semester break and instead made a mission trip to the impoverished nation of Haiti, where he served in orphanages. In addition to bonding with the children, Brian enthusiastically worked as a laborer who contributed maintenance, construction and upkeep of the orphanage buildings and shelters.
The Delaware native then spent the subsequent year fundraising for a return trip to Haiti this spring. Unfortunately, a health issue prevented him from traveling. However, he still worked diligently in Pittsburgh on behalf of the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) so that this year's mission trip would be successful.
While finishing his undergraduate studies as a finance major, O'Neill has also visited the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans Center, making room-to-room visits with the patients, who range in age from the Vietnam era to as early as World War II. There, he spent personal time with the veterans, hearing their stories of service to our country while also sharing his own experiences as a college football player.
O'Neill's other past community service activities include a visit to the Mel Blount Youth Home, which serves young boys who are victims of child abuse and neglect; three years of gathering and wrapping gifts for local families who could not afford their own presents with the Christmas at Pitt program; volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh organization, interacting with young people seeking role models; and making an annual visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania.
O'Neill is one of 11 semifinalists for this year's Wuerffel Trophy and one of three candidates from the Atlantic Coast Conference still in contention for the prestigious award.
Three finalists for the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy will be announced on November 22. The winner will be named December 6 in New York City.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
Regarded as college football's premier award for community service, the trophy is named after Danny Wuerffel, the former University of Florida quarterback and 1996 Heisman Trophy winner.
Known throughout college football as the touchdown-scoring offensive lineman, the defending winner of SB Nation's Piesman Trophy and an All-ACC caliber tackle, O'Neill (Wilmington, Del./Salesianum School) has also spent much of his time as a Pitt student-athlete giving back through numerous volunteering ventures.
O'Neill bypassed the opportunity to vacation during his 2016 semester break and instead made a mission trip to the impoverished nation of Haiti, where he served in orphanages. In addition to bonding with the children, Brian enthusiastically worked as a laborer who contributed maintenance, construction and upkeep of the orphanage buildings and shelters.
The Delaware native then spent the subsequent year fundraising for a return trip to Haiti this spring. Unfortunately, a health issue prevented him from traveling. However, he still worked diligently in Pittsburgh on behalf of the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) so that this year's mission trip would be successful.
While finishing his undergraduate studies as a finance major, O'Neill has also visited the Southwestern Pennsylvania Veterans Center, making room-to-room visits with the patients, who range in age from the Vietnam era to as early as World War II. There, he spent personal time with the veterans, hearing their stories of service to our country while also sharing his own experiences as a college football player.
O'Neill's other past community service activities include a visit to the Mel Blount Youth Home, which serves young boys who are victims of child abuse and neglect; three years of gathering and wrapping gifts for local families who could not afford their own presents with the Christmas at Pitt program; volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh organization, interacting with young people seeking role models; and making an annual visit to the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania.
O'Neill is one of 11 semifinalists for this year's Wuerffel Trophy and one of three candidates from the Atlantic Coast Conference still in contention for the prestigious award.
Three finalists for the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy will be announced on November 22. The winner will be named December 6 in New York City.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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