University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Date Set for 60th Anniversary Varsity Letter Club Awards Dinner
11/19/2021 9:23:00 AM | Life Skills
A date has been set for the 60th Anniversary Varsity Letter Club Awards Dinner. The event honoring the 2021 Awardees of Distinction will be held Friday, February 18, 2022 and will take place at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. Event is set to begin at 6:00 PM. The 2021 Awardees of Distinction will then be honored at the Pitt-Georgia Tech Men's Basketball game on February 19, 2022.
Tickets for the Pitt Varsity Letter Club Awards Dinner can be purchased through the link below. Individual registration is $85 and a table of 10 is $850.
BUY TICKETS HERE
The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Letter Club is excited to announce the 2021 Awardees of Distinction. Since 1961, the Pitt Varsity Letter Club has honored letterwinners who have distinguished themselves in their profession or community, and who, by their accomplishments, have enhanced the value of the intercollegiate athletics programs at the University of Pittsburgh.
The 2021 Awardees of Distinction class includes:
Dr. Brenda Buffington
Dr. Brenda Buffington graduated from Pitt in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She was a letterwinner from 1976-80 as a member of Pitt's track & field and cross country teams. Buffington served as captain for both squads as a senior, and has competed and coached in track and cross country for over 30 years. She was the head coach of the women's cross country team and an assistant coach of the women's track team at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio from 2010-11 and head coach for the Olentangy Liberty High School Women's Track & Field team, Powell, Ohio from 2007-2016. Buffington received her Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University in 1987, and her Doctor of Education from Argosy University in 2012. Dr. Buffington now serves as the Executive Director of the Health Athlete Program, is a Buckeye Wellness Program Manager and an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. She is the mother of two sons; Luke and John.
Dr. Phil Dahar
Western PA native Dr. Phil Dahar graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1966 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Dr. Dahar was a two-year letterman with the Pitt football team from 1964-65 and team captain in 1965. After graduating, Dr. Dahar remained a Panther in numerous ways. He was a coach of Pitt's freshman football team from 1966-69 and earned three additional degrees from the University of Pittsburgh: A Doctor of Medicine in Density, a Certificate of Orthodontics and a Master's in Orthodontics. Dr. Dahar has been equally successful running his practice, Dahar Orthodontics, for over 50 years. His practice has been voted best in his area by Pittsburgh magazine and he has been acknowledged as top orthodontist by the Trib Total Media's "quest for the best gold award" on numerous occasions. Phil and his late wife Fiona have three children: Nicholas, Sara and Matthew - and 4 grandchildren: Lexy, Haley, Holden, and Beckett.
Dr. Bill Englert
Dr. Bill Englert, who currently resides in the Pittsburgh area, was a three-year letterwinner (1971-73) with the Pitt football program and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education. Englert played under legendary head coach Johnny Majors and participated in the 1973 Fiesta Bowl. After graduating from Pitt, Englert returned twice to Oakland as a student, receiving his Master of Education from Pitt in 1976 and his Doctor of Education in 2001. Englert enjoyed a 30-year career in education and spent eight years as assistant superintendent at West Allegheny School District before retiring in 2014. Bill is married to Christine Englert and they have two children; Kelly and William III.
>Dr. Rhonda Gibbs
Dr. Rhonda Gibbs graduated from Pitt in 1985 with a Bachelor's degree in Rhetoric Communication. A dual-sport athlete, Gibbs was a letterwinner with the women's basketball team in 1981 and with the tennis team from 1983-85. She earned a Master's of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry at Oral Roberts University in 1991 and 1996, respectively. She has served as a minister and pastor at various churches and ministries, as well as a coach for youth tennis and basketball. She is the founding member, CEO, and Traveling Evangelist and Youth Ambassador for RLG Sports and Ministries in Pleasanton, California.
Dr. Monica Hockaday
Dr. Monica Hockaday graduated from Pitt in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Hockaday was a member of Pitt's track and field team from 1989-1993. She served as team captain and earned All-American status during her time as a Panther. After graduating, Hockaday joined the Air Force and continued her track and field career as a member of the All-Air Force and All-Armed Forces Track and Field Teams. She received a master's degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in 1998 and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University in 2019. Dr. Hockaday has served as a member of the Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 2002, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. She has one child, her son Anthony.
Don Silvestri
Pittsburgh native Don Silvestri was a letterwinner with the Pitt football program from 1990-91, a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and graduated with Bachelor's degrees in Marketing and Business in 1991. He went on to play nine seasons of professional football as a kicker and punter. He is currently the president of Debt.com , as well as the treasurer of the NFL Players Association South Florida, and a founding director of Parkland Cares, which provides free mental health services. Don's passion has always been helping others, from coaching sports to providing financial education. Don and his wife Alissa have always been very active in their community and local charities; and officially became foster parents. Over the last seven years they've welcomed a dozen children into their home highlighted with the adoption of their youngest son Kade.
Denny Terzich
Denny Terzich was a four-year letterwinner with the Pitt baseball program from 1989-92. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1992 and a minor in Finance. Terzich was a team captain, and at the time of his graduation, he held the Pitt baseball record for career pitching appearances (43). Since 2010, Terzich has been the Senior Wealth Director of BNY Mellon. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Humane Animal Rescue and previously sat on the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Board of Directors. Terzich also participates in the Panthers to Pros Mentorship Program where he assists student-athletes by giving career advice, helps polish interviewing skills and teaches how to build their self-brand personally and professionally. Terzich resides in Pittsburgh with his fiancé Megan and daughter Della.
Dr. Alan C. Utter
After walking onto the Pitt wrestling team in 1985, Dr. Alan C. Utter led a prestigious academic and athletic career as a Panther, which ended with a PhD in Exercise Physiology in 1995, one of four degrees he earned from the University of Pittsburgh. Utter was a letterwinner with the wrestling program from 1986-90. During that time, he captured an EWL Conference title (1987), qualified for three NCAA Championship tournaments and won Pitt's Blue and Gold Award (1990). Utter currently serves as the Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor at Arkansas State University. From 1995-2017, he was a faculty member at Appalachian State University and has over 100 research publications in peer-reviewed journals. Utter is the father of two; Mackenzie and Abigail.
Tickets for the Pitt Varsity Letter Club Awards Dinner can be purchased through the link below. Individual registration is $85 and a table of 10 is $850.
BUY TICKETS HERE
The University of Pittsburgh Varsity Letter Club is excited to announce the 2021 Awardees of Distinction. Since 1961, the Pitt Varsity Letter Club has honored letterwinners who have distinguished themselves in their profession or community, and who, by their accomplishments, have enhanced the value of the intercollegiate athletics programs at the University of Pittsburgh.
The 2021 Awardees of Distinction class includes:
- Dr. Brenda Buffington, Women's Track & Field, 1976-1980
- Dr. Phil Dahar, Football, 1964-1965
- Bill Englert, Football, 1971-1973
- Dr. Rhonda Gibbs, Women's Basketball 1981-1983 & Tennis 1983-1985
- Dr. Monica Hockaday, Women's Track & Field 1989-1993
- Don Silvestri, Football, 1990-1991
- Denny Terzich, Baseball, 1989-1992
- Alan Utter, Wrestling, 1986-1990
Dr. Brenda Buffington
Dr. Brenda Buffington graduated from Pitt in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. She was a letterwinner from 1976-80 as a member of Pitt's track & field and cross country teams. Buffington served as captain for both squads as a senior, and has competed and coached in track and cross country for over 30 years. She was the head coach of the women's cross country team and an assistant coach of the women's track team at Otterbein University in Westerville, Ohio from 2010-11 and head coach for the Olentangy Liberty High School Women's Track & Field team, Powell, Ohio from 2007-2016. Buffington received her Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology from West Virginia University in 1987, and her Doctor of Education from Argosy University in 2012. Dr. Buffington now serves as the Executive Director of the Health Athlete Program, is a Buckeye Wellness Program Manager and an assistant professor in the College of Nursing at The Ohio State University. She is the mother of two sons; Luke and John.
Dr. Phil Dahar
Western PA native Dr. Phil Dahar graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1966 with a Bachelor's degree in Biology. Dr. Dahar was a two-year letterman with the Pitt football team from 1964-65 and team captain in 1965. After graduating, Dr. Dahar remained a Panther in numerous ways. He was a coach of Pitt's freshman football team from 1966-69 and earned three additional degrees from the University of Pittsburgh: A Doctor of Medicine in Density, a Certificate of Orthodontics and a Master's in Orthodontics. Dr. Dahar has been equally successful running his practice, Dahar Orthodontics, for over 50 years. His practice has been voted best in his area by Pittsburgh magazine and he has been acknowledged as top orthodontist by the Trib Total Media's "quest for the best gold award" on numerous occasions. Phil and his late wife Fiona have three children: Nicholas, Sara and Matthew - and 4 grandchildren: Lexy, Haley, Holden, and Beckett.
Dr. Bill Englert
Dr. Bill Englert, who currently resides in the Pittsburgh area, was a three-year letterwinner (1971-73) with the Pitt football program and graduated in 1974 with a Bachelor of Science in Health & Physical Education. Englert played under legendary head coach Johnny Majors and participated in the 1973 Fiesta Bowl. After graduating from Pitt, Englert returned twice to Oakland as a student, receiving his Master of Education from Pitt in 1976 and his Doctor of Education in 2001. Englert enjoyed a 30-year career in education and spent eight years as assistant superintendent at West Allegheny School District before retiring in 2014. Bill is married to Christine Englert and they have two children; Kelly and William III.
>Dr. Rhonda Gibbs
Dr. Rhonda Gibbs graduated from Pitt in 1985 with a Bachelor's degree in Rhetoric Communication. A dual-sport athlete, Gibbs was a letterwinner with the women's basketball team in 1981 and with the tennis team from 1983-85. She earned a Master's of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry at Oral Roberts University in 1991 and 1996, respectively. She has served as a minister and pastor at various churches and ministries, as well as a coach for youth tennis and basketball. She is the founding member, CEO, and Traveling Evangelist and Youth Ambassador for RLG Sports and Ministries in Pleasanton, California.
Dr. Monica Hockaday
Dr. Monica Hockaday graduated from Pitt in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Political Science. Hockaday was a member of Pitt's track and field team from 1989-1993. She served as team captain and earned All-American status during her time as a Panther. After graduating, Hockaday joined the Air Force and continued her track and field career as a member of the All-Air Force and All-Armed Forces Track and Field Teams. She received a master's degree in Public Administration from Golden Gate University in 1998 and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University in 2019. Dr. Hockaday has served as a member of the Metro Transit Police Department in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia since 2002, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. She has one child, her son Anthony.
Don Silvestri
Pittsburgh native Don Silvestri was a letterwinner with the Pitt football program from 1990-91, a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and graduated with Bachelor's degrees in Marketing and Business in 1991. He went on to play nine seasons of professional football as a kicker and punter. He is currently the president of Debt.com , as well as the treasurer of the NFL Players Association South Florida, and a founding director of Parkland Cares, which provides free mental health services. Don's passion has always been helping others, from coaching sports to providing financial education. Don and his wife Alissa have always been very active in their community and local charities; and officially became foster parents. Over the last seven years they've welcomed a dozen children into their home highlighted with the adoption of their youngest son Kade.
Denny Terzich
Denny Terzich was a four-year letterwinner with the Pitt baseball program from 1989-92. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1992 and a minor in Finance. Terzich was a team captain, and at the time of his graduation, he held the Pitt baseball record for career pitching appearances (43). Since 2010, Terzich has been the Senior Wealth Director of BNY Mellon. He currently sits on the board of directors for the Humane Animal Rescue and previously sat on the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Board of Directors. Terzich also participates in the Panthers to Pros Mentorship Program where he assists student-athletes by giving career advice, helps polish interviewing skills and teaches how to build their self-brand personally and professionally. Terzich resides in Pittsburgh with his fiancé Megan and daughter Della.
Dr. Alan C. Utter
After walking onto the Pitt wrestling team in 1985, Dr. Alan C. Utter led a prestigious academic and athletic career as a Panther, which ended with a PhD in Exercise Physiology in 1995, one of four degrees he earned from the University of Pittsburgh. Utter was a letterwinner with the wrestling program from 1986-90. During that time, he captured an EWL Conference title (1987), qualified for three NCAA Championship tournaments and won Pitt's Blue and Gold Award (1990). Utter currently serves as the Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor at Arkansas State University. From 1995-2017, he was a faculty member at Appalachian State University and has over 100 research publications in peer-reviewed journals. Utter is the father of two; Mackenzie and Abigail.
Pitt Football | Postgame vs. Stanford | 11.1.25
Sunday, November 02
Highlights | Pitt vs. Duke
Saturday, November 01
QB1 taLkiNg SkiTtLeS?!
Friday, October 31
The Pat Narduzzi Radio Show | Episode 11.9 | 10.29.25
Thursday, October 30