April 14, 2008

PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh athletics department honored its senior class and handed out its highest honors, this evening, at the Senior Awards Banquet held at the William Pitt Union on Pitt's campus.

Every year since 1950, the University has recognized one male and one female athlete as a recipient of the Blue-Gold and Panther awards. This year was no different as four student-athletes were honored with those awards, in addition to the David Sandberg Champion award.

The Blue-Gold Awards are given to the seniors who represent the student-athlete ideal of academic scholarship, athletic achievement, leadership and citizenship. The female Blue-Gold awardee was Kelly O'Hara (Voorhees, N.J./Timber Creek) of the swimming and diving team. As a team captain, O'Hara has qualified for the Big East Championships all four seasons and earned all-Big East honors in three of those years. She was a member of the record-setting 200 free relay team as a sophomore and recorded the team's top time in the 50 free as a junior. This past season, O'Hara was named the Institutional Aeropostale/Big East Scholar-Athlete.

Teammate Jeremy Stultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) was honored as the male recipient of the Blue-Gold award. Stultz was a two-year captain of the men's swimming and diving team and was the first Panther to earn All-America honors on the 3-meter board since 1997. He was named the Big East Most Outstanding diver three seasons and holds four Big East titles. This past year, Stultz was named the Aeropostale/Big East Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

The Panther Award is presented to the graduating senior athlete who has promoted Pitt athletics through his/her outstanding athletic achievements. The first Panther award winner was Marcedes Walker (Philadelphia, Pa./University City) of the women's basketball team. As a senior, Walker became just the second player in Pitt history to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds in her career. As the current rebound leader and a unanimous selection to the preseason All-Big East team for the 2007-2008 season, she is a four-time All-Big East team honoree and was named as a State Farm Wade Trophy, Naismith Award and Wooden Award candidate in her career.

The male honoree of the Panther Award was Keith Gavin (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) of the wrestling team. Gavin became the first national champion since 1989 when he won the 174-puond title in 2008 with a flawless 27-0 record on the year. He is a two-time NCAA All-American and a two-time EWL Champion.

The David Sandberg Champion award was founded in 2003 in memory of the former Pitt wrestler and assistant coach that bares the same name. The award is given to a senior that best represents the qualities David personified at the University - a dedication to academic and athletic excellence, with an unyielding spirit and passionate commitment to the improvement of the University of Pittsburgh and surrounding communities. This year, three senior athletes were awarded the David Sandberg Champion award.

The first recipient was Shanea Calhoun (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross). Calhoun garnered the Big East Championship 200-meter title in the 2005 outdoor season, and was a member of the 400-meter relay Big East Championship team in the 2005 outdoor season. She was named Big East All-Conference for both the indoor and outdoor seasons the last three years. This season, Calhoun was a member of the 400-meter relay team and the 800-meter relay team that holds Pitt's outdoor records, and a member of the 800-meter relay team that holds Pitt's indoor record.

Her twin sister Shantea Calhoun (New Haven, Conn./Wilbur Cross) was also honored with the award. Shantea currently holds Pitt's outdoor record for the 100 meters and was a member of the 400-meter relay team and the 800-meter relay team that holds Pitt's outdoor records. Additionally, she was a member of the 800-meter relay team that holds Pitt's indoor record. She was an NCAA qualifier in the 2005 and 2006 outdoor seasons and earned All-Big East accolades in 2006 and 2007 for the indoor season.

The final David Sandberg Champion award recipient was Mallorie Winn (San Diego, Calif./Georgia Tech) of women's basketball. Winn was among the Big East's top 3-point shooters and broke her career record for three-pointers in a game with five against Arizona. Prior to the 2006-07 season, she was named to the preseason All-Big East team and Street & Smith's Terrific 10 Honorable Mention team. She also garnered WNIT All-Tournament Team and All-Big East Second Team honors throughout her career.

The 2007 Seniors of Distinction include varsity student-athletes, who have made outstanding contributions in the athletic arena. This year's honorees include: Diana Andreyko (women's volleyball), Sam Bair (men's cross country/track and field), Sean Conley (baseball), Jessica Dignon (softball), Joe Ciampoli (wrestling), Drew Headlee (wrestling), Matt Kocher (wrestling), Mike McGlynn (football), Ronald Ramon (men's basketball), Carlie Smith (women's tennis), Mike Wray (men's track and field), and Valerie Mihalik (softball).

Seniors honored with either the Blue-Gold or Panther Award become part of the Varsity Walk on Pitt's campus between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Chapel. There, embedded in the stones, are the names of former Pitt student-athletes who have promoted the University through their athletic or academic achievements.