Feb. 6, 2008

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Senior freestyler Kelly O'Hara of Pitt's swimming and diving team was named an institutional winner of the 2007-08 Big East/Aeropostale Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year accolade, as announced by the league's Academic Affairs Committee on Tuesday. O'Hara will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship toward graduate studies.

A social work major, O'Hara (Voorhees, N.J./Timber Creek) is serving as a team captain this season and has recorded All-Big East honors as a part of three relays in her career.

She garnered Big East Academic All-Star honors last season, in addition to being a four-time member of the Athletic Director's Honor Roll and a three-time Dean's List honoree. She is also a two-time recipient of the Student-Athlete Academic Achievement Award and a 2007 College Swimming Coaches Association of America Academic All-America awardee.

Additionally, O'Hara earned the 2007-08 Panther Game Plan Life Skills Internship in the athletics department. She is involved with the Panther Leadership Academy, Panther Leadership Conference, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, Buddhism for World Peace Campus Club, Casa de Venezuela Club and a Youth Division Leader for Buddhist Religious Group.

She has volunteered at Falk's After School Program, the swimming and diving team's Special Olympics, Pittsburgh Children's Hospital, her community Big Sister Program and a local nursing home.

O'Hara and the swimming and diving team seek a Big East Title at the conference championships, beginning Wednesday, Feb. 20, in Long Island, N.Y.