March 6, 2008

Pitt senior wrestler Joe Ciampoli has been honored with the Emma W. Locke Memorial Award, it was announced Friday at the University's Honor's Convocation.

Established in 1946 by Charles A. Locke in memory of his mother, the Emma W. Locke Award is presented annually to a graduating senior in recognition of high scholarship, character, and devotion to the ideals of the University. The student must have at least a 3.85 GPA and plan to continue his or her education after graduation. 

Ciampoli currently holds a 3.917 cumulative GPA and has achieved a 4.0 semester GPA in five of his seven terms at Pitt. He has been named to the athletic director's high honor roll each year he has been at Pitt, and his name is a mainstay on the plaque hanging above the Academic Support Services for Student-Athletes Center listing the Pitt student-athletes who have achieved a 4.0 GPA within the past academic year.

"Joe is one of our top nursing students," commented Susan Albrecht, the associate dean of the School of Nursing and Pitt's NCAA Faculty Representative. "He carries one of the highest GPA's in his class and his clinical instructors are constantly commending him on his professionalism and pleasant demeanor when it comes to providing care to others."

In 2007, Ciampoli's leadership in the classroom helped the Panther wrestlers earn the distinction of Pitt's top male academic team. In addition to his responsibilities on the mat and in the classroom, Ciampoli is also a wrestling team representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the hand selected group of student-athletes that represent the voice of the student-athlete body. He is also active in the greater Pittsburgh community, participating in Children's Hospital visits, and assisting his team with an annual clinic and life skills presentation given in conjunction with the Panther PAWS (Pitt Athletes Working with Students) program sponsored by Pitt's Community Leisure Learn.

"Joe embodies the very best of what it means to truly be a student-athlete," noted Pitt's Athletic Director Steve Pederson. "He is also a shining example of the type of student-athletes we have at Pitt. Not only is he an outstanding student, but Joe is a key contributor to our wrestling team and an active member in the community."

After his completing his undergraduate studies, Ciampoli plans to enroll in the School of Nursing's Nursing Anesthesia graduate program.