Pitt's Top Six for Service Recognized by ACC
5/1/2024 5:03:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Soccer, Women's Track & Field, Women's Lacrosse
PITTSBURGH. – Four University of Pittsburgh student-athletes and two athletic teams were honored by the ACC with the league's Top Six for Service Award, an honor presented annually to student-athletes and programs from each ACC institution that demonstrate dedication to community service and outreach programs.
The Panthers' four student-athlete recipients include: Isabella Bufalini (Women's Track and Field), Tori Pecarchik (Spirit), Ellie Coffield (Women's Soccer) and Jake Frantl (Football). Pitt's team recipients were women's lacrosse and men's basketball.
The recipients have shown a willingness to help others and demonstrated a passion for wanting to enrich the lives of those around them.
More information on Pitt's honorees:
• Isabella Bufalini (Women's Track and Field), – Isabella completed 167 hours of community service and completed the most hours by a Pitt student-athlete this academic year. Isabella's commitment to service is unmatched, and she makes it a priority to give back to the Pittsburgh community whenever she can.
• Tori Pecarchik (Spirit) – Tori completed the second highest number of community service hours of all Pitt student-athletes this year, clocking in 135 hours. Tori served consistently with the Hillman Cancer Center as a HELP Program Volunteer and Patient & Family Coordinator where she spends quality time interacting with patients ages 70 and older who are hospitalized.
• Ellie Coffield (Women's Soccer) – If you ever ask for volunteers, Ellie is the first to raise her hand. This past year, Ellie has raised money and participated in Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society, conducted Youth Ministry Programs through her local church, and coordinated multiple one-off service events to tailor service to her peer's interests. Thus far, Ellie has completed 129 hours of service this year and is already planning for next year's opportunities.
• Jake Frantl (Football) – Jake was once again in the top four total community service hours amongst Pitt student-athletes with 106 hours. Jake's most notable contribution was planning a Field Day at the Boys and Girls Club where he brought 50+ student-athletes on a Sunday afternoon to play, coach, and interact with youth athletes in the Pittsburgh community.
• Pitt Women's lacrosse team – The Pitt Women's Lacrosse Team completed the highest number of hours per student-athlete of all Pitt Athletics Teams. Whether in-season or out of season, Women's Lacrosse makes it a priority to use their platform as student-athletes to give back to the local community.
• Pitt Men's basketball team – For the first time in program history, Men's Basketball completed the second highest number of community service hours per student-athlete. While already competitive on the court and in the classroom, Pitt Men's Basketball made it a priority to give back to the community. The Panthers with Duke Men's Basketball for the inaugural "Hoops4ALS" games, played Jan. 9 (Petersen Events Center) and Jan. 20 (Cameron Indoor Stadium). Hoops4ALS is a group dedicated to uniting basketball coaches, players, and fans to raise awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease — and promote research and advocacy to help those dealing with this fatal disease and to support those working to find a cure.
