University of Pittsburgh Athletics
10/28/2026 4:00:00 PM | Football, General
CHARLOTTE, NC – The Atlantic Coast Conference named Penny Semaia as a recipient of the 2026 ACC UNITE Award, which recognizes individuals who have made a meaningful and lasting impact through their commitment to unity, respect and inclusion.
Pitt's Semaia is joined by Syracuse University's Oren Lyons as the two recipients of this year's award.
Each ACC member institution may nominate up to two individuals annually, including student-athletes, staff members, alumni and members of the campus community. An initiative of the ACC's UNITE Committee, the ACC UNITE Award is supported by all 18 member institutions. Two honorees are selected annually by the internal ACC UNITE Committee.
We are proud to recognize Penny Semaia and Oren Lyons as the recipients of the sixth annual ACC UNITE Award, said ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. Through their extraordinary leadership, service and commitment to others, Penny and Oren have positively shaped countless lives, on their campuses, in their communities and far beyond. Their example reflects the values at the heart of the ACC—respect for one another, an appreciation for our differences and a shared responsibility to create opportunity for all.
For nearly two decades, Penny Semaia shaped the student-athlete experience at the University of Pittsburgh by living out a simple belief: every person deserves to be seen, valued, and supported. His work reflects the heart of the ACC Unity Statement, treating others as equals, leading with respect and dignity, and recognizing that our differences make us stronger.
Semaia's story at Pitt began on the field. He was a four-time letterwinner on the offensive and defensive line for the Panthers from 2000-03, and his leadership extended well beyond football. He served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for three years, holding the roles of secretary, vice-president and president, and was a Freshman Peer Counselor for three years. Even then, he was building community and lifting up those around him.
In 2005, Semaia became a true pioneer when he was hired to fill the newly created position of Career and Life Skills Coordinator for Student Athletes. Starting from a single role, he built what became one of the most respected student-athlete development programs in the country. He went on to lead a staff of 10 in the Cathy and John Pelusi Family Life Skills Program as senior associate athletic director for student life. Under his leadership, Pitt gained a national reputation in life skills programming, with services spanning financial education, etiquette training, community service, graduate school prep and personal and leadership development.
Semaia's impact reached far beyond Pittsburgh. He helped shape national systems and practices for student-athlete well-being, serving on the NCAA's Mental Health Task Force and Student-Athlete Affairs Advisory Group and facilitating national leadership conferences. Peers across the industry took notice; one colleague who has worked with many universities described Pitt as the leader in student-athlete development and credited Semaia as the reason why. Proud of his roots, he also traveled to help provide life skills training through the Fa'a Samoa Initiative in American Samoa, extending opportunity to young people far from campus.
His commitment to others earned wide recognition. He received the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Award for Staff Excellence in the Community, the City of Pittsburgh presented him with the Citizen Service Award, and he was named winner of the Herb Douglas Mentorship Award at Pitt's Panthers' Choice Awards.
Above all, Semaia is remembered for how he made people feel. Positively impacting countless lives through his signature high-five and a smile approach to work and life. Today, he serves as vice president of stadium relations for the Buffalo Bills, but his legacy at Pitt endures in the programs he built, the staff he mentored, and the thousands of student-athletes who learned from him that leadership means lifting others up. Penny Semaia paved the way so that every Panther, regardless of background, could thrive.
