Spirit of Pitt

The Pitt Alumni Association (PAA) presents two upper-division undergraduate students and one graduate student with Spirit of Pitt awards during Homecoming Week, recognizing a commitment to academic excellence, community service and the PAA’s values.

The students with the most votes from their peers will each receive a Spirit of Pitt award and $2,000 in student resource funds.

Apply Now

Spirit of Pitt Contact
Olivia Ernstoff
Associate Director of Young Alumni and Student Programs
ofl4@pitt.edu

Application Requirements

Fill out the Spirit of Pitt application
Minimum GPA of 2.5
Full-time student during spring and fall 2026
Fulfilled five hours of community service during the 2025-26 academic year
Current junior, senior or graduate student
Be in good standing with Student Conduct, fill out the Student Conduct form and include the following information:
- What program: Spirit of Pitt
- Who is your supervisor? Olivia Ernstoff
- What is their email? ofl4@pitt.edu

Important Dates

March 2 at noon: Applications Open
April 2 at noon: Applications Close
April 17: Interview Invitations Sent
Week of April 22: In-Person Interviews
April 24: Homecoming Court Announced on Social

Application Process and Guidelines

Candidates for the Spirit of Pitt award will go through the following selection process:

Application & Eligibility Review: Students submit an application, which is reviewed by PAA staff. Eligibility is confirmed by the Registrar and Student Conduct offices to ensure all minimum requirements are met.
Essay Evaluation: Eligible applications are evaluated by a committee, with essays reviewed and ranked to determine semifinalists.
Interview Round: The top 18 candidates (12 undergraduate and six graduate students) are invited to interview with a panel of university partners. From these interviews, six undergraduate and two graduate students will be selected for the Homecoming Court.
Campaigning & Voting: Court members participate in a campus-wide campaign and voting period during the fall semester.
Winners Announced: Spirit of Pitt recipients are revealed at the Homecoming football game.

All applicants must adhere to the following policies and procedures. Students who violate any of these policies will be disqualified, and the appropriate departments will be notified to determine disciplinary actions.

Spirit of Pitt Homecoming Rules & Guidelines
University’s Notice of Nondiscrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Statement
Branding guidelines established by the University
Policies and procedures listed by the Office of Policy Development and Management

The Pitt Alumni Association partners with the Office of Financial Aid to award resource funds to Spirit of Pitt recipients, with eligibility verified during the application process. If a student is ineligible to receive the funds, PAA staff will notify them and the student must designate a SORC-recognized student organization to receive the award. Funds may be used for:

Alumni engagement events
School spirit initiatives
Annual traditions
Professional development
Necessary organizational supplies

In the event of a tie during essay reviews or interviews, selected students may be asked to participate in an additional evaluation round to determine final rankings.