Holly Pascoe & Philipp Harder honored at Outstanding Student Awards
Pittsburgh, Pa. – Each year Point Park University hosts its Outstanding Student Awards to recognize the exceptional academic and co-curricular achievements of Point Park students and celebrates the impact these students have had on the Point Park campus community. During the Outstanding Student Awards ceremony two athletic awards are given out, the Anna Shields Outstanding Student-Athlete Award and the Don Kelly Outstanding Student-Athlete Award. This year's recipients were women's soccer member Holly Pascoe and men's soccer member Philipp Harder.
Anna Shields Outstanding Student-Athlete Award: Holly Pascoe (WSOC)
The Anna Shields Outstanding Student-Athlete Award is given annually to a Point Park University female junior or senior student-athlete who displays outstanding leadership and embodies the values, spirit and tradition of being a model student-athlete during her time at the University. Deserving candidates are outstanding representative of the school and the department in the classroom, in the community and in the sport she plays. These qualities exhibit what it means to be a student-athlete. This award is named for alum Anna Shields.
Senior Holly Pascoe was named the 2023-24 Anna Shields Outstanding Student-Athlete Award recipient.
Pascoe was a senior captain on the women's soccer team in the fall where she had an amazing year as she headlined Point Park's selections in the All-RSC awards. Pascoe was named the RSC Player of the Year as well as the RSC Offensive Player of the Year while being named to the All-RSC First Team for the second year in a row. Pascoe was also named Point Park's RSC Champions of Character honoree. The RSC Champions of Character honoree is a member on the team that best exhibits the five core characters values of the NAIA which are respect, responsibilities, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship.
During the 2023 season, Pascoe capped off her two-year career at Point Park with an astonishing season. Pascoe finished the 2023 season with tied for the most goals with 16, as well as led the conference with nine assists and 41 points to help her claim RSC Player of the Year and RSC Offensive Player of the Year honors. In national standings, Pascoe was ranked 25th in the NAIA in goals and 22nd in points. In just her two years at Point Park University, Pascoe piled up 30 goals and 73 points.
Pascoe succeeded on and off the field and was an outstanding representative of not only the women's soccer team but also Point Park University itself.
Don Kelly Outstanding Student-Athlete Award: Philipp Harder (MSOC)
The Don Kelly Outstanding Student-Athlete Award is given annually to a Point Park University male junior or senior student-athlete who displays outstanding leadership and embodies the values, spirit and tradition of being a model student-athlete during his time at the University. Deserving candidates are outstanding representatives of the school and the department in the classroom, in the community and in the sport he plays. These qualities exhibit what it means to be a student-athlete. This award is named for alum Don Kelly. Prior to 2020, this award had been given to both a male and female student-athlete.
This year's Don Kelly Outstanding Student-Athlete Award recipient was Senior Philipp Harder.
Philipp Harder is a member of the men's soccer team at Point Park where he was named a captain during the 2023 season. At the end of the 2023 season, Philipp was named to the All-RSC First Team as he had a fantastic senior season leading the conference with 15 goals while being second in the conference with 35 points. Philipp also led the RSC With six-game winning goals in the Pioneers' 10 victories. In his second season with the Pioneers, Harder started all 19 games this year. During his two years at Point Park, he had 24 goals, 10 assists and 58 points to cap off his career. He was named to the All-RSC First Team in both of his seasons at Point Park.
Off the pitch, Harder embodies what it means to be a student-athlete as he not only performs on the pitch but also in the classroom. Philipp is a great representation of the men's soccer team and Point Park University.