Moon Township, Pa. – Senior student-athletes
Briana Bunner of the softball team and
Kalyssa Pottgeiser of the rowing squad were two of 13 students to earn the
Robert Morris University Signature Leadership Award.
Each of the 13 students to garner the RMU Signature Leadership Award are active in university life, demonstrate leadership, are scholarly and possess educational achievements and have a commitment to community service.
Bunner was a four-year letterwinner for the Robert Morris softball program, appearing in 151 career games, each as member of the starting lineup. She finished with a .265 career batting average to go along with 59 runs, 34 doubles, seven home runs and 59 RBI. She also was successful on nine of her 10 attempts in stolen bases.
Owning a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.90, Bunner will graduate from Robert Morris Saturday with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology with a concentration in clinical sport psychology. She'll return to RMU in the fall, serving as a graduate assistant with the psychology department.
During her time as a student-athlete at Robert Morris, Bunner facilitated numerous community service initiatives for the softball program, served as First Year Seminar Program Lead Mentor and was also a member of the RMU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). During her junior year at Robert Morris, Bunner, a native of Hunker, Pa., started a new organization on campus called Hope Happens Here. The program supports student-athletes with the stigma of mental health, creating awareness and encouraging self-care.
"Briana's impact at Robert Morris goes far beyond the softball program," RMU softball head coach
Jexx Varner said. "Her involvement in a myriad of different clubs, organizations and events left her fingerprints and impressions all over campus. Briana managed it all and still played at a high level."
Pottgeiser, a native of Elizabethtown, Pa., will earn a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics and predictive analysis Saturday from Robert Morris. She maintained a 3.52 cumulative GPA while earning four letters with the RMU rowing program. Pottgeiser also completed an honors thesis on Title IX.
An advocate for women's health, Pottgeiser served as treasurer of the RMU Creativity Club, was an active member of the RMU Leadership and Mentor Program and was also a member of the Colonial Leadership Academy (CLA). In addition, Pottgeiser is a member of Active Minds and participated in Habitat for Humanity each year during the rowing team's annual spring break trip to South Carolina.
"Kalyssa is a spectacular young woman and it has been an honor to be her coach," RMU assistant rowing coach
Carol Schoenecker said. "An advocate for women and women's health, Kalyssa has worked tirelessly to raise awareness for cancer research. Her work ethic, kindness and dedication to hear teammates instantly defined her as a leader."
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