June 7, 2011
PITTSBURGH - Duquesne University senior forward Samantha Pollino (Johnstown, Pa./Conemaugh Valley) has been cited by Atlantic 10 Conference Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade as one of four recipients of the conference's 2011 Postgraduate Scholarship.
Pollino, who joins Saint Louis' Hailee Elmore, Xavier's Thomas Kauffman, and Dayton's Rebecca Novacek as this year's honorees, will receive $5,000 to contribute to her graduate education. The recipients, who were chosen by the Atlantic 10's faculty representatives, were selected based on a combination of academic performance, athletic skill and involvement in extra-curricular activities.
A four-year starter and two-year captain for the DU women's basketball team, Pollino averaged over 27 minutes per game in a school-record 125 starts. She was part of the all-time winningest class in program history, in helping lead DU to three consecutive WNIT appearances. Pollino finished her career as the fourth leading scorer in program history with 1,437 points, while averaging over 5.0 rebounds per game. She earned Second Team All-Conference accolades as a junior and senior and was named A-10 Player of the Week on three separate occasions during her career.
Pollino, Duquesne's 2010-11 co-Female Student-Athlete of the Year, earned a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Health Sciences last May and is currently enrolled in Duquesne's Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) program where she has completed 43 of 94 graduate hours. The Johnstown, Pa., native is a two-time Atlantic 10 All-Academic Team honoree and an eight-time member of the A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll. A Dean's List student, Pollino was named to the Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-District II First Team in 2011. Serving as an active member in the community in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas, she has also accumulated 150 hours of volunteer work at the Phoenix Rehabilitation Center in Johnstown, Pa., working with a physical therapist.
Pollino is the first DU student-athlete to earn an Atlantic 10 Postgraduate Scholarship Award since Ryan Bender (cross country) and Colleen McCroskey (rowing) in 2004-05.
