Shea Pitts (47)
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA
Pitts Named Semifinalist for Campbell Trophy®
September 29, 2021 | Football
UCLA's Shea Pitts was announced by the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) on Wednesday as a semifinalist for the 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award. Celebrating its 32nd year, the Campbell Trophy® recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
Pitts, a reserve linebacker and special teams standout for the Bruins was recognized as a 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, an honor which is awarded to students of color who have maintained a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.5, are at least a sophomore academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities. He has appeared in 30 career games for the Bruins and made his biggest splash so far in the 2019 campaign. Pitts tallied 13 tackles, including the first sack of his career that season. He was also credited with his first-career forced fumble.
The 2020 and 2019 seasons additionally culminated in Pitts being named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. The conference previously announced All-Academic Teams, which Pitts received honorable mention to in 2018. Pitts, who has earned his degree in Political Science and is now enrolled in UCLA's master's program in Transformative Coaching and Leadership, has made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll on 10 occasions since enrolling in Fall 2017, posting a GPA of at least 3.0 while passing 12 or more units over the course of each quarter.
Active in his campus and local communities, Pitts has frequently served as a mentor to children from the Los Angeles Unified School District. In February, he, along with several teammates, encouraged students from 186th Street Elementary School to stay in school and attend college as part of "Super Bowl Spirit Day." Pitts has given back in other ways, as well, helping to raise money for Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Los Angeles Blind Children's Center and victims of genocide in Myanmar through different on-campus endeavors.
"These impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have honored more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community. And we are excited to celebrate the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy®, which honors the best of the best. This year's semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders."
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 27, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas for the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 7, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 32nd Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
"The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees as well as their schools and coaches on their tremendous accomplishments," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist's achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and seven first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the venue. An All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team, Campbell found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.
Pitts, a reserve linebacker and special teams standout for the Bruins was recognized as a 2021 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar, an honor which is awarded to students of color who have maintained a cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.5, are at least a sophomore academically, and have been active on their campuses or in their communities. He has appeared in 30 career games for the Bruins and made his biggest splash so far in the 2019 campaign. Pitts tallied 13 tackles, including the first sack of his career that season. He was also credited with his first-career forced fumble.
The 2020 and 2019 seasons additionally culminated in Pitts being named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. The conference previously announced All-Academic Teams, which Pitts received honorable mention to in 2018. Pitts, who has earned his degree in Political Science and is now enrolled in UCLA's master's program in Transformative Coaching and Leadership, has made the Athletic Director's Honor Roll on 10 occasions since enrolling in Fall 2017, posting a GPA of at least 3.0 while passing 12 or more units over the course of each quarter.
Active in his campus and local communities, Pitts has frequently served as a mentor to children from the Los Angeles Unified School District. In February, he, along with several teammates, encouraged students from 186th Street Elementary School to stay in school and attend college as part of "Super Bowl Spirit Day." Pitts has given back in other ways, as well, helping to raise money for Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Los Angeles Blind Children's Center and victims of genocide in Myanmar through different on-campus endeavors.
"These impressive candidates truly represent the scholar-athlete ideal," said NFF Chairman Archie Manning, whose sons Peyton (Campbell Trophy® winner) and Eli were named NFF National Scholar-Athletes in 1997 and 2003, respectively. "For more than 60 years, the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards have honored more than 800 college football players who have been successful on the football field, in the classroom and as leaders in the community. And we are excited to celebrate the 32nd year of the Campbell Trophy®, which honors the best of the best. This year's semifinalists further illustrate the power of our great sport in developing the next generation of influential leaders."
The NFF will announce 12-14 finalists on Oct. 27, and each of them will receive an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the 2021 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments. The finalists will travel to the ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas for the 63rd NFF Annual Awards Dinner Presented by Las Vegas on Dec. 7, where their accomplishments will be highlighted in front of one of the most powerful audiences in all of sports. Live during the event, one member of the class will be declared as the winner of the 32nd Campbell Trophy® and have his postgraduate scholarship increased to $25,000.
"The NFF would like to personally congratulate each of the nominees as well as their schools and coaches on their tremendous accomplishments," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "We are extremely proud to highlight each semifinalist's achievements, showcasing their ability to balance academics and athletics at the highest level. The NFF Awards Committee will have an incredibly difficult task in selecting the finalists from this outstanding group of candidates."
The Campbell Trophy® was first awarded in 1990. Past recipients include two Rhodes Scholars, a Rhodes Scholar finalist, two Heisman Trophy winners and seven first-round NFL draft picks. Named in honor of the late Bill Campbell, the trophy has been prominently displayed inside its official home at the New York Athletic Club since 2013, and the winner is honored each year during a special luncheon at the venue. An All-Ivy League player and the captain of Columbia's 1961 Ivy League championship team, Campbell found his true calling after an unlikely career change at age 39 from Columbia football coach to advertising executive. His ability to recruit, develop and manage talented executives – all lessons learned on the gridiron – proved to be a critical component of his ability to inspire his business teams to the highest levels of success.
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