The University of Kentucky Athletics Department has obviously enjoyed one of its best seasons in history across all sports. Recent news has confirmed that the Wildcats are also enjoying tremendous success in the classroom.At the heart of that success has been UK’s innovative and nationally renowned Center for Academic and Tutorial Services.One staff member at CATS has recently raked in a number of prestigious honors for his hard work, and the Wildcats’ subsequent academic success.The awards have gone to someone staff members across the UK Athletics Department couldn’t consider more deserving.With the renown, the praise for Mike Pirrman has now extended beyond UK to multiple academic advising professional organizations.”Mike Pirrman is an incredibly caring person who puts the well-being of the student-athletes he advises above all else,” Associate Athletics Director for Student Services Bob Bradley said. “Mike realizes that someday their athletic exploits will come to an end and that the quality of their educational experience will be of utmost importance to their future success. He takes their post-college quality of life very serious.”Pirrman, who serves as academic advisor for six teams within the cross country/track and field program, was honored earlier this semester as the recipient of the 20th annual University of Kentucky Ken Freedman Outstanding Professional Advisor Award. The award recognizes outstanding service in the field of academic advising. In addition, Pirrman was awarded the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region 3 Excellence in Advising Award.His accolades did not extend to just regional and state honors; he received a Certificate of Merit from the national division of NACADA.  The awards come as recognition for the hard work Pirrman has put in, which extends far beyond normal 9-5 hours. Such commitments come with the territory of advising college students, but still his efforts — which go above and beyond those expected of an everyday professional — have not go unnoticed by UK track and field and cross country head coach Edrick Floreal.Floreal is known as a demanding coach when it comes to athletes’ training, but his high standards also extend to the classroom. Thus he brings Pirrman on many of the team’s road trips, which often occur at key points during the academic year.Pirrman holds study halls in team hotels throughout those trips, sacrificing many a weekend during the year on behalf of the student-athletes he advises.That sacrifice of possible personal time, and the positive results that time has had on many multiple Wildcats it not lost on Floreal. But the influence of Pirrman’s time and effort on the well-being of UK student-athletes are just beginning to be adequately documented.”Mike’s impact on the teams are supported by numbers that stand on their own,” Floreal said. “Just look at the women’s cross country team’s perfect 1000 score in Academic Progress Rate. The women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, and men’s cross country all exceeded the national average in terms of APR. Also our women’s cross country team’s GPA was 3.667 GPA, which helped the entire athletic department to its best academic semester since 2002-03. “His commitment to our team, student athletes and staff is always evident in the numbers that reach far beyond our student-athletes’ four years at UK. It is something they will carry for a lifetime.”Other examples Pirrman’s commitments are reflected in academic successes by the likes Chelsea Oswald. Oswald graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was awarded the 2012-13 Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award as the Southeastern Conference’s top student-athlete achieving success in the classroom and in competition. Oswald won the SEC 5,000 and 10,000-meter Championships in the 2012-13 year, also claiming three All-America honors.”I’ve been given a great opportunity here at UK and I’ve just tried my hardest every day to make the most of it,” Oswald said upon receiving the McWhorter award. “This award recognizes not only my achievements, but also all the great people, like Mike Pirrman, who have helped me along the way.”Luis Orta, meanwhile, was selected to give the commencement address at the University’s 2012 December Graduation Ceremony. The Caracas, Venezuela native graduated with a dual degree in international studies and Hispanic studies.Orta’s journey to graduation was one of the greatest testaments to Pirrman’s role in guiding student-athletes from enrollment to graduation.In his first semester at UK, Orta successfully navigated a full
course load even though he was only just learning English. Along the way, he broke three freshman records in competition. During his four years, Orta developed academically, so much so that he was the commencement speaker.At graduation as well as during an acceptance speech for the “Mr. Wildcat” award at the 2013 CATSPY Awards, Orta expressed his gratitude for the guidance Pirrman had provided, and in fluent English to boot.”Last year I got this award and I forgot to mention Mike Pirrman,” Orta said in 2013. “I have to thank him so much. Four years ago, I had the great fortune to come to this country and pursue my dreams. It’s thanks to him and my teammates that I was able to get through my first year even though I didn’t speak English. I ended up graduating with honors and a double SEC Champion, and it’s just been a blessing.”