General | 2/11/2026 6:00:00 PM
ERIE, PA – Feb. 11, 2026 – Gannon University is proud to announce Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) (Women's Lacrosse) and Jacob Wright (Arnold, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) (Men's Wrestling) as PNC Achievers for the spring 2026 academic semester. These student athletes were selected by members of the Athletic Department following nominations by their coaching staff.
PNC recognizes, celebrates and showcases students who excel academically, contribute through community service and are engaged leaders on campus. Lerch and Wright excel in all three categories and meet additional University requirements, including:
"Alyssa and Jacob are excellent representatives of our athletics department, and we are honored for them to be recognized with this well-deserved award from PNC," said Meghan Morphy, Director of Athletics. "We are grateful for PNC's continued support in providing this meaningful celebration of our student-athletes' commitment to excellence in the classroom, on our campus and in our community."
Now in her senior year, majoring in Elementary/Special Education, Alyssa Lerch (Coraopolis, Pa./Moon Area) continues to be a mature and well-rounded leader for the women's lacrosse program, known for her servant leadership and commitment to putting others first. She carries a 3.94 GPA and has earned recognition as an IWLCA Academic Honor Roll selection and PSAC Scholar Athlete.
Lerch is also active in community service through team initiatives and personal outreach, regularly visiting local schools and childcare centers to give back to the community.
A senior with a major in Management, Jacob Wright (Arnold, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) has made a meaningful impact at Gannon University through his leadership, service and commitment to excellence both on and off the mat. A member of the men's wrestling program, Wright has maintained a perfect 4.00 GPA throughout his time at Gannon.
Wright is deeply involved in community service, participating in Gannon's GIVE Day and Day of Giving efforts to clean up the City of Erie and surrounding campus. He also volunteers as a coach with local youth wrestling and baseball organizations, helping mentor young athletes in the community. His service extends beyond Erie, as he volunteered at Give Kids The World Village in Kissimmee, Florida, assisting wish children with critical illnesses by serving meals, delivering food, providing transportation and operating park rides. Wright leads a small group of teammates each semester and regularly works one-on-one with fellow wrestlers both academically and athletically.
"The PNC Achievers program is rooted in our commitment to recognizing wellrounded student leaders who excel academically, serve their communities and demonstrate strong character on and off the field," said Jim Stevenson, PNC regional president for Northwestern Pa. "We are proud to join Gannon University in celebrating the achievements of these student-athletes and the positive impact they're making on their campus and in the community."
Gannon University is committed to teaching the values related to this program and is proud to be one of over a dozen schools across the country to partner with the PNC Achievers program.
About PNC Bank
PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com.
