Mayor Sandy Green Presented Kutztown University President's Medal

Kutztown, PA (12/06/2017) — Dr. Kenneth S. Hawkinson, president of Kutztown University, presented the KU President's Medal to outgoing Kutztown Borough Mayor Sandra "Sandy" Green on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at a ceremony in the President's Residence.

"Sandy has spent countless hours on campus assisting her community and our students," said Hawkinson. "She is an inspiration and has made a lasting impact."

Born on a farm in Maxatawny Township, Green is a lifelong resident of the Kutztown area. She has served the past 12 years as mayor of the Borough of Kutztown, the first female to hold that position.

"I am greatly humbled and honored to receive this medal," said Green. "I have been blessed with an amazingly supportive and loving family. I am so thankful for the gift they've given me for the past 12 years."

Part of her mission as mayor was to be a liaison between the borough and the university, to create positive town and gown relations that benefit the entire community. Green is a regular fixture on campus, attending most events and annually riding a shuttle bus on Move-In Day to welcome families to the community and answer questions.

"We should all be thankful for people like Sandy," said Pa. State Senator Judith Schwank. "They serve out of love for their community and no one epitomizes that more than Sandy. A municipality that is home to a college or university has a different type of relationship. Sandy is a model of how a mayor should act."

During her tenure, the borough achieved Main Street status with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. She served on the board of the Pennsylvania Municipal League and the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust Board.

Green volunteers as the vice president of the Kutztown Community Partnership and serves on the Community Relations Advisory Board, which she founded with current Kutztown University president, Dr. Kenneth Hawkinson.

Green also offered words of advice to James Schlegel, who will be sworn in as mayor next month.

"Enjoy this town and lead from the heart," she said. "You love this town like I do and I'm here to support you."

Green is a 1972 graduate of Kutztown High School and holds a degree in travel and tourism from Reading Area Community College where she serves as an instructor. She operates Berkleigh Travel, Kutztown, with her sister Sharon Davis.

Green is married to her husband, Martin Smith. She has one son, Jason Wietzel, husband to Maribeth Wietzel, and two grandsons, Penn and Orson.

This is the sixth President's Medal presented since its inception in 2014 when the award was created by the president's office to be awarded to individuals who bring honor and distinction to the university, and who serve as examples to KU students and alumni. Green is the first female recipient and the first non-KU alumnus to receive the medal.

Past recipients of the Kutztown University President's Medal include: William Ribble, class of '73, long time member of the KU Foundation Board; KU Pro Football Hall of Famer, Andre Reed, class of 2005; Major League Baseball All-Star and two-time World Series Champion, Ryan Vogelsong; Gregory "Doc" Jones, long-time head coach of the KU men's rugby team; and most recently, last spring, Dr. Carlson Chambliss, professor emeriti of physical science and creator of the Chambliss Academic Achievement Award.

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