Matthew J Kuna Presented Copper Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award

2016 Apr 22

Matthew J Kuna of Allentown, PA, is the recipient of the Copper Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award. The award is one of the most prestigious honors given at Kutztown University.

Kuna will graduate this May with a bachelor's degree in secondary education with a focus on Spanish and English as a second language. Kuna received the Copper Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award 2016 in the category of successfully completed research projects. His original research entitled "The Effects of a Dynamic Art Education Program on Middle Level Students" was conducted over a two year period. He will present his findings at the Eastern Educational Research Association and is developing a publishable article for the research. He received the Who's Who Among College Students honor, the Levi Gresh Scholarship, the President F. Javier Cevallos Latin American Scholarship, the College of Education Recognition Award, the Bartholomew Freshman Composition Award, the Class of 1954 Scholarship and the Board of Governor's Tuition Scholarship, and was a member of Sigma Delta Pi (National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society), the Catholic Newman Council, the National Association for Multicultural Education, the Association for Middle Level Education, the Dean's List and the Honor's Program at KU. He has also been a program assistant and peer tutor with KU Tutoring Services and an academic planner with the Connections Orientation Program. Kuna plans to pursue a teaching position in a high-risk area and make a difference in the lives of under-serviced students and their families.

Faculty members nominate students after they have met one or more of the six areas of achievement. Areas in which achievement can occur include: successfully completed research projects, original artwork of high quality, artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.) of high quality, original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy athletics, and outstanding service to the KU community.

The Academic Achievement Award was established through a donation provided by Dr. Carlson R. Chambliss, KU faculty member from 1970-2003. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the exceptional individual achievements of a select group of KU graduating seniors. Specially designed coin medallions of gold, silver, and copper were presented to the students.