Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Omari Banks (Middletown, Del./The Phelps School (Pa.)) of the Kutztown University men's basketball team was among more than 2,400 players nationwide recognized on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Honors Court for the 2024-25 academic year. The NABC Honors Court consists of junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2024-25 year with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.2 or higher. Banks, a junior last season, has a 3.60 GPA while pursuing a degree in business administration with a management concentration. The Wilmington, Del., native is heading into his second season with the Golden Bears in 2025-26 after spending his first two seasons at Goldey-Beacom College. The NABC's academic awards are presented annually to teams and athletes from all levels of college basketball.

Kutztown University athletics recognizes 237 student-athletes on the 2024-25 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's scholar-athlete list. The 237 Golden Bears account for 54% of the department. This year also marks the sixth year in a row that the Golden Bears have eclipsed the 200 honoree mark. In order to be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. The conference instituted a new policy last year, honoring athletes meeting the academic requirement in only PSAC sponsored sports. This change directly affected Kutztown's acrobatics & tumbling and women's bowling teams, which do not compete under the PSAC banner. Acrobatics & tumbling is part of the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) and does not have a conference affiliation, while women's bowling is an associate member of the East Coast Conference (ECC). Bowlers are eligible to be named to the ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll, which is usually released in late July. The 2024-25 PSAC Scholar-Athlete total of 3,922 (54% of the entire PSAC student-athlete population) marks the 10th consecutive year the PSAC has awarded at least 40% of its student-athlete population with "Scholar-Athlete" status. 11 institutions increased their total number of PSAC Scholar-Athletes in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. See the full list online.

Kutztown University women's bowling had nine members that earned a place on the 2025 East Coast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. Kamryn Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York), Natalie Conrad (Wyoming, Pa./Dallas), Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township), Brooke Heimbach (Boyertown, Pa./Boyertown), Kayla Mackney (Burlington, N.J./Burlington Township), Marissa Magill (Alburtis, Pa./Emmaus), Miranda Pielhau (Waretown, N.J./Southern Regional), Ally Sipe (York, Pa./Central York) and Riley Sternik (Island Heights, N.J./Central Regional) all were recognized on the list. The Commissioner's Honor Roll is awarded to student-athletes who receive a 3.25 or better cumulative grade point average. This annual recognition, in addition to the conference's Scholar-Athlete awards, helps to uphold the East Coast Conference's mission of promoting the total person and the ability to excel not only in the athletic arena, but also in the classroom. Kutztown finished with a 64-45 overall record and won its first ever conference championship last season.

Kutztown University men's and women's track and field was well represented on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams, as five each and 10 total were announced to the 2025 teams. The men's representatives consisted of Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall), Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) and Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara). The women's representatives consisted of Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee), Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) and Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield). The Academic All-District Teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined athletic and academic excellence. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes men's track & field/cross country honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. To be eligible for inclusion on the Academic All-District Team, student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic status, hold a 3.50 cumulative grade point average or higher and finish in the top 50 at a NCAA regional cross country championship or rank in the top 50 of an individual track & field event based on TFRRS regional rankings. Schools are allowed a maximum of five male and five female nominations in track & field/cross country. Brocato, a native of Reisterstown, Md., captured a 26th place finish at the 2024 NCAA DII Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships with a 10k time of 31:17.2. The junior business administration major with concentrations in accounting and finance holds a 3.70 GPA. Brocato ranked in the top 50 in the Atlantic Region in two track events: the indoor mile (21st) and outdoor 1500m (23rd). Fellin, a junior from Sheppton, Pa., posted the top time in the Atlantic Region in the indoor 60m dash with a school and PSAC championship meet record 6.65. A criminal justice major with a 3.56 GPA, Fellin went on to earn All-America Second Team honors with a 12th place finish at the 2025 NCAA DII Indoor Championships. He also ranked 20th in the indoor 200m and 32nd in the outdoor 100m. Schaeffer, a senior secondary education (mathematics) major, registered a 3.78 GPA. The senior from Mohrsville, Pa., held the seventh best mark in the Atlantic Region in the indoor pole vault, clearing 4.58m (15'0.25"). He also ranked 13th in the region in the outdoor pole vault at 4.50m (14'9). White, from Reading, Pa., captured top five rankings in the Atlantic Region in both the indoor and outdoor high jump. A senior business administration (finance) major with a 3.55 GPA, White posted a best jump of 2.04m (6'8.25") to rank fourth indoors and a 2.05m (6'8.75") to rank fifth outdoors. Wrigley is a sophomore business administration (accounting) major with a 3.92 GPA. The Coatesville, Pa., native ranked within the top 50 of the Atlantic Region in four sprint events: the indoor 400m (29th), indoor 200m (43rd), outdoor 400m (30th) and outdoor 200m (32nd). Fellin advanced to the Academic All-America ballot, where he'll be up for First-, second- or third-team consideration. Academic All-America Teams will be announced in mid-July. Beard, a Sinking Spring, Pa., native, is currently pursuing her master's degree in business administration and holds a 3.96 GPA. She previously received a graduate certificate in leadership from KU and attained a perfect 4.00 GPA while earning her bachelor's degree in biochemistry at Clarion University. Beard ranked within the top 10 of the Atlantic Region in both the indoor and outdoor triple jump. She recorded the region's eighth-best jump outdoors at 11.90m (39'0.5") and ninth-best jump indoors at 11.69m (38'4.25"). She also ranked 28th in the outdoor long jump. D'Amelio, a graduate student from Manahawkin, N.J., is enrolled in the school counseling master's program at KU, where she has a 4.00 GPA. She graduated summa cum laude from Kutztown with a bachelor's degree in psychology in May of 2024. D'Amelio ranked 10th in the Atlantic Region in the indoor 3000m with a time of 10:14.39. She also ranked 11th in the outdoor 5000m and 31st in both the indoor mile and outdoor 10,000m. Donovan, a junior psychology major from Blauvelt, N.Y., has a 3.50 GPA. The mid-distance standout recorded the region's ninth-fastest time in the indoor 800m with a 2:18.08. She ranked 24th in the outdoor 800m and 43rd in the outdoor 1500m. Knerr, from Columbia, Md., met qualifications for the Academic All-District Team in both cross country and track & field. The senior social work major with an unblemished 4.00 GPA, turned in the Atlantic Region's third-fastest 3000m steeplechase time of 11:20.17. She ranked in the top 20 of the region in the indoor 5000m (13th), outdoor 5000m (13th) and indoor 3000m (19th). Knerr, the 2025 PSAC Outdoor Track & Field Champion Scholar, also placed 41st at last fall's NCAA DII Atlantic Region Cross Country Championships with a 6k time of 22:23.3. Schearer, a sophomore from Springfield, Pa., is majoring in business administration with a 3.60 GPA. She ranked in the top 25 of the region in three events and top 50 in four. Schearer was 18th in the indoor 200m and 19th in the outdoor 200m. She posted the 25th-best time in the outdoor 400m and ranked 45th in the outdoor 100m. Knerr moved forward onto the Academic All-America ballot by virtue of her standout athletic and academic accolades. Academic All-America First-, second- and third-team honorees will be announced in mid-July.

2,193 students have been named to the Spring 2025 Dean's List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for the Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

2,179 students have been named to the Fall 2024 Dean's List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for the Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

Kutztown University inducted 35 students into the Chi Omega Upsilon chapter of the Chi Sigma Iota Honor Society for counseling at its induction ceremony this spring. Chi Sigma Iota is an international honor society for counseling students, professional counselors, and counselor educators. The society was established in 1985 by counseling professionals in the State of Ohio. Chi Sigma Iota's mission is to promote recognition to those in the counseling profession who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, research, and clinical practice. The members are dedicated to the counseling profession and the advancement of the profession. The Chi Omega Upsilon Chapter was a new Charter Chapter organized in 2017, with Deborah L. Duenyas, Ph.D. as chapter faculty advisor. Membership Eligibility for membership is extended only to those students at Kutztown University in the Counselor Education program who have completed nine credits and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or better.

Liquid, in partnership with Kutztown University, proudly announces the winners of the ninth annual Liquid Digital Marketing Award competition. This year's challenge, presented in collaboration with Insomnia Cookies, tasked student teams with developing innovative digital marketing campaigns to boost awareness and sales of the brand's Cookie'wich menu item. The winning team, comprising seniors Nicholas Bodon, a marketing major from Stroudsburg, Pa., Bridget Curtis, a marketing major from Warrington, Pa., Amanda Gravatt, a marketing major from Perkasie, Pa., Jacob Sopko, a marketing major from Emmaus, Pa., and Katelyn Stuhldreher, a marketing major from Bath, Pa., impressed the panel with their comprehensive strategy, creative execution and insightful analysis. Their campaign stood out for its originality and practical application, earning them the top honor and a monetary prize. "We're continually impressed by the creativity and professionalism these students bring to the table," said Emily Massaro, vice president of marketing at Liquid. "This competition not only showcases emerging talent but also strengthens our ongoing relationship with the university." Each year, Liquid partners with an exciting brand to serve as the "client" and present Kutztown University students with a real-world marketing challenge. Students first submit a written campaign plan, outlining goals, target audiences, campaign channels and measurement strategies. Three finalist teams, selected by university faculty, advance to the final round to present their campaigns to a panel of experts from Liquid and the client. This year's collaboration with Insomnia Cookies, a popular bakery chain known for serving warm, freshly baked cookies and ice cream late night, provided students with a unique opportunity to work on a campaign for a nationally recognized brand. Senior Lifecycle Marketing Manager Kelsey Tschoepe, representing Insomnia Cookies, served as a guest judge, offering valuable industry insights during the evaluation process. The Liquid Digital Marketing Award competition exemplifies the synergy between academia and industry, preparing students for successful careers in marketing and beyond. Liquid has an established relationship with Kutztown University. Led by CEO Jim Ludlow, member of KU's Council of Trustees, Liquid has many Kutztown University alumni among its team and Liquid's internship program has seen several Kutztown University students across all its departments. About Liquid Liquid is a marketing agency specializing in creative, digital marketing, and technology. Through our services, we work with motivated B2B and B2C organizations to deliver exceptional marketing and measure its impact while maneuvering through a constant sea of change.

The Kutztown University Department of Mathematics inducted students into Kappa Mu Epsilon, a national mathematics honor society, at its annual induction ceremony. Kappa Mu Epsilon is a specialized honor society in Mathematics. KME was founded in 1931 to promote the interest of mathematics among undergraduate students. Its chapters are located in colleges and universities of recognized standing which offer a strong mathematics major. The chapters' members are selected from students of mathematics and other closely related fields who have maintained standards of scholarship, have professional merit, and have attained academic distinction. Both men and women are eligible for membership.

Kutztown University student Jean Kiklikian Herrera (piano) was honored by the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association as part of its performance and composition competition winners.

Two Kutztown University students earned the KU Undergraduate Research Series microcredentialing badge during Spring 2025. The badge is awarded to students who dedicate their time to learning about the transformational impact of undergraduate research to academic success and career readiness.

Congratulations to the seven Kutztown University students presenting their geological research success at the annual international Geological Society of America meeting in Pittsburgh, Pa. this week. - Dr. Adrienne Oakley, Gabriella DeMarco (Marine Sciences) and Hannah Cutshaw (Biology) studied sands and mud deposited in the Chesapeake Bay to characterize changes in the environment during the past 20,000 years (after the last ice age). - Dr. Ed Simpson and Alayna Rea (Environmental Sciences-Geology) described a preserved termite mound from the Jurassic dinosaur period. - Dr. Ed Simpson, Jaylin Calistro (Geography and Geology), Jamie Cook (Geology), Joshua Scherer (Geology), Garrett Rogers (Geology) and Dakota Pittinger (Geology) studied microscopic features that help future paleontologists interpret the fate of dinosaur eggs - distinguishing between the different characteristics of eggshells fossilized after immediate burial, delayed burial and transport in a stream before fossilization. These studies were conducted using the Fred and Martha Hafer Scanning Electron Microscope Lab. Dr. Kurt Friehauf helped when he could.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for 414 students for the 2024 fall semester and 2025 winter session. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honors distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for nearly 1,100 students for the 2024 spring semester. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The following students have been awarded degrees following the 2024 spring semester. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honors distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2024 fall semester.

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2023 fall semester.

Kutztown University's Jazz Ensemble I has been honored by the DownBeat Magazine Student Music Awards with the Outstanding Performance Award in the category of Undergraduate Jazz Ensemble College Performance. The DownBeat Student Music Awards recognize the top jazz ensembles at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Nine judges evaluate the participating groups based on several performance criteria including overall sound, proper interpretation, improvisation, creativity, intonation, phrasing and dynamics. The honorees are selected from a competitive pool in which winners must demonstrate a distinct voice in addition to technical proficiency. The DownBeat Student Music Awards are considered the most prestigious awards in jazz education. Since its founding in 1976, hundreds of musicians, music educators and music industry professionals received their first international recognition as DownBeat Student Music Award winners. This is the 10th win for the KU Commercial Music program but the first for the Jazz Ensemble. Other winners in this category were Vanderbilt University and University of the Arts in Philadelphia.

Kutztown Universty students in the Department of Communication Design won awards at the 2022 Graphis New Talent Annual Showcase.

Kutztown University awarded its Unpaid Internship Scholarships to 10 students for this year. The Unpaid Internship Scholarship provides a student, who otherwise may not be able to complete an internship due to financial reasons, a scholarship to assist with financial needs (i.e., transportation, food). Students must have a 3.0 or higher GPA and submit an application, essay and a letter of recommendation.

Congratulations to Tammy Starner Wert M'23, executive assistant to the vice president of University Relations and Athletics, for being named the Assistant to the Provost for General Education. Tammy's new appointment will be effective Monday, Nov. 6. Tammy has served the division of University Relations and Athletics for more than eight years and has been with the university since 2007. She has been the lead point of contact for the Daily Brief and university operators, among other duties. Wert earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.

The Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU), an energetic part of the campus community, provides music, marching and entertainment for all KU Golden Bears football games, select away games, marching band festivals/competitions, professional sporting events, parades and campus spirit building activities. Under the direction of professor Daniel Neuenschwander, KUMU has announced its 2023 roster.

Kutztown University and the Kutztown University Foundation have named 15 students as Presidential Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 school year. Founded in 1997, the Presidential Ambassadors is a Kutztown University student organization that works directly with the President's Office and the Kutztown University Foundation and Alumni Relations. The mission of the group is to support events that connect current students with alumni, faculty, staff and university friends, to act as ambassadors of the university and to create new traditions which enhance KU Pride. The Presidential Ambassadors' major fundraiser is the Tuition Sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes is awarded one semester of in-state tuition to Kutztown University. Proceeds from the sweepstakes benefit ambassador programs and Kutztown University, including support of Dinner with Golden Bears, Grin and Bear It, Professional Headshots for KU Juniors and Senior, Love a Donor Week, Ladies Tea Scholarship, General Fund Scholarship, Play for Kay, Wounded Warrior 5k Race, campus and community wide events as well as many other events geared towards philanthropic efforts. The organization strives to build philanthropy and stewardship with the Kutztown University community. Learn more at https://www.kuf.org/alumni/kupa.

42 juniors and seniors at Kutztown University have completed a Career Success Certificate for the Spring 2023 semester. The Career Success Certificate is open to all juniors and seniors. Students gain a greater understanding of themselves, employer expectations, effective job search strategies, interviewing skills and the role of social media in the hiring process. They will also be better prepared to conduct the internship, job, or graduate school search.

Kutztown University has issued Career Exploration Certificates to 68 students for the 2023 spring semester. The Career Exploration Certificate is open to all freshmen and sophomore students. Students gain a greater understanding of themselves and the career development process. They will be better prepared to choose/confirm a major, research careers, gain related experience through informational interviewing and job shadowing experiences, and plan for a successful internship/professional job or graduate school search.

Six students from Kutztown University will attend The Washington Center's Academic Internship Program this summer, the most KU students in one session to date. The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C. Since its founding, The Washington Center helped more than 60,000 young people translate their college majors into career paths. KU students include: Elizabeth Kolb, Phoenixville, Pa. Olive Mulbah, East Lansdowne, Pa. Emily Prior, Fogelsville, Pa. Makayla Pfister, Schwenksville, Pa. Paula Guarderas, Pottstown, Pa. Lismeylin Feliz Medrano, Reading, Pa. The Washington Center's Academic Internship Program is composed of three components - internship, academic course and career readiness programming - each designed to help students translate their academic and professional interests into careers they love.

This spring, two students from Kutztown University participated in The Washington Center (TWC)'s first Cybersecurity Accelerator Program, including Adam Frederick, a sophomore, computer science major from Exeter, Pa.; and Delijah Joseph, a junior, information technology major from Mount Pocono, Pa. This program was designed to engage historically marginalized learners with career exploration, mentorship and networking in the fastest growing and rewarding field of cybersecurity. Thanks to scholarships provided by select states along with private donors, this program was available at no cost to students. Participants were invited to join The Cyber Guild for a digital Cyber Discovery Experience and to travel to Washington, D.C. for a Cybersecurity Bootcamp Weekend. As part of this weekend experience, students heard from representatives from The White House, United States Cyber Command, CISA (among others) and were able to network with over 35 employers. They also had the opportunity to tour the Verizon Tech and Policy Center and AWS Skills Center. See photos of the bootcamp here. Through this program, many participants were also selected for a virtual micro-internship by a cybersecurity employer, where they received a financial stipend, worked with an employer supervisor and gained access to Teach to Work trained project-based mentorship. About The Washington Center The Washington Center is the largest and most established student internship program in Washington, D.C. Since our founding, we've helped more than 60,000 young people translate their college majors into career paths. We use our scale and expertise to customize each student's experience to be truly transformative. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn.