Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

The Kutztown University athletics department recognized 40 student-athletes Thursday afternoon, April 10, as a part of a new class of the Pennsylvania Alpha Omega Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma in the National College Athlete Honor Society. The luncheon recognized those student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and competition. Chi Alpha Sigma was founded in 1996 by then DePauw University head football coach Nick Mourouzis. His goal was to provide outstanding student-athletes with an opportunity to become connected within a fraternal association that aligns their educational and athletic successes for a lifetime. In order to be inducted into Chi Alpha Sigma, a student-athlete must attend a four-year accredited college or university that is a member of the NCAA, NAIA, USCAA or NCCAA. The honoree also must achieve at least junior academic standing by the fifth semester or seventh quarter, as determined by the certifying institution, and must have achieved a minimum cumulative grade-point average of a 3.4 (on a 4.0 scale).

Kutztown University's Department of History inducted the 2024 class of its Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society Tuesday, April 16. Learn more about KU's Department of History at https://www.kutztown.edu/academics/colleges-and-departments/liberal-arts-and-sciences/departments/history.html.

Kutztown University women's acrobatics and tumbling had three athletes named all-conference as the Mountain East Conference released its 2025 postseason award winners and all-conference teams. Representing the Golden Bears as the program's first-ever all-conference honorees are First Team selections Sydney Jundt (Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester) and Tiffani Lincoln (Oneonta, N.Y./Oneonta), and Second Team pick Maddie Welsh (York, Pa./Central York). Kutztown joined the MEC as an associate member in acrobatics & tumbling prior to the 2025 season. Jundt is a junior base/tumbler from Rochester Hills, Mich. She is in her first season with the Maroon and Gold after spending two seasons at Trine University. Earlier this season, Jundt was named MEC Specialist of the Week on Feb. 24. Lincoln has been a leader for KU and head coach Karah Paull over the last four seasons. The senior top/tumbler from Oneonta, N.Y., helped the program make history in 2024 when she qualified for the NCATA National Championship Event Finals as part of Kutztown's acro 5-element squad. Lincoln was recognized as the KU acrobatics & tumbling Coaches Award winner in 2022. Welsh, a senior base from York, Pa., is in her third season with the Golden Bears in 2025. She's been critical to Kutztown's success on the mat, contributing to winning seasons each year with the program. Welsh has also been strong in the classroom, earning NCATA Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2024 and being named to the KU Dean's List multiple times.

The National Tenpin Coaches Association announced its annual award winners for the 2024-25 NCAA bowling season, where Kutztown University senior Chloe Sromovski (Wilkes-Barre, Pa./G.A.R. Memorial) was named an All-America Honorable Mention honoree and freshman Kamryn Brenneman (York, Pa./Central York) earned a spot on the Second-Team All-Rookie squad. Sromovski, who was unanimously named the East Coast Conference's Bowler of the Year, added her first national recognition to an already loaded resume as one of the best KU bowlers in program history. The senior bowled 983 frames in 2024-25, averaging 20.35 pins per frame on an 84.5 percent fill rate. She struck on over 50 percent of her attempts on the year while converting 70 percent of her traditional spare attempts. The fourth-year bowler showed to be a reliable performer in the 10th frame, bowling an 86 percent fill rate and a 52.6 percent strike clip in the anchor role. Sromovski found her way into the top 50 of the NTCA's Player Composite Performance Index (PCPI), as she was statistically the third-best kegler among those on teams not recognized in the top 15 of the national polls. Brenneman emerged as one of the best first-year bowlers in the country in her setup role alongside Sromovski, bowling 90 percent of the team's frames in her first campaign with the Golden Bears while earning the conference's Rookie of the Year honor in unanimous fashion. She rolled a team-best 83.7 percent baker fill percentage and 88.7 single pins spare percentage while holding the conference's second-best overall scoring average (19.74 pins) behind Sromovski. The York, Pa., native's performance throughout the season earned her six ECC Rookie of the Week honors, a sign of continued success on the horizon for the Golden Bears. Sromovski's recognition is the seventh All-America Honorable Mention in program history but first since Deanna DiRado in 2014. She is the sixth Golden Bear bowler to be nationally recognized with an All-America honor by the NTCA, a list that includes three-time honoree Kayla Jones (2009, 2011, 2012) and two-time honoree Brooke Bower (2013 and 2014). Brenneman's first-year bowler honor is the first of its kind for the Kutztown bowling team, but she becomes the third rookie to earn a freshman recognition in program history to go along with back-to-back Division II Rookie of the Year honors in 2008 (Kayla Stamm) and 2009 (Kayla Jones). Sromovski and Brenneman led the Golden Bears (64-45 overall) to their first East Coast Conference Championship crown while sweeping the conference's individual honors alongside fifth-year head coach Angela Reynolds. KU reached their second-ever NCAA postseason and defeated Fayetteville State on the national stage for their first victory on that level since 2011.

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 field hockey had six representatives earn National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction honors for 2024. The list includes Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Marlee Fetrow (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone), Kiera Gallagher (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown), Katie Lawless (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley), Lorelai Lehenky (Coatesville, Pa./Coatesville) and Jordan Stroup (Millerstown, Pa./Greenwood). It is the fourth straight honor for Doyle. This year, 125 student-athletes were recognized as NFHCA Division II Scholars of Distinction. The Division II Scholars of Distinction program recognizes student-athletes who have achieved a cumulative grade-point average of 3.9 or higher through the first semester of the 2024-25 academic year. Since head coach Marci Scheuing arrived prior to the 2013 season, Kutztown has consistently paired high-level of play on the field and academic performance in the classroom. Multiple Golden Bear student-athletes have been honored as NFHCA Scholars of Distinction each season since 2014 --including a program-high seven following the 2016 season.

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 women's swimming placed Olivia Bing (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Jena LaTorres (Allentown, Pa./William Allen), Tatum Rothermel (Halifax, Pa./Halifax) and Camryn Sedora (Chester, Md./Kent Island) on the 2024-25 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. The 2024-25 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the pool and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. All four Golden Bears qualified for and competed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships in Feb. Bing competed in the 1000 free, 200 free, 500 free and 1650 free. She earned two team points in the 1650 with her 19:23.20. The senior is a social studies/secondary education major from Newtown with a 3.97 GPA. LaTorres competed in the 50 free, 200 free, 50 free and 100 free. She is a junior criminal justice major from Allentown with a 3.53 GPA. Rothermel competed in the 200 IM, 400 Medley Relay, 100 Breaststroke and 200 Breaststroke. She placed seventh overall in the 200 Breast with a time of 2:26.21, which ranks fourth all-time at KU. She also earned a team point in the 100 Breast. She is a sophomore sport management major from Halifax with a 3.74 GPA. Sedora competed in the 1000 free, 800 Free Relay, 200 free, 500 free and 1650 free, earning four team points. She is a sophomore psychology major from Chester, Md., with a 3.80 GPA.

1,990 students have been named to the Spring 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 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.

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

Twenty-one Art and Design student-designed pieces were recently selected to be included in the Graphis International 2023 New Talent Annual. There were also gold and silver medals of outstanding achievement awarded to nine students. A gold medal was awarded to Emma Pearl Smith for the diecut album cover the Expansion of Soul from the Advanced Type course taught by Professor Elaine Cunfer, the Gold Medal is recognized internationally as an outstanding honor. Silver medals were granted to Anam Khan for her album cover, website and app for Creme de la Creme and to Hannah Ross for her Right Day for the Wrong Trousers album cover also created in Professor Elaine Cunfer's Advanced Typography course. An advertising print series by Anam Khan for Professor Summer Doll-Myers' Intro to Advertising course won a Silver Medal as well. Bluepr"nt Restaurant design by Em Mirra won a silver medal and was created for the KU Restaurant Design Seminar taught by Professor Vicki Meloney. Spiked Sweets by Olivia King and Flapper Chocolate Sauces designed by Em Mirra for a Package Design course taught by Professor Vicki Meloney also received Silver Medals. Two posters from a Poster Design Seminar taught by Professor Kate Clair received Silver Medals one was for Microplastic Biomagnification by Morghan Straub and Energy of the Future by Haley Wawrzynek. These silver medals from Graphis International are clearly an award of distinction. There were additional honorable mention awards garnered by KU students: three advertising pieces for Professor Summer Doll-Myers, branding for Professors Josh Miller, Mia Culbertson and Summer Doll-Myers, editorial design completed for Professor Elaine Cunfer, wine label designs for Professor Vicki Meloney, branding for Professor Karen Kresge and 12 posters designed for Professor Kate Clair.

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.

Four Kutztown University students participated this year in Dr. Phill Reed's Planet-hunting Around the World with Students (PAWS) project. Fatima Kamara, Genevieve Macfarlane, and Philip Jahn spent 10 weeks working as research assistants at University of Southern Queensland and the MINERVA-Australis observatory in Australia, and Lauren Murphy worked on related outreach and broader impacts of the project here at KU's Observatory and Planetarium. The project focuses on discovering and characterizing new exoplanets in collaboration with NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, and they explored additional topics including novel polarimetric observations, pulsating white dwarf stars, and the evolution of the Sun's magnetic activity. The PAWS project is three-year program funded by Reed's current $244,000 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF award #1952545).

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.

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 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.