Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University proudly announces the six art students selected and awarded the 2020 Summer Workshop Scholarships. A committee of art department faculty selected the six undergraduate students from a pool of applications which will grant them the opportunity to study under master artisans over the summer. Thanks to generous donors, KU offers numerous cost-free master classes and mentorships every year to students. This year's Summer Workshop Scholarships are funded by award-winning artist, Sandra Corpora. The 2020 recipients include Jocelyn Belisle, Danielle Schwesinger, Taylor Schatz, Emily Nieberlien, Amy Haws and Nick Roberts. Each student will travel to participating schools and have the opportunity to work with nationally recognized artists in professional studios, housed in nurturing, artistic communities. The workshops provide opportunities to explore new perspectives, problem-solving methods and techniques. The young artists will be immersed in art-making and experimenting with a variety of new media and forms. As an enrichment to the hands-on curriculum already offered by Kutztown University, these students will be able to discover and explore new art forms that will help inspire and fuel their artistic experience. Schwesinger, Schatz and Belisle will attend the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Schwesinger will learn new techniques in wax that will help shape ideas for new bodies of work and exciting changes to existing work while attending Integumentary Experiments with Leslie Pearson. Schatz will be working with Brenda Lichman on a soda-firing class as part of her journey to becoming a successful artist and art educator. Belisle will attend Clay as a Canvas: Imagery of Porcelain hoping to broaden her knowledge and experience. "I want to develop a cohesive collection of ceramics that not only explores my truth but may also reach a wider audience," Belisle said. Nieberlien will travel to Farmington, Pa., for Chasing and Repousse at Touchstone Center of Crafts. Nieberlien connects the acquisition of technique and experience to ability as an artist, stating that this further allows her to better translate inspiration into a physical work. Haws will study with Paul Neilsen at Peters Valley School of Craft in Layton, N.J. Her class, Hand Carved Settings, is a technique which inspires her to improve her skills Roberts will attend Andrew and Kathryn Polk's Stone Lithography workshop at Penland School of Craft in Penland, N.C. Roberts expressed his interest in working with Kathryn Polk due to her elegant treatment of the lithographic process. To learn more about the Kutztown University Department of Art and the programs offered, visit the department website or contact art@kutztown.edu.

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 business administration and marketing senior Xena Karalis of Royersford, Pa., was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Tau Sigma National Honor Society. Karalis is the current president of KU's Eta Mu chapter of Tau Sigma and the second KU student to date to receive a scholarship from Tau Sigma. Tau Sigma National Honor Society is a co-ed academic fraternity designed exclusively for transfer students. Their mission is to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfers students. Tau Sigma sponsors an annual scholarship competition with awards totaling $100,000. Karalis transferred to KU from the University of Kansas. As an academic fraternity, Tau Sigma focuses on academics first. The scholarship rewards members who are dedicated to both the organization and their studies. "My mom encouraged me to transfer to Kutztown University as a better fit. She has always pushed me with encouragement. Tau Sigma has helped guide me to my success. The unique faculty and my peers that I've met through the business and marketing program have made me fall back in love with business," Karalis said. Karalis has been highly involved in recruitment and outreach efforts for the chapter. As a cancer survivor who lost her father to the same disease, Karalis was once told it was not likely she would make it to college. She is set to graduate in May, already employed by her own startup company. Partnered with family, Karalis' business produces hemp for CBD healthcare products. Participating in a progressive and growing medical field, she wants to help others recover and live without the pain and side-effects of cancer treatments and other treatable illnesses. "There was a time that I thought my future would be dark, but now it's nothing but light," Karalis said of her future. "I feel I am a part of something that is important to my success." For more information regarding Tau Sigma or other Kutztown University fraternal organizations, contact the KU chapter of Tau Sigma at tausigmaku@gmail.com or KU Greek Life coordinator Amanda Garcia at agarcia@kutztown.edu.

Congratulations to Shae-Lynn Harris for receiving the Fall 2019 PSECU Community Internship Scholarship. Harris is a senior social work major interning at Reading Area Community College.

Kutztown University has awarded 137 President's Academic Honors Scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year. President's Academic Honors Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who have a 3.25 cumulative weighted high school GPA and a 1270 total on the SAT or 27 composite on the ACT. The student will receive $1,000 per year for four years as long as the student participates in the Honors program and completes a minimum of 30 credits per year. KU's Honors program requires students to complete a minimum of 21 credits of honors coursework, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25, complete 30 hours of community service by graduation, complete living and learning events, attend one Work in Progress Sessions (WIPS) and complete a capstone or senior honors thesis project.

Kutztown University junior Vanessa Maybruck has been awarded the 2019 Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society (DAPi) for Individuals with Disabilities scholarship. Valued at $2,000, the scholarship rewards an active member of DAPi who has attended at least 80% of the chapter meetings, held office in the organization, organized or assisted with at least one event sponsored by the chapter, or served as a mentor to another student with a disability. Despite heavy competition and several strong candidates this year, Maybruck attained the highest score. The Kutztown University IOTA Chapter of DAPi was established at KU in 2007 and currently has 30 members. Members of DAPi serve as role models for other students with disabilities and can participate in mentoring, awareness programs and campus service projects. Linda Lantaff, director of Disability Services and advisor of IOTA DAPi, said, "We all are very proud of and excited for Vanessa." For more information about the Kutztown DAPi chapter, please visit their website. For more information about the scholarship, please visit the DAPi website.

Kutztown University has announced the recipient of a scholarship from Liquid Interactive, Allentown. Emily Engleman, a sophomore business administration major from Lancaster, Pa., won the scholarship and an externship with Liquid Interactive. To be eligible for this scholarship, students need to have been accepted to Kutztown University's Business Administration program and be in pursuit of a career in digital marketing.

Lucas Fick has been awarded the The Richard J. Yashek scholarship at Kutztown University. The Richard J. Yashek scholarship is awarded to an incoming freshman.

Two Kutztown University students have been selected to receive the Pennsylvania Art Education Association Fellows Clyde M. McGeary Scholarship. Logan Hanning, a senior from Honey Brook, Chester County, Pa., and Kristen Fessler, a senior from Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pa., will receive the award at the annual PAEA conference next month in Pittsburgh. The scholarship is offered to students that uphold excellence within the study of art education. The PAEA Fellows Clyde M. McGeary Scholarships Program presents annual scholarships to art education students in Pennsylvania colleges and universities. Cash value of the scholarships is determined by the income produced by the endowment and the number of scholarships that are awarded in any given year. Historically, at least two scholarships have been presented at each PAEA Annual Conference.

Shiyi Ding has been awarded the Dr. Victor Story Scholarship at Kutztown University. The Dr. Victor Story Scholarshipis awarded to a student showing interest in Mexican, Mexican American or Latin American History.

Evan Musto has been awarded the Esther Willits History Scholarship at Kutztown University. The Esther Willits History Scholarship is awarded to a sophomore history major, history with paralegal major or a secondary education/social studies major with good academic standing. This scholarship is the legacy of the late Dr. Esther Willits, a KU alumna, former professor of history and a founding member of Kutztown University's Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society chapter.

Gregory W. White of Coopersburg, Pa., has been awarded the Anthony J. Mazzaferri History Scholarship at Kutztown University. The Anthony J. Mazzaferri scholarship is awarded to a junior or senior history major, history with paralegal major or a secondary education/social studies major with good academic standing. This scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Anthony J. Mazzaferri, former professor of history, by Dr. Annette Mazzaferri, wife and emerita professor of speech and theater.

Kutztown University senior music major, Peter Snyder, was awarded the Freddie Gruber Scholarship from the Percussive Arts Society. The annual scholarship, which receives auditions from percussion students across the world, rewards the winning college or university student with $2500 towards tuition.

Kutztown University graduate student Marishika Wright of Harrisburg, Pa., was awarded the Esther-Jafari Haymon Scholarship at the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education (PBCOHE) for her continued academic excellence. The Esther-Jafari Haymon Scholarship is awarded to international students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher, are involved in leadership roles on campus and actively participate in co-curricular activities.

Bethany Tirrell has been awarded a Pennsylvania Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to full-time students attending an accredited Pennsylvania college or university with outstanding academic records who will be juniors or seniors in fall 2016. Students must be U.S. citizens, enrolled in science, engineering, or mathematics and likely to pursue a career in an area of interest to NASA with demonstrated potential for graduate study.

Dustin Ciano has been awarded the Gary and Laree Trollinger Scholarship for a Promising Music Educator by the Kutztown University Department of Music.

Kutztown University Graduate Organization of Bands awarded two Reid F. Lessig Scholarships to freshmen music students on April 18. The awards were presented to Rachel Miller of Lebanon, Pa., and Anthony Rodriguez Jr., Elysburg, Pa.

Kutztown University Department of Music has announced Joseph Coco of Topton, Pa., as the first Presser Scholar at Kutztown University. Funded through a grant from The Presser Foundation, the Presser Scholar is awarded to an outstanding music student finishing his or her junior year and at least one-third of the student's credits over four years must be outside the field of music.

Kutztown University student Shaniqua Wells has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Air Products to fund her internship at Friend, Inc. Community Services in Kutztown.

Ryan Kohn, a junior biology major at Kutztown University, was awarded a $1,500 Carole and Ray Neag Undergraduate Research Grant to obtain scientific equipment that will allow him to research macrophages and protein inhibition. Kohn specializes in molecular, micro and cell biology.

Margariete Malenda, a sophomore geology major at Kutztown University, was awarded a $1500 Carole and Ray Neag Undergraduate Research Grant to travel to the Dabaoshan mine in China and study how minerals are layered throughout the rock.

Nicholas Evans, junior computer science/software development major at Kutztown University, was awarded a $1500 Carole and Ray Neag Undergraduate Research Grant to develop a server architecture for large format local multiplayer gaming.

Kutztown University graduate student Amanda Funk, of Reading, Pa., is the winner of the Scholars for the Dream travel award, which provides funding toward presenting at this year's National Council of Teachers for English (NCTE) Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) and a one-year membership to NCTE.