Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Kutztown University softball had five from the program earn a spot on the College Sports Communicators 2025 Academic All-District team. It recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom. Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Emily Henn (Matamoras, Pa./Delaware Valley), Alexa Stevens (Jefferson Township, Pa./North Pocono) and Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland) landed on the All-District team. The five Golden Bear selections ties the program record from last year. It is the third consecutive honor for Gravish, second straight for Geesey and Stevens and the first for Henn and Piatkiewicz. Gravish and Henn will now be considered and voted on to become CSC Academic All-Americans, which will be announced June 17. Per CSC, eligible nominees must compete in 90 percent of the institution's games played or start in at least 66 percent of the institution's games. Pitchers must have made at least 17 appearances or pitched 35 innings. Geesey graduated with a degree in criminal justice and a 3.94 GPA. Gravish graduated with a degree in social media theory and strategy with a 3.86 GPA. Henn just completed her sophomore year and is majoring in elementary education and boasts a 3.71 GPA. Stevens just finished her junior year and holds a 3.83 GPA as a biology major. Piatkiewicz recently completed her junior year and is a biochemistry major with a 3.99 major. Kutztown finished the 2025 season with a 43-19 overall record and competed in the NCAA Super Regionals.

The Psychology Department at Kutztown University hosted its annual Psi Chi Induction and Student Awards Ceremony April 16, 2025. The ceremony honored seven Department Student Award Winners. The Psychology Department awarded five seniors and two juniors with departmental awards based on their individual achievements within the fields of Research, Fieldwork, Internships, Leadership, GPA, and Service.

Four Kutztown University football players were among a record number of members named to the 2025 National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) Hampshire Honor Society. The Hampshire Honor Society recognizes college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers. Kutztown's four selections are linebacker/special teams Cady Clancy, linebacker Jalen DeVose (Lansdale, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), tight end/long snapper Nick Lovenguth (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) and offensive lineman Trey Quinones (York, Pa./William Penn). A record 2,514 players from 339 schools qualified for membership in 2025, marking the largest class in the program's 19-year history. Since its inception, the initiative has honored 20,928 student-athletes. This year's members represented six divisions: 689 from the FBS, 531 from the FCS, 212 from Division II, 978 from Division III, 58 from the NAIA, and 46 sprint football players. They hailed from schools in every state and the District of Columbia-except Alaska, which does not sponsor an eligible college football program. The FBS cohort came from 120 schools, reflecting a 90 percent participation rate. Honorees are nominated by their respective schools and must be a senior player that completed their final year of eligibility during the 2024 season or be a graduate player/transfer who has already earned a bachelor's degree and competed during the 2024 season. Players must attain a 3.2 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale and be starters or contributors throughout the 2024 season. Kutztown's four 2025 NFF Hampshire Honor Society members have helped the Golden Bears to three PSAC East titles, three PSAC Championship game victories and three NCAA DII Championship playoff appearances over the last four seasons. KU won its first-ever Super Region One championship in 2023 and advanced to the NCAA DII national semifinals. During their careers, the quartet also helped the Bears to a 42-9 overall record and 26-2 record in the PSAC, which included unbeaten 7-0 campaigns in 2021, 2023 and 2024.

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.

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.

Kutztown University athletics recorded a new department high as 133 student-athletes earned Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award status. The 133 Golden Bears eclipses the 2021-22 previous record of 128. For a student-athlete to qualify for the award, they must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work at a two-year and/or four-year institution and also been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the last academic year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tallied 1,919 student-athletes on the list. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 17th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. In total, there was a record-breaking 19,774 student-athletes from 192 institutions recognized for the 2023-24 Academic Achievement Awards, which is the highest total of student-athletes recognized since the beginning of the awards program. Kutztown's 2023-24 D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipients are online.

Kutztown University women's lacrosse earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad accolades, as well as 12 members landing on the Academic Honor Roll. KU was among 324 programs at the NCAA Division I, Division II Division III and NAIA to be named an IWLCA Academic Honor Squad. To qualify for the prestigious honor, the team must have posted a 3.2 grade point average or higher for the entire 2023-24 academic year. The Golden Bears recorded a 3.57 GPA. The 12 student-athletes on the honor roll include Madeline Anemone, Kelly Askins, Jenna Blesson, Kayla Brooks, Emily Christiansen, Olivia Eilbacher, Marissa Giancola, Sam Graf, Shannon Lake, Emma Meakim, Rory Nilsen and Robin Spector. It is the second straight appearance for Anemone, Askins, Lake, Meakim and Spector. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. This marks the third consecutive season that Kutztown has earned Academic Honor Squad status under head coach Kristen Nicholson.

Kutztown University women's bowling had seven members that earned a place on the 2024 East Coast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. Alyssa Blood, Natalie Conrad, Megan Hanaway, Brooke Heimbach, Kayla Mackney, Alexis Schweizer and Ally Sipe all were a part of 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 last season with a 58-33 record. The 58 wins are the most for the program since 2018-19 and the Golden Bears enjoyed their sixth consecutive winning season.

Gabby Cohen, Brooke Graham and Rhi Stutz of the Kutztown University women's golf team were recognized as 2024 Women's Golf Coaches Association All-American Scholars. It is the first WGCA scholar recognition for each Golden Bear. A total of 1,497 golfers across multiple divisions were named All-American Scholars. To be eligible, a student-athlete must hold a cumulative grade point average better than 3.50 and must have played in at least 50 percent of the institution's regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team's conference championship. Graham was a First-Team All-PSAC performer last season and gave the program a First Teamer for the first time since Shannon Weber in 2018. The freshman from Carlisle was a medalist at this spring's PSAC Championships at the Berkleigh Golf Club, finishing third overall with a 54-hole total of 11-over 227 (75-76-76). She is the highest finishing individual for the Maroon and Gold since Weber took second at the 2017 PSAC Championships. Graham won three Invitationals during the fall and spring seasons and had three other top-three finishes out of the 10 tournaments. She was a two-time PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week. Stutz, a freshman from Prescott, Wisc., joined Graham as an All-PSAC golfer, earning Second Team honors. She helped KU to a fourth-place finish overall at PSACs. Stutz finished in the top-10 in the field at PSAC Championships. She shot a 5-over par 77 to collect her first collegiate tournament victory at the ESU Spring Invitational, earning that week's PSAC Golf Athlete of the Week. Cohen, a sophomore from Jeffersonville, N.Y., competed in all 13 rounds during the fall and spring regular season tournaments and then placed 27th overall at PSACs with a weekend score of 263 (89-87-87). Kutztown has now had multiple honorees in seven of the last eight seasons.

Kutztown University's men's and women's track and field teams were honored as 2024 NCAA Division II All-Academic Teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, while men's team members Anthony DeFusco and Joe Jardine added All-Academic Athlete recognition. To qualify for All-Academic Team status, a program must have a cumulative GPA for all student-athletes of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Led by head coach Ray Hoffman, the Golden Bear women continued their impressive streak of academic excellence with a 3.43 GPA to appear on the list for the 18th year in a row -a streak that started in 2008. The men secured their fourth All-Academic Team honor in the past six years with a 3.06 GPA. Berks County natives DeFusco and Jardine earned All-Academic Athlete honors by having a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale, completing at least 24 semester hours through the end of the semester of competition and achieving an automatic or provisional qualifying mark during the indoor or outdoor season. DeFusco, a repeat honoree from 2023, graduated in May with a degree in geography/planning and 3.76 GPA. The Douglassville, Pa., native's NCAA provisional qualifying mark came in the triple jump (47'8"/14.53m) at the Bucknell Bison Open during the indoor season. Jardine, a graduate transfer from the University of Kentucky, made a massive impact in his only season with the Maroon and Gold. Originally from Mohrsville, Pa., Jardine qualified for the NCAA Division II Indoor and Outdoor Championships in the pole vault, bringing home All-America honors both times with a sixth-place finish indoors (First Team) and 12th-place showing outdoors (Second Team). Jardine also set an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the outdoor long jump. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration and has a 3.89 GPA.

Eight Kutztown University student-athletes were recognized with 2024 Academic All-District At-Large honors by College Sports Communicators (CSC). Earning spots on the NCAA Division II Women's At-Large Team were field hockey's Sarah Gatehouse and Mackenzie Kile, along with lacrosse's Sam Graf, Shannon Lake, Emma Meakim and Robin Spector. Twin brothers Bailey Gimbor and Dalton Gimbor of the wrestling team were recognized on the NCAA Division II Men's At-Large Team. The CSC Academic All-District At-Large teams recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom across NCAA Divisions I, II and III, and NAIA. Academic All-District honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. Advancing to the Academic All-America At-Large ballot from Kutztown were Gatehouse, Bailey Gimbor and Dalton Gimbor.

Kutztown University men's and women's track and field were well represented on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District teams, as five each and 10 total were announced to the teams Tuesday, June 18. The men's representatives consisted of Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall), Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) and TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg). The Golden Bear women included Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin), Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore), Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) and Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg). GPAs for each include Brocato (3.54), DeFusco (3.76), Fellin (3.52), Jardine (3.89) and White (3.57) for the men, and Beard (4.0), Davies (3.87), Knerr (4.0), Sienko (3.51) and Young (3.57) for the women. The 2024 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Track & Field teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the track, in the field, and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes men's track & field honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Kutztown University softball student-athletes Naya Darnowski, Haley Gravish, Alexa Stevens, Morgan Slomkowski and Kristin Geesey were all named to the 2024 College Sports Communicators Division II Academic All-District Softball Team, an award that recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performance on the field and in the classroom. The five Golden Bears are the most Academic All-District honorees in a single season in program history. It is the second straight CSC recognition for Gravish and the first for the other four student-athletes. KU finished the 2024 season with a 37-25 overall record, playing in NCAA Super Regionals for the second time in the last three seasons. Darnowski, a junior first baseman from Manchester, N.J., had a 3.73 GPA. She earned All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Eastern Division Second Team honors this season. She started in 61-of-62 games played and batted .316 in 177 at-bats, including a career-best four home runs. Darnowski had 56 hits, 28 RBIs and scored 38 runs. Gravish, a junior pitcher from Hamburg, had a 3.86 GPA. She appeared in 41 games, making 34 starts inside the circle. She went 23-13 overall and had a 4.07 ERA. She ranked second in the conference in victories and was tops in innings pitched with 223.2. Her 23 wins is sixth-most in program history in a single season and the 41 appearances is tied for third-most. Stevens, a sophomore second baseman from Covington Township, had a 3.82 GPA. She started all 62 games and batted .333 in 186 at-bats. Her 10 home runs led the team and was tied for eighth in the conference. The 10th HR was a big one as it helped KU defeat East Stroudsburg 1-0 in 10 innings in regionals. Stevens also had 45 RBIs and scored 44 runs. Slomkowski, a sophomore third baseman from Toms River, N.J., had a 3.70 GPA. She started in 60-of-61 games played this season. She batted .255 with 40 hits in 157 at-bats, including 11 doubles and seven HRs. Slomkowski also had 41 RBIs and scored 30 runs. Geesey, a junior shortstop from Bainbridge, had a 3.93 GPA. She started in all 60 games she played in this season. She hit .271 in 166 at-bats, including seven doubles and a home run. Geesey also had 22 RBIs and scored 14 runs. The Academic All-District Team is selected by the College Sports Communicators.

The College Sports Communicators (CSC) announced that Kutztown University men's tennis student-athletes Sebastian Arizpe, Gonzalo Barcelo, Justin Gincauskas and Emmitt Robinson, along with women's tennis student-athlete Sarah Lazarchak were named to the Academic All-District Team, announced this week. To be eligible for CSC Academic All-District, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore academically and athletically, maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50, and compete in 90 percent of the institution's games or must start in at least 66 percent of contests. Academic All-District honorees are considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. First, second and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced in early June. Arizpe, a graduate student from Mexico, accumulated a 3.86 undergraduate GPA and received a degree in commercial music. He currently is pursuing his masters degree and has a perfect 4.0 GPA. Arizpe is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Barcelo, a senior from Argentina, recently graduated with a 3.96 GPA and earned his undergrad degree in business administration (finance). He is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Gincauskas is a senior from Canada. He graduated this month with a 3.97 GPA with an English (professional writing) degree. Gincauskas is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member. Robinson is a sophomore from Canada. He is currently pursuing a degree in psychology and is sporting a 3.80 GPA. Robinson is also a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List. Lazarchark, a senior from Nazareth, recently graduated with a degree in secondary education. She had a 3.99 GPA. Lazarchak is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and Dean's List member.

Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township) of Kutztown University was recently presented with the East Coast Conference Women's Bowling Elite 20 Award, in conjunction with the conference's championship tournament. Hanaway, a senior, holds a 3.98 cumulative grade point average while majoring in elementary education at KU. The Forked River, N.J., native earned the award for having the highest GPA of all student-athletes competing at the 2024 ECC Women's Bowling Championship. The ECC presents an Elite 20 Award at each of its 20 conference-sponsored championships. Kutztown is an associate member of the conference just for the sport of women's bowling. Hanaway is a two-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, two-time D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient nas has been named to the ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll and NTCA All-Academic List. Hanaway was also inducted into the Chi Alpha Sigma Athletics Honor Society in 2023 and is a seven-time KU Dean's List student.

The Department of Psychology at Kutztown University hosted its annual Psi Chi Induction and Student Awards Ceremony Wednesday, April 10, 2024. The department awarded 11 seniors and one junior with departmental awards based on their individual achievements within the fields of research, fieldwork, internships, leadership, GPA and service.

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 5. Students who received awards were nominated by staff and faculty members for meeting one or more of the six areas of achievement: successfully completed research projects, high-quality original artwork, high-quality artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.), original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics, and outstanding service to the KU community.

Olivia Bing (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Paige Heck (Dauphin, Pa./Central Dauphin), Gracie McKee (Gilbertsville, Pa./Boyertown) and Alexandra Wetzel (Red Lion, Pa./Red Lion) of the Kutztown University women's swim team were named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, Tuesday, April 2. The four Golden Bears were honored for their performance in the classroom along with being a regular contributor to their program in the pool. Nominees must have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average while having reached sophomore academic status. Graduate student nominees must have a 3.50 cumulative grade point average both as an undergraduate and graduate (if they've completed their first semester of grad school). Competitively, swimmers must compete in four competitions or finish top eight in an event at a conference meet. Bing is a junior Spanish major from Newtown, Pa., with a 3.99 GPA. Primarily swimming distance freestyle events, Bing is in her second year as a member of the KU swim team. Heck is majoring in biology (allied health) and holds a 3.97 GPA. The sophomore from Dauphin, Pa., recently completed her second season with the program and competes in the backstroke and freestyle events for the Bears. McKee, one of the most accomplished swimmers in recent KU history, is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration. The Gilberstville, Pa., native graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor of science in business administration (marketing) from Kutztown in 2023. She recorded a 3.72 undergraduate GPA and is currently sporting a 3.67 graduate GPA. McKee's numerous accomplishments in the pool in addition to her academic achievements make her a finalist for Academic All-America. She is a seven-time PSAC medalist and All-PSAC selection, with a PSAC title in the 200 back (2023), silver medals in the 100 back (2023), 200 back (2022) and bronze in the 100 back (2022, 2024), 200 back (2024) and 100 butterfly (2023). McKee holds school records in the 100 back (56.60), 200 back (2:02.90) and 100 fly (56.39) and appears on the program's top 10 list in 12 times between individual events and relays. Wetzel is a sophomore from Red Lion, Pa., and is majoring in mathematics education. She has a 3.96 GPA. Wetzel competes in the 100 and 200 back and is a two-year member of the Golden Bears. The CSC Academic All-America program recognizes women's swimming & diving honorees in four divisions --NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced April 23.

The Kutztown University men's and women's cross country teams have been awarded All-Academic honors by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The organization announced that Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional), Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Ana Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) also received individual All-Academic Athlete honors, along with the team honors. To be eligible for a All-Academic team distinction, the teams must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and their score at the respective regional championship meets must be compiled. The men's team achieved a 3.23 GPA and an 11th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship. This is the seventh time in program history that the men's team has received this honor and the first since 2017. The women's team finished with a 3.59 GPA and a 10th-place finish at regionals. This is the 20th time that the women's squad has earned this honor and the first since 2017. For individual All-Academic distinction, athletes must have a 3.25 GPA on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top 30 percent of the regional championship meet. Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) and Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) are the 14th and 15th men in program history to receive this honor. Meanwhile, Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Ana Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) are the 36th, 37th, and 38th women to win this award in program history.

Congratulations to Kutztown University junior Emma Hope for winning a 2023 PennACE Student of the Year Award. Hope, a psychology major, is the first KU student to win this internship-focused award. As a transfer from Lehigh Carbon Community College, she completed a virtual summer internship at the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration.

Kutztown University field hockey had four student-athletes on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction honors for 2023, announced Monday, Feb. 19. Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), Megan Doyle (Hackettstown, N.J./Hackettstown), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) and Hannah McConnell (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) all were recognized by the NFHCA for their hard work in the classroom. It is the fourth straight honor for Buchman and Gatehouse and first for Doyle and McConnell. This year, 121 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 2023-24 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. The NFHCA will announce the National Academic Team awards on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and the National Scholar-Athlete on Monday, Feb. 26.

The Department of Psychology at Kutztown University is proud to present its Fall 2023 Student Award Winners: - Michelle Kenstler, Psi Chi Model Student. - Megan Tewksbury, Scientist/Practitioner Award. - Mandy Maiers, Field Experience Award. - Emma Meakim, Academic Achievement Award. - Samantha Smith, Student Leadership Award.

Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson), a senior at Kutztown University, is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division II Field Hockey Championship, announced Thursday evening at the annual banquet at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics in Manchester, N.H. Gatehouse, a sport management major, is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Squad and Dean's List member, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Back on Nov. 3, at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's final four at East Stroudsburg, Gatehouse was awarded the PSAC Champion Scholar award for the second straight year. Earlier this season, for her success on the field, she was voted the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second straight season. Gatehouse has been the backbone of a KU defense that ranks first in the conference and the nation in goals allowed (9) and goals against average (.338), starting all 20 games at center back. She is tied for the team lead with 19 points (7 goals, 5 assists). The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The Elite 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed. For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.

Prior to the Kutztown University women's soccer team's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament semifinal matchup against Gannon Friday evening, senior forward Rebekah March (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East) was recognized as the 2023 PSAC Champion Scholar. Initiated for the 2011-12 academic year, the PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 award and honor the student-athlete with the top-grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's finals sites. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards is identical to that of the NCAA Elite 90 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 90 NCAA championships across all three divisions - I, II, and III. March is a three-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and earned a D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award during her sophomore year in 2021. The Downingtown native is earning a degree in German Studies: Communication & Culture and has a perfect 4.0 through three years of study. She is the first PSAC Champion Scholar in Kutztown women's soccer program history. Sarah Gatehouse from KU field hockey was also recognized as a PSAC Champion Scholar in her respective sport.

Prior to Friday's Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's semifinal round games at East Stroudsburg's Whitenight Field, senior captain Sarah Gatehouse of the Kutztown University field hockey team was recognized as the 2023 PSAC Champion Scholar. It is the second straight year Gatehouse received the award and she is the second player in program history to be crowned PSAC Champion Scholar, joining Hannah Shirk in 2019. The PSAC Champion Scholar Awards are modeled after the NCAA's Elite 90 award and honor the student-athlete with the top-grade point average who is competing at the site of each of the PSAC's finals sites. The selection criteria for the Champion Scholar Awards is identical to that of the NCAA Elite 90 awards, which honor the student-athlete with the top GPA at each of the championship finals sites of the 90 NCAA championships across all three divisions - I, II, and III. Gatehouse, a sport management major, is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete, D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award winner, NFHCA Scholar of Distinction and NFHCA National Academic Squad and Dean's List member, boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Earlier this week she was voted the PSAC Defensive Athlete of the Year, along with being named to the All-PSAC First Team for the second straight season. Gatehouse has been the backbone of a KU defense that ranks first in the conference in goals allowed (7) and goals against average (.338), starting all 18 games at center back. She is second on Kutztown with 18 points (7 goals, 4 assists).

There were 120 Kutztown student-athletes that were recognized by the Division II Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) with 2022-23 Academic Achievement Awards. For a student-athlete to qualify for the award, they must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have completed a minimum of two years (four semesters) of college level work at a two-year and/or four-year institution and also been an active member of an intercollegiate team during the last academic year. The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tallied 1,923 student-athletes on the list, the largest number of honorees in Division II for the fifth consecutive year. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 16th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. In total, there were a record-breaking 19,646 student-athletes from 196 institutions recognized for the 2022-23 Academic Achievement Awards. This is the most student-athletes recognized since the inception of the awards program.

Five members of the Kutztown University women's bowling team carried a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 or higher for the 2022-23 academic year and earned a spot on the East Coast Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll, announced by the league office Thursday. Alyssa Blood (Birdsboro, Pa./Daniel Boone), Jordan Dean (Manorville, N.Y./Eastport South Manor), Megan Hanaway (Forked River, N.J./Lacey Township), Alexis Schweizer (Plymouth, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) and Ally Sipe (York, Pa./Central York) all achieved the milestone. While the Golden Bear women's bowlers were not included in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference's Scholar-Athlete list, KU was noted in a different avenue. The conference instituted a new policy this 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. "Congratulations to all our student-athletes on their exceptional efforts in the classroom as well as their achievements on their teams," said ECC Commissioner, Dr. Robert Dranoff. "We are excited to have this opportunity to recognize them." The ECC honored more than 1,350 student-athletes with inclusion on the 2022-23 honor roll between its nine full member and 18 associate member schools.

The Kutztown University men's and women's track & field teams were named Division II All-Academic teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and junior Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) was tabbed as an All-Academic Athlete by the organization. DeFusco, who earned All-Atlantic Region status by the USTFCCCA back in May, boasts a 3.75 GPA majoring in geography. To be named an All-Academic Athlete, one must have a minimum cumulative GPA of a 3.25 through the end of the semester of competition. The student-athlete also must have achieved an automatic or provisional qualifying mark (individual or relay event) for either the indoor season or outdoor season. DeFusco is a four-time Outdoor All-Region performer, having landed on the team in the triple jump in 2022 and both the long and triple jumps in 2021. He was tied for fourth in the Atlantic Region in the long jump, surpassing an NCAA Division II provisional mark with a career-best jump of 7.38m (24'2.5") at the Coach Pollard Invitational hosted by Moravian, April 22. The Douglassville native's new personal standard moved him up to third on Kutztown's all-time top 10 list. Both the men's and women's programs found themselves on the list as well as a whole. The men's cumulative GPA was a 3.09 and the women's was a 3.27. The cumulative GPA for each team must be a 3.0 or higher to be selected.

Kutztown University women's golf was represented by seniors Olivia Donnini (Wapwallopen, Pa./Crestwood), Cecelia Knecht (North Charleston, S.C./Fort Dorchester) and Alexis Verdes (Oak Ridge, N.J./Jefferson Township) on the listing of 2022-23 Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholars, the organization recently announced. A total of 1,423 women's collegiate golfers from 384 programs were recognized with All-American Scholar accolades. To be eligible for the All-American Scholar list, student-athletes must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, be an amateur and rostered through the conclusion of the their team's season and have played in at least 50% of their team's competitive rounds for a given season. Donnini and Knecht are four-time All-American Scholars, while Verdes earned the award for the second time in her career. Donnini played in all 17 rounds for the Golden Bears this past season, averaging 91.35 per round, third best on the team. She won the Ursinus Spring Invitational with a season best round of 82, March 30, while posting a top five and two top 10 finishes. The Wapwallopen, Pa., native graduated summa cum laude with a degree in political science (paralegal studies) in May. Knecht once again paced Kutztown in the scoring department with a team low average of 85.75 across 16 rounds, capping a career that saw the senior from North Charleston, S.C., average 86.2 over 50 rounds. Knecht claimed her lone win of the season in her final home tournament, the Kutztown Spring Invitational on April 16, with a 10-over par 80. She also led the team in top five (four) and top 10 (five) finishes. Knecht received her degree in biology (molecular/microbiology/cell biology) in May with magna cum laude honors. Verdes, from Oak Ridge, N.J., set new career-highs in rounds played (10) and scoring average (109.90) during her senior campaign with the Maroon and Gold. Verdes graduated magna cum laude with a degree in marketing this past May. With three All-American Scholars in 2022-23, Kutztown has now had multiple honorees in six of the last seven seasons.

Kutztown University's Department of Geography recently held its annual awards ceremony and Gamma Theta Upsilon induction. Congratulations to the following students: 2023 Student awardees: - Emily Leggiero, Justham Family Memorial Award - Patrick O'Brien, C. Josephine Moyer Geography Award - Emily Leggiero, Delaware Valley Geographical Award - Sorrel Langkamer-Smith, Robert and Rosalin Ensminger Award 2023 Gamma Theta Upsilon Inductees: - Anthony DeFusco - Zachary Goodman - Natalie Kamieniecki - Sorrel Langkamer-Smith