Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Kutztown University's Department of Biology recently held its annual awards ceremony. We congratulate the following award recipients: - Samuel Gundy Early Achievement Scholarship in Biology: Abbie Banks and Isabelle Mack - Department of Biology Academic Excellence Awards: Sydnie Bisesi, Jessica Haas, Nathan Hoffman, Emily Leggiero and Samantha Mikos - Biology Department Outstanding Student in Major/Track Award: Molecular/Micro/Cell: Nathan Hoffman; PreMed/Health Careers: Samantha Mikos; Allied Health: Ciara Long; Marine Science/Biology: Caroline Weber; Environmental Science/Biology: Emily Leggiero - Ronald R. Rhein Biology Scholarship: Elizabeth Hoffeditz - CPUB Award: Outstanding student in Biology, usually involving research: Sydnie Bisesi - Cyrus E. Beekey Award: Outstanding Graduate in Biology: Nathan Hoffman - Outstanding Student in Biology Award: Emily Leggiero - Biology Department Research Recognition Award: Nicholas Heffelfinger

Congratulations to the following Kutztown University Department of Computer Science and Information Technology students on receiving the department's 2022-2023 Graduation Award for Academic Excellence. - Atom Roese, B.S. Computer Science - Spencer Paukstis, B.S. Information Technology - Luis Feliz, B.S. Game Development - Nathan Zolna, M.S. Computer Science (Combined B.S.)

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

On Wednesday, May 3, Kutztown University's Department of Communication Studies presented its annual student awards. - Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies for Academic Excellence: Avery Meiners, Perkasie, Pa. - Outstanding Achievement for a Senior in Communication Studies: Lauren Jackson, Stafford, Va., Kyle Golden, Hellertown, Pa. and Wioletta Zieba, Bethlehem, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies for Dedication and Service: Wesley Butler, Reading, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy for Academic Excellence: Kayla Sherry, Tamaqua, Pa. - Outstanding Achievement for a Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy: Chloe Krempasky, Schnecksville, Pa., Emily Lynch, Fallsington, Pa., Emily Sewilo, Schnecksville, Pa. and Maggie Strawoet, Mercersburg, Pa. - Outstanding Senior in Social Media Theory & Strategy for Dedication and Service: Kaitlin Bilger, Macungie, Pa.

Five members of the Kutztown University wrestling team were named 2023 National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) DII Scholar All-Americans. Andreo Ferraina (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg), Hunter Horton (James Creek, Pa./Tussey Mountain), Alex Ward (Manassas, Va./Battlefield), and Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) were the Golden Bears tabbed for the recognition. In order to be eligible for the award, student-athletes must have a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale. The benchmark for those who qualified for the 2023 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship is a 3.25 GPA, while All-Americans had to maintain a 3.0. Wrestlers also had to have competed in four dates of competition. As a team, the Golden Bears finished the regular season with a 7-5 record, capped off by a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Super Region I Championships. Both Weinberg and Gimbor represented KU at the NCAA Division II Championship, with Weinberg earning All-American status and placing fourth at 184-pounds. That duo both earned All-PSAC nods as well. Horton, a redshirt freshman, competed at the 165 and 174-pound weight classes and finished with a 7-8 overall record, including two pins. Ferraina, also a redshirt freshman, competed at 125 and 133-pounds, finishing with a 6-4 record. Ward, a freshman, wrestled at 174 and 184-pounds, finishing his first collegiate season with a 6-6 record.

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 21. 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.

Kutztown University Field Hockey had four student-athletes on the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Scholars of Distinction honors for 2022, announced Thursday. Morgan Benner (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), Jillian Buchman (Drums, Pa./Hazleton), Sarah Gatehouse (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) and Dariane Jones (Factoryville, Pa./Lackawanna Trail) all were recognized by the NFHCA for their hard work in the classroom. This year, more than 100 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 2022-23 academic year. Since nine-year 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. It is the third straight honor for Buchman and Gatehouse and first for Benner and Jones.

Kutztown University football's Jerome Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) is an Academic All-American for the first time. The graduate student wide receiver was named to the Second Team as the College Sports Communicators' annual teams were announced Tuesday. Kapp produced a career-best year in 2022 with 47 receptions for 916 yards and nine touchdowns. A two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection (2021, 2022), the Barto, Pa., native and Boyertown product led the PSAC and ranked 21st in NCAA DII in yards per reception (19.5). He was also top five in the conference and top 25 nationally in receiving TDs, yards and yards per game (83.3). Kapp completed his career as one of the top wideouts in program history, ranking third in receiving yards (2,190) and tied for fourth in TDs (22) after just three seasons with the Maroon and Gold. A four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete, three-time D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award honoree and four-time KU Dean's List student, Kapp graduated summa cum laude from KU with a sport management degree in May, 2022, and is currently pursuing his Master of Business Administration. Kapp is the first Golden Bear football player to earn Academic All-America honors since Josh Smith was named to the Second Team back in 2011. Overall, he's the fifth KU football student-athlete honored all-time, joining Alex Daecher (2000, 2001), Michael Baldwin (2005), Ryan Nye (2008) and Smith (2011). Kutztown finished with an 8-3 record this past season and went 5-2 in PSAC East play to take second in the division.

Kutztown University continued to set new department highs as a school-record 128 Golden Bears earned Division 2 Athletic Directors Association (D2 ADA) Academic Achievement Award status, announced by the organization on Tuesday. The 128 recipients breaks last year's previous record of 120. It is the third consecutive year that KU has set a new school record in student-athletes on the list. It is also the fourth straight year that the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) has the largest number of student-athlete honorees with 1,709 total. In total, there were a record breaking 16,639 student-athletes from 169 institutions recognized. The Academic Achievement Awards, in its 15th year, is a program that recognizes the academic accomplishments of student-athletes at the Division II level. In order for a student-athlete to be eligible to receive an Academic Achievement Award, they must: have 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 and have been an active member of an intercollegiate team during his or her last academic year.

Kutztown University presented the Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards to six accomplished students Friday, April 8, in the Georgian Room at Old Main. 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. The Academic Achievement Awards were established in 2004 through a donation provided by Dr. Carlson Chambliss, KU professor of astronomy from 1970-2003. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the exceptional individual achievements of a select group of KU graduating seniors. Specially designed coin medallions of gold, silver and copper were presented to the students. Vanessa Maybruck - Gold Medal Vanessa Maybruck is an Honors student, a mathematics and mathematics education dual major with a minor in biochemistry graduating in May from Allentown, Pa. Maybruck was awarded the Chambliss Academic Achievement Gold Medal for outstanding service to the university community and successfully completed research project(s). She has been actively involved in multiple organizations on campus, including the Mathematics Department Peer Mentor Program, the Kappa Mu Epsilon Honor Society, the KU Honors Club and the KU Choirs. She has made outstanding contributions to the KU chapter of the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the IOTA chapter of the Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society. She has served as president of AWM for more than two years, where she co-organized and coordinated several events focused on empowering women, celebrating diversity and navigating male-dominated careers as women. It was primarily her leadership that made these events a success. Maybruck has made other significant contributions to the campus community through her efforts to promote disability awareness and improve campus accessibility for individuals with disabilities. She had multiple leadership roles as an active member of Delta Alpha Pi International Honor Society for Students with Disabilities (DAP) and is currently president. Under her leadership, DAP members worked to create guidelines for making large scale campus events more accessible to all, where she hopes to publish these guidelines for general campus use. Maybruck is KU's nominee for the State System's Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence. Maybruck plans to obtain her Ph.D. in applied mathematics to become a professor and prolific mathematical modeler. Isaac Reiter - Gold Medal Isaac Reiter is an Honors student, a mathematics major graduating in May from Fleetwood, Pa. Reiter was awarded the Chambliss Academic Achievement Gold Medal for successfully completed research project(s). Reiter has been an active researcher and presenter in the areas of cryptography, number theory and graph theory. These areas of interest, along with his experience in computer programming, has led to two general research projects. His work with a project involving playing card cryptosystem led to a new discovery of vulnerabilities in current cryptosystems. His findings allowed him to improve the security of Card Chameleon and has created a new secure and efficient playing card system called VICCard. In his other project that focused on problems of graph theory, a field of discrete mathematics that studies network structure, Reiter has demonstrated an exceptional research ability. He currently has two publications on his research in reputable professional journals, a third publication in an undergraduate journal and has an Honors capstone thesis. He has presented his research at local conferences, graduate student seminars and regional and national professional conferences. Reiter intends to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics and has a goal of becoming a professor. Kayla Argen - Silver Medal Kayla Argen is a sport management major graduating in May from Cresco, Pa. She was awarded the Chambliss Academic Silver Medal for noteworthy achievements in athletics. Argen was captain and center midfielder for the nationally ranked KU women's soccer team, where she helped lead the Golden Bears to a successful 17-1-2 season in 2021 and participate in the PSAC and NCAA tournaments. She was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team and D2CCA All-America Third Team, the eighth player in program history to earn All-America status and only the third to receive the recognition from multiple organizations in a single season. She has been an active member of the women's soccer program all three competitive seasons that she has been a student at KU, starting in 53 of 58 career games played. Argen led KU last year in scoring with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points, which ranked fourth in the PSAC. Throughout her career, she has 17 goals and 15 assists, fifth all-time in program history for career assists. These numbers have accounted for three years due to the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19. Argen is planning to return to the field this fall as the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19. Her future aspirations involve a professional athletic playing career and/or a career path working in the sports field. Corey Potter - Silver Medal Corey Potter is from Reinholds, Pa. and graduated in December with a degree in geology. He was awarded the Chambliss Academic Achievement Silver Medal for successfully completed research project(s). Throughout 2021, Potter completed two separate research projects with guidance from two different faculty members and exhibited outstanding research ability and skill. In one of his projects, he worked to create 3D computer models from photographs, adapt lab-based geology research and created a method for extracting geospatial data using his computer skills. Potter worked independently to create a clear workflow that future research students can use and devised a programming solution for gathering useful data from photogrammetric models. He presented his results in person at the annual Geological Society of America meeting in Portland, Oregon in Oct. 2021. This conference is an international professional event where undergraduate students are encouraged to attend and present cutting-edge scientific research. Most presentations are given by professionals in industry, government and academia and only a select few of undergraduate students. Potter has since graduated from KU and is now in graduate school at Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla, Mo. He is in the Petroleum Engineering program and is working on his Ph.D. Rylee Derr - Copper Medal Rylee Derr is from Lititz, Pa. and graduated in December with dual degrees in special education and elementary education. She was awarded the Chambliss Academic Achievement Copper Medal for noteworthy achievements in athletics. Derr has been a starter and member of the KU women's basketball team since 2017 and led the Golden Bears to two PSAC East titles, two PSAC Final Four appearances and the program's first NCAA Tournament since 1996. Derr is the all-time leading scorer in KU women's basketball history. She also holds the school record for three-pointers made in a game, season and career. She is a three-time All-PSAC selection, was the KU Freshman of the Year and has made the Dean's List and been named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete every year. She was the team captain this season and returned to complete her four years of athletics due to COVID-19. In doing so, she is pursuing her master's degree in education and her reading specialist certification. Derr aspires to become a teacher and remain involved in basketball. Shani Trebatoski - Copper Medal Shani Trebatoski is an art education and crafts major graduating in May from York, Pa. She was awarded the Chambliss Academic Achievement Copper Medal for successfully completed research project(s). Trebatoski has served as an undergraduate research assistant over the course of summer 2020 and summer 2021. Throughout the last 2+ years, she has been fully involved in the data collection and use of narrative methodologies during a research study funded by the National Art Education Foundation and a KU Bears Grant. During her study, she used narrative research - a qualitative method focused on gathering the stories of participants -to collect participants' lived experiences to better understand the complexity of being an educator in a changing teaching landscape with specific attention to how one's own identity impacts one's role as an educator. This research is timely, as the field of art education reflects and examines the role of professional identity on views of the learner and curriculum creation that promotes equity, diversity, inclusivity and accessibility. She has been an integral part of this project; she coded the data that was collected, organized and maintained the software that contains files pertinent to each participant, maintained a field/research journal, participated in data reflections and researched background material that was vital to the study. Trebatoski co-authored a research article that focused on how white educators engage in critical social action that has been accepted for publication. She also participated in state and national scholarly presentations. She is currently teaching elementary students in Reading, where the knowledge gained from this research is being actively utilized as she works with diverse learners. She will be serving elementary students in the Reading School District and will be presenting at the undergraduate KU Inspires research symposium this April.

Kutztown University presented its annual Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards Friday, April 16, at a virtual event. Students were nominated by university employees for meeting one or more of the six areas of achievement, which include: successfully completed research project(s), original artwork of high quality, artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.) of high quality, original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields, noteworthy achievements in athletics and outstanding service to the Kutztown University community.

The Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence is conferred upon a graduating senior from one of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education universities. Kutztown University's Caelan Brooks was presented as the 2021 winner of the Syed R. Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence Thursday morning at the State System's virtual Board of Governors meeting.

Kutztown University graduate Anna Nissley '20 has been selected by the National Collegiate Honors Council as one of four 2020 Portz Scholars. This national award is given to four students for outstanding undergraduate honors papers. Nissley's award-winning, 110-page paper is titled, "Stories of the Appalachian Trail." "The Appalachian Trail has been a central part of the identity of the East Coast and the United States as a whole for almost a century," Nissley said. "On one hand, it has represented an escape from ever-modernizing American culture - a more-than-2,000-mile-long strip of land offering safe haven to the restless. "On the other hand, it represents a cultural paradox in the U.S.: while outdoor enthusiasts seek natural spaces, it is typically to return to the creature comforts of home and to a society which prefers to sideline "wilderness" until frustrated by its own civilization," Nissley continued. "The aim of this project is to question Western conceptualizations of outdoor spaces - in part through the critique of the very terms used to refer to land like "wild" versus "developed" - through multi-genre storytelling ranging from critical analysis to personal narratives and poetry." Nissley, from Elizabethtown, Pa., graduated summa cum laude from KU in Spring 2020 with two degrees: a Bachelor of Science in English education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish. She also minored in women's and gender studies. "Anna's work exemplifies Honors work: integrative, interdisciplinary, visionary, creative and well-researched; it is true scholarship," said. Dr. Jennifer Schlegel, director of KU's honors program. "Her paper documents an integrative and interdisciplinary journey, literally and figuratively. This multi-genre work is an exploration of the Appalachian trail, of hiking, of wilderness. What struck me about the work is the interactions between the smallest details and macro issues of contemporary concern. Anna takes the reader on her journey and invites the reader to explore with her the intimacy of hiking a large expanse of land." In its 30th year, the Portz Scholars program began in 1990 to acknowledge John and Edythe Portz's many contributions to honors education. These two altruists have also been the inspiration for the creation of Portz Grants for innovation in honors programs and colleges, and Portz Fellowships designed to support original and extended interdisciplinary research projects. This year's Portz Scholars include Nissley, Molly Ke'alohilani Miyamoto, University of Hawai'i at Manoa, Genevieve Verville, University of Mississippi and Adam Weiner, Millersville University. The four Portz Scholars will present their papers in a virtual session as part of the NCHC20 Virtual Events at 5 p.m. Eastern, Friday, Oct. 9. Winners are awarded a $350 stipend and free registration to the Virtual Events, as well as recognition in the NCHC Award Ceremony later this fall. 8.2.3