Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Sierra Taylor became the fifth rookie in program history, and the first since 2011, to be named the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East Freshman of the Year, while graduate-transfer Alex Heck capped her one season with the Kutztown University women's basketball team with an All-PSAC East Second Team selection, as the league released its major awards and All-PSAC Teams on Thursday.

Kutztown University honored 52 students at the annual Gamma Sigma Alpha induction. Gamma Sigma Alpha is a national honor society for students who are members of a social Greek organization and have at least a 3.5 GPA in their junior or senior year.

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.

Josh Johnson headlined four Kutztown University men's basketball players on the 2017 All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Team Thursday, as he was named this year's PSAC Eastern Division Defensive Athlete of the Year. Johnson and junior point guard Ethan Ridgeway were named All-PSAC East First Team. Redshirt-sophomore Anthony Lee and redshirt-senior Ryan Connolly repeated last year's honors with All-PSAC Second Team recognition.

Kutztown University has announced the 2017 Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society inductees. The induction ceremony was held on Feb. 21.

The following people recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Kutztown University senior Nykolai A. Blichar has been selected to serve as a student trustee on the Kutztown University Council of Trustees. Appointed by the Council of Trustees, and confirmed by Governor Tom Wolf, Blichar will represent the nearly 8,500 students enrolled at the university.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its women's lacrosse program for the 2017 season.

The Kutztown University men's and women's cross country teams received multiple academic awards from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2016 season.

The Kutztown University women's lacrosse is happy to announce a trio of captains to lead the Maroon and Gold into the 2017 season. Senior Abby Cox, junior Sarah Gabriele and redshirt-junior Haley Romoser are the three recipients of the honor.

Kutztown University will have 19 student-athletes representing its softball program for the 2017 season.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees on nearly 700 students during the summer and fall terms. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish their requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honor distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. The following students have been awarded degrees since the summer 2016 announcement. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

More than 1,650 students have been named to the Fall 2016 Dean's List at Kutztown University. To be eligible for Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.

Brandyn Hamilton of Washington, N.J., is working for the state Legislative and Policy Research Office as part of a 15-week internship sponsored by Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. Hamilton is a senior public administration major at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He is one of 11 students participating in The Harrisburg Internship Semester (THIS) program

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 student Nykolai Aleksandor Blichar has been selected to serve on the It's On Us Student Advisory Committee. Blichar, a political science major from Palmerton, Pa., is one of 28 students serving on the committee. Those selected are from colleges and universities across the country including Fordham University, the University of Pennsylvania, Duke University, the University of Connecticut and Williams College.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its men's and women's tennis programs for the 2016-17 season.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its women's golf program for the 2016-17 season.

Christopher Collins of Bath, Pa., is working for the Pennsylvania Department of State as part of a 15-week internship sponsored by Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. Collins is a senior at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, where he is majoring in public administration and minoring in paralegal studies. He is one of 12 students participating in The Harrisburg Internship Semester (THIS) program, which provides students the opportunity to work in all areas of state government.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its field hockey program for the 2016 season.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its men's and women's cross country programs for the 2016 season.

Kutztown University has announced the student-athletes that will represent its football program for the 2016 season.

Kutztown University will have 33 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2016 season.

Kutztown University will have 14 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2016 season.

CJ Bauer and Steve Maine will join Brian Taylor as tri-captains of the 2016 Kutztown University men's cross country team. On the women's side, 2015 captains Kimberly Katzgrau and Olivia Dettore will return to their leadership roles in 2016 as the Kutztown University women's cross country team has announced captains for the upcoming season.

A quartet of Golden Bears will lead the Kutztown University field hockey team this year as the squad has announced its captains for the 2016 season. Seniors Courtney Ueberroth and Megan Tiwold will be joined by juniors Courtney Konowal and Chardonnay Hope as KU attempts to build off a 2015 campaign that saw the Golden Bears host their first playoff game in school history.

The Kutztown University track & field programs earned team and individual academic awards from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for the 2015-16 season on Thursday. The women's track & field team earned an All-Academic Team award for holding a 3.29 GPA last year. On the women's side, seniors Corinne Manela and Emma Sullivan and sophomore Macey Tanseco earned All-Academic status. Brandon Raguz represented the men's team with an All-Academic award.

Six members of the Kutztown University women's bowling team have been named to the East Coast Conference (ECC) Commissioner's Honor Roll for the 2015-16 academic year.

Six members of the Kutztown University women's bowling team maintained a 3.4 cumulative GPA last year, earning themselves a spot on the Academic All-National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) Team on Thursday.

After posting identical marks the last two years, Kutztown University surpassed its previous mark by 17 student-athletes in 2016 by recognizing 162 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes, the most in school history.