Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

The Kutztown University Marching Unit (KUMU), an energetic part of the campus community, provides music, marching and entertainment for all KU Golden Bears football games, select away games, marching band festivals/competitions, professional sporting events, parades and campus spirit building activities. Under the direction of professor Daniel Neuenschwander, KUMU has announced its 2023 roster.

Kutztown University will have 20 student-athletes representing its men's and women's tennis teams for the 2023-2024 season. Read more about the KU tennis teams at www.KUBears.com, including schedules, rosters and match recaps.

Kutztown University and the Kutztown University Foundation have named 15 students as Presidential Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 school year. Founded in 1997, the Presidential Ambassadors is a Kutztown University student organization that works directly with the President's Office and the Kutztown University Foundation and Alumni Relations. The mission of the group is to support events that connect current students with alumni, faculty, staff and university friends, to act as ambassadors of the university and to create new traditions which enhance KU Pride. The Presidential Ambassadors' major fundraiser is the Tuition Sweepstakes. The winner of the sweepstakes is awarded one semester of in-state tuition to Kutztown University. Proceeds from the sweepstakes benefit ambassador programs and Kutztown University, including support of Dinner with Golden Bears, Grin and Bear It, Professional Headshots for KU Juniors and Senior, Love a Donor Week, Ladies Tea Scholarship, General Fund Scholarship, Play for Kay, Wounded Warrior 5k Race, campus and community wide events as well as many other events geared towards philanthropic efforts. The organization strives to build philanthropy and stewardship with the Kutztown University community. Learn more at https://www.kuf.org/alumni/kupa.

Kutztown University has announced 108 student-athletes will represent its football team for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview here. Kutztown football entered last season fresh off winning the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship. But the start to the year was not how KU had hoped to keep the momentum going from the previous campaign, as it was shutout at Assumption University. Enter 2023 and the Golden Bears head back to Worcester, Mass., looking to not only score some points, but to begin a win streak as they search for another PSAC crown and NCAA tournament berth. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. Kutztown and No. 23 Assumption open up the season against each other for the eighth straight year. KU is 3-4 against the Greyhounds in that span, winning three consecutive games before last season's 3-0 defeat on the road. The Maroon and Gold are back at Brian Kelly stadium hoping to avenge last year's defeat and go 1-0. The Maroon and Gold are once again set to be competitors for the PSAC title, as they were voted second in the preseason poll. They have had five straight seasons of at least eight victories. They went 8-3 overall and 5-2 in the PSAC last season under the program's winningest head coach in program history, Jim Clements, including two victories over nationally-ranked programs in California (Pa.) and Slippery Rock. KU will be looking to win the East after taking the division title in back-to-back seasons in 2019 and 2021 (2020 season canceled due to COVID-19), while also trying to get back to the NCAA Championship Tournament, following three consecutive appearances in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Following another road trip to California (Pa.) next Saturday, Sept. 9, the Golden Bears appear at Andre Reed Stadium for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 16, for a 12 p.m., contest against Mercyhurst.

Kutztown University has announced 26 student-athletes will represent its men's and women's cross country teams for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview here. The Kutztown University cross country program is ready to hit the course for the 2023 season. Both the men's and women's teams enter the season ranked No. 6 in their respective Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason polls after strong 2022 campaigns. The season kicks off this Friday, Sept. 1 at the Panthers XC Invite at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. The men's squad enters the 2023 season coming off a seventh-place finish at the PSAC Championships, along with a 12th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears earned four top-five team finishes over the course of the 2022 regular season, including a first-place finish at the Last Chance Run Fast Invitational. The women's team enters the 2023 season coming off a fifth-place finish in the PSAC Championships, along with a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championships. The Golden Bears found great success last regular season, finishing first at both the DeSales and Last Chance Run Fast Invitationals. They racked up second place and the three other meets, including the Paul Short Run, which was comprised of 42 other teams.

Kutztown University will have 33 student-athletes representing its women's soccer program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online After a magical run to the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, the Kutztown University women's soccer team is ready to take the field for the 2023 campaign. The Golden Bears ended last season, and open this season, ranked No. 19 in the United Soccer Coaches Association DII national poll. KU finished the 2022 season with an 11-6-4 record, making it the 20th straight season the Golden Bears won ten or more games. Despite an up-and-down season, including an early exit from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Tournament, the Maroon and Gold earned the final seed in the Atlantic Region of the NCAA Tournament. Once tournament time came around, the Golden Bears found their groove. KU downed No. 2 Frostburg State and No. 3 Gannon en route to the program's second-ever Atlantic Region final against No. 1 West Chester. The Golden Bears went toe-to-toe with the Golden Rams in Albany, but a last minute goal saw the eventual national runners-up West Chester advance. The Golden Bears open the season Thursday Aug. 31 at the Gannon Invitational. KU will match up against Charleston (W. Va.) at 3 pm. The Maroon and Gold will then play Concord on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 3 p.m. as a part of the invitational. The PSAC East slate will start at Keystone Field against Millersville on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. Senior Day is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 21 against Shepherd at noon.

Kutztown University will have 32 student-athletes representing its field hockey program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown field hockey had one of its most successful seasons in program history last season and is poised for more of the same this season. The Golden Bears, which ranked second in the National Field Hockey Coaches Association's final national poll, finished 16-3 overall and on top of the PSAC with an 8-1 record last season. They also reached a No. 1 ranking in the NFHCA poll during the season for the first time in program history. Entering the 2023 campaign, Kutztown had its highest preseason ranking in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference poll since the conference went to one division in 2013. KU was voted third by the conference's head coaches. There are 10 opportunities to catch the Maroon and Gold in action at home this season, including five PSAC games. Senior day is set for Saturday, Oct. 21, against Slippery Rock at 3 p.m. Kutztown opens its season Thursday, Aug. 31, with a non-conference game against New Haven at 3 p.m., from Andre Reed Stadium. The PSAC opener is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, against Mercyhurst at 11 a.m., at Andre Reed Stadium.

The Kutztown University cross country program will be captained by six student-athletes for the 2023 campaign, as announced by head coach Ray Hoffman. Representing the men's team will be Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Logan Iacobelli (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), and Jack Hollar (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East). Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Anastasia Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), and Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) will be the captains of the women's squad. On the men's side, it's the second time that Habalar and Iacobelli have captained the Maroon and Gold, while it's the first time for Hollar. On the women's side, it's the second time that D'Amelio and Fratanduono have been named captains, while it's the first time for Bendetti. Both squads came in ranked No. 6 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) preseason rankings and open the season on Friday, Sept. 1 at the Panthers XC Invite. That race will take place at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y.

Kutztown University will have 14 student-athletes representing its women's volleyball program for the 2023 season. Read the full season preview online Kutztown women's volleyball was knocking on the door of the postseason in 2022, but fell just short of achieving that goal. KU, however, still had one of its best seasons in almost a decade and is motivated as ever to break down the door to postseason action in 2023. Last season, the Golden Bears finished with their most wins in a regular season (13) since 2014, and just missed out on the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference tournament, dropping a five-set thriller to Bloomsburg in the season finale. A victory would have put them into the eight-team playoff field and breaking an 11-year drought as they last appeared in the postseason in 2011. KU went 13-12 overall and 7-7 in the PSAC, the most conference wins since 2014. League head coaches took notice of the success of last season, voting Kutztown fifth in the 2023 PSAC Preseason poll, the highest ranking since 2015. Kutztown's season begins with a non-conference match at Caldwell on Thursday, Aug. 31, followed by two matches against Southern Connecticut State and Bridgeport in New Haven, Conn, the following day. The home opener is set for Tuesday, Sept. 5, against Chestnut Hill, at 7 p.m., at Keystone Arena.

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

The Kutztown University women's soccer program named seniors Becca Delp (Pottstown, Pa./Pottsgrove), Sadie Goad (Reading, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), Isabella Rossetti (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill East), and Dana Wentz (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) as captains for the 2023 campaign, as announced by head coach Erik Burstein. It's the first time that Delp, Goad, Rossetti, or Wentz have been named captains in their college careers. The foursome have a combined 132 career appearances in the Maroon and Gold. All four played critical parts in last season's run to the Sweet Sixteen, highlighted by Rossetti's All-PSAC First Team campaign. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native finished second on KU with seven goals. The Golden Bears kick off the 2023 season at the Gannon Invitational against Charleston (W. Va.) on Thursday, Aug. 31. That match will kick off at 3 p.m.

Kutztown University is pleased to welcome the newest members of the Golden Bear family, including both new incoming freshmen and transfer students, for the upcoming 2023 fall semester.

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.

Kutztown softball excelled in the classroom during the 2022-23 academic year, earning a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Team Academic Award. Nine Golden Bears also achieved All-America Scholar-Athlete status. In order to be named an Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honoree, student-athletes must post a GPA of 3.5 or higher for the 2022-23 academic year. Across Division II, Kutztown was one of 99 programs honored by the Association with the Team Academic Award, showcasing a team GPA of 3.29. Similarly, the nine Golden Bears recognized were part of the 1,790 DII student-athletes honored altogether. The nine Golden Bears to receive NFCA Scholar All-American honors were Naya Darnowski (Manchester, N.J./Manchester Township), Kristin Geesey (Bainbridge, Pa./Elizabethtown), Aysha Gibbs (Mount Joy, Pa./Donegal), Haley Gravish (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), Sarah Harvey (Swanton, Vt./Missisquoi Valley Union), Jenna Piatkiewicz (Fogelsville, Pa./Parkland), Hannah Reimel (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent), Alexa Stevens (Covington Township, Pa./North Pocono) and Brianna Stocklin (Deptford, N.J./Deptford Township). Kutztown finished last season with its fourth straight 30-win season and earned its third consecutive trip to the NCAA DII Atlantic Regional Tournament.

Kutztown University has conferred degrees for more than 1,060 students for the 2023 spring semester. Kutztown University announces degree conferment twice a year, once in the winter and once in the summer. Commencement exercises are held in May and December; however, students finish the requirements for graduation throughout the entire year. The following students have been awarded degrees following the 2023 spring semester. The cumulative grade point average necessary for honors distinction is: with honor (cum laude) 3.40; with high honor (magna cum laude) 3.60 and with highest honor (summa cum laude) 3.80. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly.

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 women's lacrosse team earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) Academic Honor Squad accolades, while eight student-athletes were named to the Division II Academic Honor Roll, the organization announced Wednesday afternoon. The Golden Bears were among 287 teams across Divisions I, II, III, and NAIA recognized as IWLCA Academic Honor Squads. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team grade point average during the 2022-23 academic year. The IWLCA also honored 414 student-athletes from 61 different institutions on the Division II Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Receiving Honor Roll status from the Golden Bears were Madeline Anemone (West Caldwell, N.J./James Caldwell), Kelly Askins (Galloway, N.J./Absegami), Brooke-Lynn Grim (Abbottstown, Pa./New Oxford), Morgan Hurd (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), Shannon Lake (Medford, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford), Avery Meiners (Perkasie, Pa./Pennridge), Emma Meakim (Hatboro, Pa./Upper Moreland) and Robin Spector (Northfield, N.J./Mainland Regional). This marks the second straight season that the Bears have earned Academic Honor Squad status under head coach Kristen Nicholson. Grim, Hurd and Meiners each appeared on the Academic Honor Roll for the second consecutive year.

Wesley Butler (Reading, Pa./Reading) and Kyree Generett (York, Pa./William Penn) of Kutztown University men's basketball were honored for their academic prowess by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) on Thursday afternoon, being named to the 2022-23 NABC Honors Court. The NABC Honors Court includes junior, senior and graduate student men's basketball players who finished the 2022-23 year with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher. Over 1,800 players earned spots on the NABC Honors Court for 2022-23. It is the second straight year that the duo has been named to the elusive list. Butler graduated in May with a degree in communication studies. He is a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List. Earlier this year, the Reading native earned a spot on the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team. In his senior season this past year, Butler eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone for his career and ended his career with 1,138 points, which ranks 21st in program history. He played in 23 games and averaged 12.4 points per game, finishing his time in Maroon and Gold scoring at a 15.4 ppg clip. Generett graduated summa cum laude this May with a degree in elementary education and concentrations in mathematics and social studies. The York native totaled a 3.86 GPA. Generett was also a multi-year PSAC Scholar-Athlete and member of the Dean's List, while being named to the CSC Academic All-District Team. This past season on the court, Generett averaged career-highs of 15.1 points, 4.4 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game on his way to All-PSAC East Second Team honors. He ranks seventh in KU history in free throw percentage at 84.5% (261-of-309). "Education is a core value of the NABC, and we are privileged to recognize these outstanding student-athletes and the coaches and support staff who invest in their development," said NABC Executive Director Craig Robinson. "The hundreds of teams and thousands of players that qualified for NABC academic awards this season are a testament to our sport's ongoing prioritization of success in the classroom."

Kutztown University men's tennis was announced as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team for the second year in a row and six players collected ITA Scholar-Athlete honors. The Golden Bears were among 64 NCAA Division II men's teams to surpass the ITA's required 3.2 team grade point average (GPA) during the 2022-23 academic year. Kutztown amassed a 3.487 team GPA this past year, second-highest in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). Only three conference teams earned the academic team honor, with Mercyhurst and West Chester joining the Bears. To receive ITA Scholar-Athlete status, student-athletes needed to post a 3.5 GPA during the 2022-23 academic year. The Maroon and Gold were represented on that list by Sebastian Arizpe (Puebla, Mexico/Colegio Humboldt de Puebla), Gonzalo Barcelo (San Pedro, Argentina/Nuestra Senora del Socorro), Justin Gincauskas (Mississauga, Ontario/Cawthra Park Secondary) and Ethan Moyer (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) for the second time, while freshmen Lucas Cherniak (Buenos Aires, Argentina/Escuela Superior de Comercio Carlos Pellegrini) and Emmitt Robinson (Ingersoll, Ontario/Ingersoll District Collegiate Institute) received the honor following their first collegiate seasons. A total of 468 Division II men's student-athletes were honored as ITA Scholar-Athletes overall.

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 tennis repeated as an Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team and four student-athletes captured ITA Scholar-Athlete accolades when the organization released its annual academic award winners this week. The Golden Bears, under the leadership of second-year head coach Wyatt Pauley, achieved a 3.34 team grade point average during the 2022-23 academic year, becoming one of 97 NCAA Division II women's programs to surpass the ITA's 3.2 standard. Four schools represented the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) as ITA All-Academic Teams, with Mercyhurst, Millersville and Slippery Rock joining KU. Jessika Klo (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom), Sarah Lazarchak (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), Claudia Makarski and Brianna Wendling (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown) each earned their second consecutive ITA Scholar-Athlete honor and were among 623 DII players recognized nationwide. To be eligible for ITA Scholar-Athlete status, student-athletes must have had a GPA of 3.5 or higher during the 2022-23 academic year.

Five Kutztown University women's bowling student-athletes appeared on the 2022-23 National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic list, which was announced by the organization this week. Student-athletes must have a 3.4 cumulative grade point average or higher for the academic year to qualify for NTCA All-Academic honors. This year there were 285 student-athletes recognized from 57 institutions that sponsor NCAA bowling. Representing the Golden Bears on this year's list are 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). Blood, Dean and Hanaway are each three-time honorees, while Sipe earned her second All-Academic award and Schweizer her first. Kutztown has had five or more student-athletes recognized on the NTCA All-Academic list in 10 of the last 11 years.

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.

It was another outstanding year in the classroom for Kutztown University student-athletes, with 227 being named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Scholar-Athletes, the league office announced Wednesday afternoon. The 2022-23 academic year marks the fourth in a row that the Golden Bears have eclipsed the 200 honoree mark. In order to be eligible for PSAC Scholar-Athlete honors, student-athletes must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. 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. Acrobatics & tumbling is part of the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) and does not have a conference affiliation, while women's bowling is an associate member of the East Coast Conference (ECC). Bowlers are eligible to be named to the ECC Commissioner's Honor Roll, which is usually released in late July. Previous recipients were also affected from various sports that the PSAC doesn't sponsor at other institutions, resulting in a drop of overall honorees across the conference's 18 institutions to 3,795. The percentage of honorees among all student-athletes remained consistent at 52% (3,794-of-7,319) compared to last year's 53%.

One of the most prolific wide receivers in Kutztown University history, Jerome Kapp (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) put up career best numbers across the board in 2022. Kapp was recognized for his outstanding season, Friday, when he was named the 202-23 KU Male Athlete of the Year. Kapp, a Barto, Pa., native and recent New York Jets signee, established new career-highs with 47 receptions, 916 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches as Kutztown finished with an 8-3 record last fall. A two-time All-PSAC East First Team selection, Kapp ranks third in program history with 2,190 receiving yards, tied for fourth with 22 TD catches and 12th in receptions with 122. His 2022 totals rank sixth in receiving yards and tied for ninth in TD catches in program single-season history. Kapp led the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) with 19.5 yards per catch in 2022. He was tied for third in TD catches, fourth in receiving yards per game (83.3) and fifth in total receiving yards. Kapp was an offensive force as Kutztown won PSAC East titles in 2019 and 2021, an overall PSAC championship in 2021 and reached three NCAA Division II Championship tournaments. The 2021 team advanced to the national quarterfinals for the first time in program history. Kapp was also a 2022 Don Hansen Football Gazette All-America Honorable Mention selection and a College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Second Team choice. Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Athlete of the Year award recognizes a Golden Bear for athletic excellence during the course of an academic year. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff, and announced each summer. Kapp is the 10th recipient of the award to come from the football program and first since Jordan Morgan in 2017.

Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) concluded her illustrious career last season and is up there with the best players in Kutztown women's soccer history. She's won numerous awards and her name is all over the program record books, and on Thursday, Argen was named the 2022-23 KU Female Athlete of the Year. A native of Cresco, Pa., Argen closed her Golden Bear career with a team-high 26 points on eight goals and 10 assists as Kutztown women's soccer advanced to the third round of the 2022 NCAA Division II Championship. One of the final 16 teams playing, KU finished as Atlantic Region runners-up. A two-year team captain, Argen is a two-time United Soccer Coaches All-American, earning First Team accolades in 2021 and Third Team honors in 2022. She was also a D2CCA All-America Third Team choice in 2021 and two-time All-Atlantic Region First Team selection by both United Soccer Coaches and D2CCA. Argen is a two-time All-PSAC East First Team midfielder and was voted PSAC East Athlete of the Year in 2021. She ranks third in program history with 25 assists, fifth with 75 points and ninth with 25 goals in 73 career games. The Golden Bears made three NCAA Tournament appearances during Argen's career. She was the leader last season for a KU team that went 11-6-4 overall, reached the third round of the NCAA Tournament (Sweet 16) and ranked 19th in the final United Soccer Coaches DII Top 25. Argen led the PSAC in assists and assists per game (0.50) while ranking in the top 15 nationally in both categories. Last month, at the All-Sports Celebration on campus, Argen was voted the Senior Athlete and Senior Scholar-Athlete, becoming just the second female student-athlete at KU to win both awards. Academically, Argen graduated magna cum laude in May 2022 with a degree in sport management, before beginning work towards her Master of Business Administration. She posted a 3.73 undergraduate GPA and currently holds a 3.63 graduate GPA. Argen is a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection, six-time KU Dean's List student, four-time PSAC Scholar-Athlete and three-time D2 ADA Academic Achievement Award recipient. Following her senior academic year in 2021-22, Argen was presented with a KU Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award silver medal for notable achievements in athletics. Presented annually since 1987, the Kutztown University Athletics Female Athlete of the Year award recognizes a Golden Bear for athletic excellence during the course of an academic year. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff, and announced each summer.

Kutztown University inducted 16 new members into the Alpha Epsilon chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, at its annual induction ceremony this past spring. Alpha Kappa Delta is a non-secret, democratic, international society of scholars dedicated to the ideal of Athropon Katamannthanein Diakonesin or "to investigate humanity for the purpose of service." Membership is open to undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty members from active chapters who meet our minimum standards. Currently, there are more than 115,000 members in Alpha Kappa Delta and more than 650 chapters.

In his first season donning the Maroon and Gold, wrestling's Dalton Gimbor (Bernville, Pa./Hamburg) won 21 matches and qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships. On Wednesday afternoon, Gimbor was announced as the 2022-23 Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year. Gimbor, from Bernville, Pa., competed at 165 pounds as a redshirt freshman for head coach Robert Fisher and the Golden Bears. He placed fifth at the Centenary (N.J.) Bob Quade Cyclone Open and sixth at the season-opening ESU Open, before making a significant impact as part of Kutztown's dual starting lineup, where he posted an 8-3 record overall and 5-2 mark against PSAC opponents. Gimbor was impressive throughout the season, but really stepped up down the stretch, winning nine of his last 12 matches. He squared off against the most nationally ranked opponents of any Golden Bear (seven) and defeated 10th ranked Dillon Keane of Pit-Johnstown in a road PSAC dual, Feb. 3, with a 9-5 decision. At the Super Region 1 Championships hosted by East Stroudsburg, Gimbor bounced back from a semifinal setback to defeat Mercyhurst's Mike Clark (pin, 2:25) and ESU's Luke Ciampa (dec., 8-2) to claim third in his weight class and the final qualifying spot at nationals. Gimbor went on to win a pair of bouts in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, first earning a 9-5 decision over Glenville State's Gaetano DeLeonardis in a preliminary round match before holding off Newberry's Patrick Wunderlich, 9-7, in a first round consolation. Gimbor finished the season with a 21-10 overall record and a team-high five major decisions. He also ranked tied for second on the team in technical falls with three and third in pins with five. Gimbor was an All-PSAC Third Team selection at 165. Presented annually since 1993, the Kutztown University Athletics Male Freshman of the Year award recognizes a first-year Golden Bear for outstanding athletic achievement. The award is voted upon by athletic department administration, coaches and support staff. Gimbor is the second straight grappler to win the award, joining 2021-22 recipient Matthew Weinberg (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan). Other former winners from the wrestling team include Kohlby O'Donnell (1997-98), Brandan Clark (2011-12) and Ziad Haddad (2012-13).

Adrianna Derstine (Barto, Pa./Boyertown) broke onto the collegiate scene in a big way for Kutztown women's volleyball in 2022. She etched her name in the record books of program lore and collected numerous postseason accolades along the way. On Tuesday, Derstine was named the 2022-23 KU Female Freshman of the Year. The Barto native made a name for herself and helped the Golden Bears have a resurgent season, ending with a 13-12 overall record, its most wins since the 2014 campaign. Derstine was voted the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Freshman of the Year, the program's first in 20 years, and earned spots on the All-PSAC East First Team and D2CCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team, the first All-Region selection since 2015. She also gives volleyball its first Freshman of the Year award since 2001. Derstine started all 25 matches this past season, playing in 95 sets. She finished with the eight-most kills (401) in a season in program history and tied the KU record with 30 kills in a match. She also owns the fourth-most with 29 in a match. Derstine led the PSAC in kills and points per set (4.74). She also ranked second on the team with 51 blocks and fourth with 241 digs, while adding 19 service aces and 18 assists. Her 450 points (kills/blocks/assists/digs) led the PSAC. Presented annually since 1993, the Kutztown University Athletics Female Freshman of the Year award recognizes a first-year Golden Bear for outstanding athletic achievement. Kutztown University's annual athletic awards are selected through a vote of the department's administration, head coaches and support staff. Throughout the week, winners will be announced on KUBears.com and the Golden Bears' social media channels.

Kutztown University inducted three students into its 2023 class of Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society at its annual induction ceremony this spring. The Kutztown University Chapter (Xi of PA) of the Lambda Alpha National Anthropology Honor Society provides an opportunity to recognize the academic achievements of students in the Anthropology Program. Lambda Alpha honors outstanding academic achievement in anthropology. Graduation regalia, including stoles and pins, can be purchased from Lambda Alpha to symbolize this honor. Lambda Alpha offers a national scholarship worth $5000 to be awarded to a graduating senior majoring in anthropology, as well as awards for outstanding student papers. Lambda Alpha maintains a journal that provides an opportunity for students to share their work with a national audience. To join the Xi of Pennsylvania Chapter of Lambda Alpha, undergraduate students must be a junior or senior, have completed at least 12 semester hours of course work in anthropology (which can include no more than six semester hours in sociology), have an anthropology GPA of at least 3.0 and have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.