John Burnett (Nazareth, Pa), a psychology major, has been selected for a silver medal for successfully completing research projects relating to the investigation of differences and disparities in environments in which older adults reside. His findings were published in The Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences, in September 2008. Additionally, Burnett was invited to present on “Psychology in the Geriatric Environment,” at the Kutztown University Psychology Undergraduate Research Symposium in March 2008. 

Burnett has maintained a presence on the dean’s list from 2005-2008, is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor’s Society, and of Psi Chi. 

Following graduation, Burnett plans to attend Georgia Tech University, where he has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in Experimental Psychology. 

Amanda Keith (Lake Ariel, Pa), an English major, was honored with a silver medal for outstanding service to the Kutztown University community. Keith is currently an Off-Campus Advisory Council Saucony Cross Senior Center Student Volunteer Coordinator, and works in the New Student Programs Connections office. Last year, she was instrumental in planning and executing the freshman orientation program at Kutztown University. Additionally, Keith has been an Alternative Spring Break Coordinator, through which she organized service projects for Kutztown students over spring breaks to serve Habitat for Humanity in Boston, Cleveland, and New Orleans. Along with many other projects, Keith is a Special Olympics Regional Committee Member, and over the 2008 winter break, she served in the Honduras MAMA Project as a team leader, working on medical teams and construction projects.

Keith was a 2008 Who’s Who among American University Students inductee. She was also awarded a Scholars in Service Award from Kutztown University in 2008, an APSCUF Student Scholarship, in 2008, and a PSECU Student Scholarship, in 2008.

Following graduation, Keith will be beginning The Master’s of Social Work program in the Fall of 2009. 

Matthew Twombly (Easton, Pa), a communication design major, was awarded a silver medal for original artwork of high quality. Twombly spent the last 18 months of his undergraduate career working on Distances, a 32-page science-fiction graphic novel that is both complex and subtle in its concept and technique, and shows great professionalism. 

His work was recognized by the Marvel Comics Group, who awarded him an internship in the summer of 2008. Twombly received Honorable Mention Awards in the American Institute for Graphic Arts FLUX Student Design Competition 2008. He has also been on the dean’s list from 2005-2008. 

In the future, Twombly plans to create more graphic novels and illustrations. He has applied to the graduate program Illustration-The Visual Essay at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  

Sara Anthony (Hellertown, Pa), and Stephanie Petrucci (Lehighton, Pa), both biology majors, were honored with copper medals for their outstanding research in biology. They conducted a study to determine the effect of various iron sources in fertilizer on the development of a physiological condition of geraniums known as micronutrient toxicity.  To conduct this study, Anthony and Petrucci researched current literature, designed, formulated and mixed their own fertilizer solutions, grew and treated plants, collected data, harvested plants, and analyzed the data. 

Based on the research, Anthony won the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Presentation Award at the Northeast Division meeting of the American Society of Horticultural Science (ASHS), held at the University of Delaware in January 2009. In the future, Sara plans to attend graduate school. 

Petrucci won second place for the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Presentation Award with the ASHS. After graduation, she plans to work as a science educator. Her background in hands-on research will be a great benefit for Petrucci and her future students.

Kelley Healey (Toms River, N.J.), a biology major, was awarded a copper medal for successfully completing research projects and noteworthy achievements in athletics. Healey has received high honors in the classroom as well as completed independent and group research projects throughout her four years at Kutztown University. While maintaining an impressive GPA Healey also excelled in field hockey as a two year captain and four year starting forward. In 2005 she was awarded the PSAC Rookie of the Year Award, and has been selected for All-PSAC teams, and the Division II All American first team. Additionally, in 2008, Healy was selected for ESPN the Magazine’s Academic all District first team, and the All America second team. In the future, she plans to be accepted into a biomedical graduate program

Andrew Smouse (Bedford, Pa.), a music education major, was honored with a copper medal based on successfully completing research projects. Smouse researched the “March-Style” music of Reading native, Forrest Hunsicker. He also prepared critical full-score editions of six of Hunsicker’s Marches for performances by the Kutztown University Symphonic Band. Additionally, Smouse undertook a major research project involving an analysis of 50 masterworks for wind band, which he plans to submit to the Guide Book to Meredith Music Publications. Smouse also serves as a Student Trustee for the Kutztown University Council of Trustees, as well as a percussion teacher for an outreach program designed by the Reading Musical Foundation to work with at-risk students, and has conducted a Community Band in his hometown. In the future, Smouse plans to pursue a master’s degree in music/instrumental conducting. 

Justin Sorensen (Russell, Pa), a fine arts major, was awarded a copper medal for original artwork of high quality. His intaglio prints, created with etched zinc plates, are characterized by ambitious size and technical complexity which shows a degree of sophistication that is uncommon among undergraduates. In 2008, Sorensen’s work was selected for the Ninth Annual National Exhibition at Shippensburg University, where it won a Purchase Award and became part of Shippensburg’s Permanent Collection. Sorensen also received a Commission Award for Drawing in the 32^nd Annual Student Art Exhibition in Jamestown, NY (2007), the Weeks Gallery Student Purchase Award (2006), and the Critics Choice Award in the 2005 SUNY Student Art Exhibition in Albany, NY. After graduation, Sorensen plans to attend graduate school to earn a master’s degree in printmaking. 

Mary N. Lord (Dingmans Ferry, Pa.), a history major, was selected for a copper medal based on her honors thesis, “The Boone Family in the American Revolution: The Ethnic and Religious Ties of Frontier Quakers.” The study examined how Quakers in Berks County, Pa responded to the American Revolution. During her research, Lord visited and collected data from Swarthmore College, the Berks County Genealogical Society, the Berks Country Register of Wills, and the David Library of the American Revolution in Washington’s Crossing, Pa. Her research was funded by a grant from the Kutztown University Honors Program. Additionally, Lord received admittance to the Phi Alpha Theta History Honorary Society, the David and Charlotte Valuska Endowed Internship for Pennsylvania German Studies, and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. After graduation Lord intends to pursue a master’s degree and ultimately a Ph.D. in American history.

Kelsey Shelton (North Wales, Pa) a communication design major, was awarded a copper medal for original artwork of high quality. Shelton produces work that is both creative and polished to a professional level. Her dedication and effort serves as an example to other students. Shelton was selected by Hallmark as a finalist for a Holiday Card competition, and has self-authored and illustrated a children’s book. She has also been awarded the John K. Landis Honorary Scholarship, the Marcks Honor Scholarship, and the Beacon Scholarship. Shelton plans to seek publication of her self-authored/illustrated children’s book, “The Little Buffalo,” before moving into a design firm full-time.