Message from the Director
I was just reading over KU’s vision statement. Webster in part defines vision as “…a mental image; foresight; imagination.” There is an obvious relationship to the future associated with this definition and I think corporate vision statements are intended to articulate this projection of how they will make things be.

But as I move around the campus, the community and the country and learn about Kutztown University through conversations with our faculty, students, staff and alumni, I realize that our vision statement is as much a history lesson as it is a prophecy.

The three main components of our vision statement –
We shall be the region’s center for excellence in academics…
We shall be the region’s center for cultural enrichment…
We shall be the region’s center for public engagement…
assure us of what KU shall become but they also are firmly grounded in what we have been for a very long time. Being the “region’s center” implies that people and things shall be drawn to us, but I think we are more of an epicenter from which our excellence shall ripple forth.

While the words are nice, it’s really people who make it so. People like you. This vision we have is a living thing forwarded each day by you as you meet, greet, teach, learn, accept, debate, welcome, and lead.

I think it is the intent of our vision statement to define and carry on the legacy of being a meaningful and welcoming place of opportunity. With that as our goal our vision is clear.

For a complete text of our Kutztown University vision statement, please follow this link.

Thank you one and all. I am proud to know ya!

Best Regards –

Director of Alumni Communications
Godshall@kutztown.edu

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Eisner to Speak at KU Decision Makers Forum

Michael D. Eisner, CEO and Chair of the Walt Disney Company from 1984-2005, will be the speaker at the 18th Annual Kutztown University Decision Makers Forum on April 25.

The Decision Makers Forum is KU’s annual community event that has featured speakers such as Colin Powell, Tim Russert, Rudy Giuliani, President George H.W. Bush, Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher, and Madeleine Albright. Proceeds from the event support scholarships for Kutztown University students.

“We are extremely pleased to have Michael Eisner as our speaker this year,” said Ronald Lewis, Forum coordinator and KU’s director of development for the College of Business. “His achievements in business and entertainment are among the best in the world. Having him at KU will be a great experience for our students and the surrounding community.”

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Q & A with Associate Professor David Wagaman '80 – Accounting and Finance

Where did you grow up?
Right here in Kutztown. I graduated from Kutztown Area High School and earned my bachelor's degree at Kutztown University. Now I teach at KU. I like to tell people that I did not go very far in life.

What was the last book you read?
The last book I read was "The Grand Slam: Bobby Jones, America, and the Story of Golf" by Mark Frost. He is the fellow who also wrote "The Greatest Game Ever Played,” which went on to become a pretty successful movie.

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?
I have never been to Europe so Austria, Switzerland, and southern Germany would be a great start. I am certain that it would be a feast for the senses - great sights, sounds, food and drink.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
As far as one event is concerned, probably being chosen and then delivering the commencement address. However, what I am most proud about is my son and daughter and the accomplishments of my former students.

What is your favorite movie?
"Field of Dreams"

What was your first car?
A 1976 Chevy Monza that I bought with the money I saved from delivering newspapers for 8 years.

What was your first job?
My first full-time job was as a tax accountant with Deloitte Haskins and Sells (DH&S). Back then DH&S was one of the "Big Eight" public accounting firms. Now it is known simply as Deloitte and is one of the "Big Four" firms. I had a great group of colleagues and we did our best to dispel the notion of the stereotypical accountant!

Who is your hero?
This is a tough one because I feel the term hero has been trivialized over the years. Many times a sports or entertainment figure is mentioned who frequently does not warrant such acclaim. Thinking about an individual who has had an impact on me and who meets the classical definition of a hero, I will say Robert Sack. He is a former partner in a "Big Eight” accounting firm who then became the chief accountant of the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He investigated several accounting scandals in the 1980's and then "retired" to a position as an accounting educator at the University of Virginia. Bob became one of the leading proponents for integrating ethics into the accounting curriculum. He could hold you absolutely spellbound in his presentations at conferences and has written several outstanding case studies. If more people had been touched by Bob, we would not have had the breakdown in the financial markets that we experienced a few years ago.

What is your best characteristic?
I am a sincere person.

What is your worst characteristic?
I am impatient with people who I feel should know better.

What is your favorite thing about Kutztown University?
This may be the accountant and Pennsylvania German coming out in me but I believe it is a great value. You get a comparable education to the "prestigious" schools at a fraction of the cost.

What current projects are you working on?
Professionally, I am active in the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). I currently chair the PICPA's Committee on Relations with Schools and Colleges and am on the editorial board of the CPA Journal published by the PICPA. Personally, I am working on improving my wedge play (in golf).

We are currently placing the finishing touches on a redesigned KU Alumni Association Webpage. Please check back in a few weeks to view and navigate this new and improved website.

http://www.kutztown.edu/alumni/wiesenberger/

If you happen to be a fan of the Discovery Channel hit show Dirty Jobs, you may have noticed KU alumnae Jean Wertz ’79 sporting a Kutztown University hat as she appeared in an episode featuring her family’s candy store in Lebanon, Pa.

The episode, titled “Fuel Tank Cleaner” in reference to the episode’s lead story, first aired in July 2006 and has been in rotation ever since.

Wertz, a 1979 graduate with a degree in Art Education, originally intended to teach. As fate would have it, however, Wertz returned to her family’s 75 year old business, Wertz Candies, and built a career combining art and chocolate. “I always considered myself to be a painter first,” says Wertz of her craft, “the chocolate art evolved as a means to survive in an environment where art was not just marginalized but unimportant.”

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Kutztown University junior communication design student Lori Brader, of Wernersville, Pa., placed first at the “Wear Your Voice” competition sponsored by the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA). Brader’s piece was chosen over 319 other entries from 15 other colleges and universities throughout the Philadelphia area.
The contest asked for students, fluent in graphic design, to create a t-shirt that spoke for an entity or cause having limited or no means of personal expression. Submission topics dealt with matters such as animal rights, human rights, environmental issues and political issues.

“I got inspiration after reading an article about a teacher who took her class on a field trip to a museum and showed them artwork featuring nudity.” said Brader. “The teacher was later fired for her action.”

Brader, a graduate of Conrad Weiser High School, won the contest with her piece entitled “Love Art Don’t Censor.” Her design depicted a censored print of a nude Adam and Eve. With only their legs showing, the print was draped with a cloth. Brader simply added descriptive text on top of the cloth censoring the images underneath.

“When they announced my name, I was shaking, and extremely surprised that my design was viewed as number one out of over 300 by 13 judges,” Brader said. “I feel very blessed to have won because it will be a great aspect on my resume.

“I learned a lot about having confidence in what I do, never giving into the unexpected problems that may arise, and to always be thankful for what I do receive as blessings in my life.”

Kutztown University students represented 82 of the 320 total contest entries. Winning five of the 13 juried awards were communication design juniors: Christopher Gonzalez of Allentown (Dieruff HS), Rebecca Hatton of Wyalusing (Wyalusing Valley HS), Amanda Maletsky of Macungie (Parkland HS), E. Casey Peters of Lancaster (McCaskey HS) and Brader.

The 15 other schools represented in the competition included: Arcadia University, The Art Institute of Philadelphia, Bucks County Community College, Cabrini College, University of Delaware, Hussian School of Art, Millersville University, Moore College of Art and Design, Penn State University, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia University, Rutgers University, Tyler School of Art, West Chester University, and William Patterson University.

The deadline for works to be submitted was November 1, 2006. Selected works were chosen and displayed at the Icebox Gallery in the Crane Arts Building in Philadelphia. The show ran Friday, November 10 to Friday, December 1, 2006. An award ceremony and closing reception was held on Friday, December 1, 2006. For more information on the competition, visit www.philadelphia.aiga.org.

Kutztown University would like to thank its alumni for their assistance with the Coffee table Book Surveys which were distributed via email in January. We received over 1000 responses! The Coffee table Book should be available for sale in 2008.

Applications are currently being accepted for the initial scholarship, which will be applicable for the 2007-09 academic years. The award will be available for the successful applicant’s freshman and sophomore years only. Scholarship candidates must meet the following criteria:
• son or daughter of an honorably discharged veteran.
• resident of either the Brandywine, Fleetwood or Kutztown Area School Districts.
• demonstrated financial need.
• maintains a 2.5 GPA and continues to participate in the ROTC program.
• commits to pursuing a commission at the point of eligibility.

If there is no candidate meeting the primary criteria, the following criteria will be considered:
• an honorably discharged veteran.
• resident of either the Brandywine, Fleetwood or Kutztown Area School Districts.
• demonstrated financial need.
• maintains a 2.5 GPA.

“This scholarship helps continue our veterans’ commitment to service to their community and our country by insuring a quality education in perpetuity for our community’s students,” said Glenn Godshall, post commander and KU’s director of alumni affairs. “It also helps bring forth the future leaders of our great nation.” Anyone interested in application information should contact the guidance office at one of the high schools listed above. Further questions can be directed to Godshall at 610-683-4111.

Here are some things that MySpace alumni remember about KU!

“The chicken”

“The Cliffs”

“The Halloween Party – bring it back!”

“The photocopier in the library that gave unlimited free copies if you pressed the start and coin return buttons at the same time”

“Not to walk on the tiles in front of South Dining Hall when it’s raining”

“Paradise Lost used to be a bank”

“Exactly how long it takes to get from GB to Lytle Hall”

“Mamma’s number by heart”

Noncredit courses are a tangible way to demonstrate acquisition of new skills for your current career, career advancement, or to launch a whole new career. They are also an excellent way to network with other interesting adult learners and to enhance your expertise in a selected field.

People jockeying for position in a highly competitive marketplace are hoping that noncredit courses or a certificate (group of noncredit courses designed to provide in-depth study in a particular subject area) will put them on the inside track for a promotion or even a new career.

You can find the links to all our many noncredit online offerings at http://www.kutztown.edu/academics/learning

And the winner is.....We had a lot of excellent submissions which made our decision difficult.  But, this contest was all about courage.  And it takes a lot of courage for a grown man to publicly climb into the arms of a giant bear statue.  Here’s to you John Freeman class of 2002 for facing the bear in style.

Left: Class of 2002-03 - Rob Fried, Joe Jarski, Randy Vaszily, Matt Smircich, Brian Smith

Right: Greta Eichlin-Bell ‘80

KU Wrestler Joe Kemmerer Wins National Championship
Kutztown University wrestler Joe Kemmerer won the 2007 NCAA Division II 133 lb. Championship at the University of Nebraska-Kearney on March 10.

Kemmerer claimed the title with a 1-0 decision over Jared Henning of the University of Central Oklahoma. Earlier Saturday, Kemmerer advanced to the finals with a 3-0 decision over Shane Perkey of the University of Indianapolis.

"It feels great," Kemmerer said just after coming off the award stand. "Everything really came together for me. (Henning) had a great tournament and was a tough opponent. I just had to keep the pressure on."

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KU adds Women’s Lacrosse, Women’s Bowling as Varsity Sports
Kutztown University President Dr. F. Javier Cevallos announced that women’s lacrosse and women’s bowling will be added to the school’s roster of intercollegiate varsity sports beginning in 2007-08.

The sports will bring the number of varsity sports at Kutztown to 23. They are the first additions to Kutztown’s intercollegiate athletics department since the 2000-01 school year when women’s golf was offered.

“We feel that participation in intercollegiate athletics has a beneficial effect on students - in the classroom as well as the field of competition,” Cevallos said. “We are delighted to be able to make this opportunity available to more of our students.”

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College of Education - The 9th Annual Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference will be Friday, April 20th and Saturday, April 21st on campus. Registration begins at 4 pm on Friday and the conference ends by 5 pm on Saturday. This year’s conference features keynote addresses by featured authors plus breakout sessions on new books, classroom strategies and much, much more! The conference does qualify for Act 48 credits. Cost is $60 for the full conference, $20 for Friday night and $50 for Saturday only. For registration and more information on the conference please click on this link.

The College of Education and the Alumni Association also welcome registrants to the Alumni Continental Breakfast, which is being held in the Graduate Center on Saturday morning, April 21 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Please stop by for some food, fun and networking!

Recent Kutztown University Communication Design graduates working for Hallmark in Kansas City visit with their former professors as part of Hallmark’s Visiting Educator’s program. From left to right are: Josh Dusel (06), Kristen Dudish (05), Professor Elaine Cunfer (83), Professor and Chairperson of the Communication Design Department Laurel Bonhage, Emily Bond (04), Dainelle Mousley (05), Brian Kepeck (05), Heather Green (06)

These KU graduates from the classes of 1944 and 1945 met for Sunday brunch in August at the Inn at Oley.

Left to right: Evelyn Kleckner Leibach, Gene Koller Bielecki, Jean Stout Berger, Mary Jane Dunkel Ricky, Marjorie Lengel Richter, Jean Diebert Miller, Mary Bennetch Davis.

If you have a photo and story to share about your own KU Alumni reunions please send them to alumni@kutztown.edu

	July 3-16, 2007: 12 Night British Isles Cruise - ports include London, Wales, Ireland (Dublin), Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh), Orkney Islands and Paris.  Prices start at $3,425 (+air taxes). Itinerary & Details
	August 10-17, 2007: Alaskan Cruise - ports include Sitka, Juneau, Tracy Arm, Ketchikan, and Victoria, British Columbia.  One day cruising Frederick Sound.  Prices start at around $1700 which includes air and meals. Details
	November 5-15, 2007: 10 Day Mediterranean Cruise - Greece and Italy aboard the Nautica. Prices start at $2140. Itinerary & Details
	December 1-8, 2007 - Mozart's Christmas - land only tour of some of Europe's finest cities: Vienna, Salzburg, Linz, and Prague - all with a Mozart connection. Prices start at $2069. Details forthcoming.
	Click here for more information about upcoming trips.

These KU Alumni traveled on the Mexican Riviera cruise in January 2007!

New Trivia - Since nobody answered the questions correctly in January, we are reissuing the trivia one more time. You must be the first to answer all three questions correctly to receive the prize –

	What is the name of the ghost who allegedly haunts Old Main?
	What is the title of the prominent painting on the south wall of the Georgian Room?
	The Old Main clock tower was a gift from which graduating class?

Email your answers to alumni@kutztown.edu.