That KU Connection

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Applied Investment Management Program (AIM)

Five Kutztown University (KU) College of Business students (Paul King, Jeremy B. Meitzler, Jamie J. Moyer, Mukundan Nandakumar, and Stacey L. Terrell), along with their advisors (Prof. Henry Check, and Dr. Jonathan Kramer), spent the spring 2005 semester developing the Applied Investment Management (AIM) program. AIM is the result of the Kutztown University Foundation’s decision to earmark $50,000 to be managed by students on an ongoing basis. In addition to earning a positive return on invested funds, the AIM program is dedicated to helping students develop the analytical, presentation, team building, and leadership skills necessary to advance in their chosen careers. The five students enrolled during the spring semester developed the policies and procedures that will guide future students in managing the program and the resulting portfolio of securities. Two members of the original team will be returning in the fall to work with several new recruits to begin investing the funds in cooperation with the KU Foundation.

Former Buffalo Bill, KU Hall of Famer Andre Reed Graduates from KU

May 7, 2005

KUTZTOWN, PA - Andre Reed, former All-Pro receiver for the NFL's Buffalo Bills and Kutztown University Hall of Famer, received his undergraduate diploma with more than 1,000 other students at the school's annual spring commencement ceremonies Saturday morning.

Reed, who played football at Kutztown from 1981-84, left school in 1985 to pursue a career in the NFL. That spring, he was drafted in the fourth round by the Bills and began a stellar career in professional football. He played the next 15 years with the Bills, helping to lead the team to four Super Bowls. He also played one season for the Washington Redskins. Reed finished his career among the top receivers in the history of the NFL, with 951 receptions for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns. Reed retired following the 2000 season.

Reed, with the help of former KU head football coach and secondary education professor Dr. Al Leonzi, pursued the school's degree completion program to finish up the final handful of credits needed to graduate. Reed received a bachelor's degree in general studies.

"Now that my football career has ended almost five years ago, there was one important thing left to do," Reed told the graduation crowd of over 7,000. "My dreams were to get this degree. All those dreams are realized today. To the graduates, I want to say one thing, you should always remember to finish what you started."

A 1991 Kutztown University Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, he was named to the NCAA Division II Football Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2004, Reed was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. In October, he was added to the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.

Reed was a four-year letterman at Kutztown from 1981-84, making 142 career catches for 2,002 yards and 14 touchdowns. Upon completion of his collegiate career, he held school records for catches, receiving yards and touchdowns in a game, season and career. Though all of his records have since been broken, Reed still ranks among the top five receivers in several statistical categories. He was named All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference in 1983 and 1984. One of four Kutztown University football players with his jersey number retired, he was selected for the NCAA Division II Team of the Quarter Century in 1997.

"I had the opportunity as a student-athlete to excel on the field, and in the classroom," Reed said. "Kutztown prepared me for life's daunting challenges. I was fortunate to play in the NFL. All of my accomplishments would not have been possible were it not for the pursuit of this college degree. Yeah, I took a little detour, but I got it."

The Gift of Life

KU graduate Kelly Stout '84 (on left) and Stephanie Jones share a cubicle at Gart Sports'corporate headquarters shuttling swim wear and hiker clothing into the 400 plus locations across the country. Aside from work, they have little in common. Stout is a free spirited single woman living near downtown Denver. Jones is a married mom, a "burb" girl. But at work, they chat a lot, and hear each other's conversations.

So as Stout listened to Jones commenting on medical testing her husband, father and a cousin were undertaking, Stout became curious. Jones, a Highlands Ranch resident, was born with inadequate kidneys. Twenty years ago, her kidneys were operating at 35 percent. A struggle with pneumonia last May left her needing dialysis. "The pneumonia pretty much shut down my kidneys," Jones said. "I was down to 5 percent functionality."

Jones started a second job going to dialysis three days a week, four hours at a stretch. Her doctor, Carol Greenberg, said she needed a transplant.

Stout, after listening to tales of testing and failure said the magic words: "Give me the number and I'll test to see if I'm a match." "I was astounded," Jones said. I kept asking, "Are you sure?" She was, and she began testing.

Testing is a six month process to weed out mismatches and to ensure as much as possible that the donor's remaining kidney will be able to handle the job. "If you are a donor and your kidney fails, you move to the top of the (transplant) list," Stout said. "I'm satisfied that I'm pretty healthy." Stout has O positive blood, a hopeful sign for Jones. "She got further than anybody," Jones said. Then the hospital called in March. They were a match.
Surgery was scheduled.

The successful surgery was March 22.

Homecoming - Saturday October 22, 2005

Major Renovations Underway at Kutztown's University Field

May 4, 2005

This summer, Kutztown University embarked upon major renovations to University Field, the home of the Golden Bear football, track & field teams and future home of the field hockey team.

Beginning on May 9, construction began to replace the natural grass field with new, state-of-the-art, synthetic athletic turf that will accommodate football and field hockey. In addition, the track surrounding the field will be re-surfaced and lights will be installed.

The stadium will continue to be the home venue for the football and outdoor track & field teams. The field hockey team will move to the stadium for their home games in 2005, while student intramurals and recreation will also use the facility.

“This is very invigorating for our University,” KU head football coach Dave Keeny said. “This project is a credit to the cooperation of our students, President Cevallos, and the many university personnel who have been so helpful in seeing it through. This will be a facility that will have many uses for all kinds of students. For our football program, it is going to provide our athletes an optimum playing field.”

For the Golden Bear field hockey team, the project means a move from its old home behind Keystone Field House, to the 5,600-seat University Field. It also means a dramatic change in the style of play for KU’s home games.

“I am very excited for our field hockey players,” said Betty Wesner, KU’s head field hockey coach. “We will have a much more spectator-friendly venue. Our sport is so dependant upon having a consistent field, more so than most other sports. There are so many benefits to having this type of playing field. Many of our opponents have similar artificial fields, which provide for a much faster pace of play. Additionally, we will be able to count on having a playable field in most any kind of weather. This change literally and figuratively puts us on a level playing field.”

Construction is scheduled to be completed in time for the Golden Bears’ 2005 football opener on August 27 vs. Shippensburg. The lights, however, will not be activated until the completion of the new student recreation center, being built near the stadium, in 2006.

The general contractor for the stadium project is the Quandel Group, based out of Harrisburg, PA.

A-Turf, a New York-based company and one of the leaders in the synthetic athletic turf industry, has been chosen to install the new field. The same company was used for Indiana (PA)’s new field work completed last year. The field system is Premium RS-45, which contains a sand and rubber infill mixed into the synthetic grass over the padding, which is designed for long-term durability and to reduce the effects of impact on the body.

South America: January 17 - February 3, 2006
The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Alumni Travel Program invites you to enjoy a 16 day South American Cruise onboard the Insignia. Argentina, Uruguay, The Falkland Islands, and Chile are your exotic destinations. Click here for more information.

Greek Isles Cruise: July 2 - July 15, 2006
A 13-day cruise aboard the Grand Princess through the historic ruins of Athens to the sunny orchards of Corfu. OPTIONAL 2-night extension in Rome also available. Fares from $3,416 (including Airfare). Click here for Itinerary & Details.

9-Day Irish Heritage Tour: August 11 - August 19, 2006
Travel by a luxurious motorcoach and enjoy the beautiful destinations and tours Ireland has to offer. Rates from $2,494 (including Airfare). Click here for Itinerary & Details

Win a Kutztown Alumni Assn. T-shirt!

Sorry – but no one had the correct answers to last issues trivia – so we’ll try again.

This Issues Trivia - Remember you must be the first to answer all three questions correctly!!

What band’s concert movie was shown in Schaeffer Auditorium along with a performance by one of its songwriters in 1980?

What famous city mayor spoke at KU’s 2003 Decision Maker’s Forum?

In 1866, what was the tuition for the entire year (which included board, heat, light and wash) at the Keystone State Normal School?

Email your answers to alumni@kutztown.edu.