CVPA Celebration
College of Visual and Performing Arts, Excellence Awards
Faculty, Staff and Student Recipients
Student Excellence Award
Student Recipients
VPA Dean's List
Students with VPA Dean's List sign.
CVPA Celebration Award Ceremony
Held in Wells-Rapp Center for Mallet Percussion Research
Dean's List
Student celebrates making the Dean's List
2026 Student and Faculty Excellence Awards
The college of Visual and Performing Arts is happy to announce the following recipients of excellence awards. Information on each recipient is posted below. Congrats to all awardees!
Faculty Excellence Awards
The award recognizes three College of Visual and Performing Arts faculty members whose professional accomplishments are melded with their pedagogy to positively impact the quality of students' experiences at KU.
Dr. Karen Kresge
Department of Design
Professor Karen Kresge’s impact on Kutztown University reaches far beyond the classroom. Her teaching, creative practice, and service are seamlessly integrated, shaping a learning environment where students are encouraged to grow not only as designers, but as thoughtful professionals. Professor Kresge has also made a lasting impact through her leadership of the internship program—an important bridge between academic learning and professional practice.
Dr. Megan O’Byrne
Department of Communication Studies
Megan O’Byrne goes above and beyond in her teaching, research, and service continually improving academic programs, campus climate, and student experiences at KU. Her work as Chair of the General Education Program and Assessment Committee (GEPAC) speaks volumes about her dedication to a well-rounded and robust college experience for our students. Megan studies the rhetoric of environmental issues and their subsequent effects on vulnerable populations, combining academic inquiry with activism that is enthusiastically received by students.
Staff Excellence Awards
The award recognizes a College of Visual and Performing Arts staff member whose work ethics, positive attitude, and professionalism impact the administrators, faculty, and students at Kutztown University on a day-to-day basis.
Karen Stanford
Director of Galleries and Community Outreach
The quality and quantity of what Karen Stanford can accomplish in her role as gallery director is, quite simply, staggering. In addition to coordinating the complicated logistics of external exhibitions, the Scholastic Awards, an Artist in Residence program, grants and workshop opportunities, she also oversees a rapidly growing summer camp program and puts on four incredible student shows in quick succession. Faculty and students alike rely on her efficiency and organizational skills, as well as her warmth, wisdom, and steadying presence.
ALUMNI Excellence Awards
The award recognizes alumni of the College of Visual and Performing Arts whose professional accomplishments and continued interactions with KU positively impact the quality of students’ experiences.
NINA BOODhansingh
Department of Art & Design
Nina Boodhansingh, a Kutztown University Art & Design alumna, is recognized as an Alumni Excellence Award Recipient for her professional accomplishments and continued representation of the creative excellence fostered through the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Student Excellence Awards
This award recognizes one student from each of the five departments in the College of Visual and Performing Arts: Art & Design, Art Education, Cinema, Television and Media Production, Communication Studies, and Music.
Noah Parish
Department of Art Education & Studio Art
Noah demonstrates an exceptional commitment to both his artistic practice and the broader visual arts community at Kutztown University. He is a constant presence in the art building, contributing his time, energy, and positive spirit in ways that support students, faculty, and campus programming. Beyond his regular responsibilities, Noah consistently demonstrates leadership through initiative and generosity.
Jackson Flad
Department of Art & Design, Animated Arts
Jackson Flad is an outstanding student and a dedicated member of the Kutztown community. As a tutor for Intro to Visual Storytelling and Intro to 2D Animation, he has provided constant and reliable support to underclass students. Within Animated Arts, he is a dependable leader who regularly volunteers extra time, such as designing the poster for the senior show.
Madelyn Putt
Department of Art Education
The Art Education Department proudly recognizes Madelyn Putt, current president of the NAEA Student Chapter, for her outstanding passion and dedication to campus and community engagement. Madelyn leads with enthusiasm, empathy, and purpose—whether brainstorming lessons, volunteering at events, or representing our program. Through her leadership in initiatives such as the Fall Fest, trick-or-treat celebration, and the Friday Night Out art-making program, she brings creativity, connection, and cultural celebration to our community.
Ben Williams
Communication Studies Department
Ben Williams is an excellent student and leader, who offers supportive feedback to peers and insightful comments and questions in his classes, research collaborations, creative projects, and club participation. He has written two screenplays which explore gender and performance in creative and compelling ways. He is the President of the Communication (Career) Club, which encompasses the Communication Studies national honor society, Lambda Pi Eta.
Christa Lowthert
Department of Cinema, Media, & Television Production
Christa Lowthert began her remarkable career in the Dept of Cinema, Television and Media Production in Fall 2023 and has proven herself to be a brilliant student and a highly accomplished filmmaker and energetic leader. Christa is the President of the student club Spotlight. Christa’s films have been selected and been awarded top prizes at local festivals and continue to earn official selection status.
Dylan McKeon
Department of Cinema, Media, and Television Production
Kutztown University has benefited from Dylan’s passion: Dylan has volunteered as a photographer for numerous clubs and organizations across campus, documenting events, performances, sports, and student initiatives. Academically, Dylan has taken on a challenging course load of 6 courses per semester in order to graduate from KU within three years of arriving. He has also served on the Student Government Board for his entire time at KU, working to improve the experience of VPA students and the campus community as a whole.
Xadiel Benjan-Rodriguez
Department of Music
Xadiel consistently contributes beyond required expectations while demonstrating artistic excellence and a strong commitment to the musical community. He performs regularly in professional and community ensembles and supports educational institutions through musical theater pit orchestras with local school districts. As Saxophone Section Leader of the Kutztown University Wind Ensemble, Xadiel provides musical leadership, mentorship, and organizational support to his peers.