Kutztown University's guide to the Spring 2021 semester
KU announces plans for Fall 2021 Semester
December 04, 2020
Jacey Tran and Bekah Rouh
Midway through the spring 2020 semester, Kutztown University, like everywhere else, had to transition to online learning and send all of its resident students home, due to the coronavirus pandemic. In this uncertain time, students were unsure about what the rest of the semester would look like. Most headed home to start online learning, but KU had some students who could not return home due to limited travel.
Huong "Jacey" Tran, a Biochemistry major at KU, was a sophomore at the time. Being from Vietnam made her situation different from most. Due to traveling regulations, she was unable to go home like most of her classmates. She had been living in the Honors Hall and KU helped her move to Golden Bear Village South with other students for the remainder of the semester. The housing office would often check in on students and conduct virtual events for them to attend keeping them communicating and busy.
“I'm grateful for the extra help for students who remained on campus,” said Jacey.
When summer break started, Jacey planned on living on campus until the next academic year started. She got a call from Bekah Roux, a friend she used to live with in the Honors Hall during her freshman year. Bekah was checking up on Jacey, knowing she was still living on campus, and asked her if she would want to live with her in New York for the summer. Jacey gladly accepted and the two became best friends.
“I wanted to help her because she's my friend. I knew she needed a place to stay and that if the roles were reversed, she'd do the same for me.” Bekah said.
Jacey and Bekah learned a lot from each other during their time together. Jacey taught Bekah about Vietnamese culture, how to cook native dishes, and some of the language. Bekah taught Jacey how to swim, make s’mores, and how to play MANY card games. They bonded over their love for similar music and long car rides together.
“It was really cool seeing someone who was so similar to me but grew up in a completely different part of the world,” Bekah said.
Jacey and Bekah are honors students at KU and are very involved with campus life. Jacey is working for housing this school year as a Community Assistant and continuing as a Biochemistry major. She plans to graduate in 2022. Bekah is a senior majoring in Environmental Science and Anthropology. She is also the captain of the Women’s Rugby team. She will graduate in May 2021. They are both enjoying being back on campus, spending time with their friends, and continuing their friendship.
By Michael Rubinstein '21, Web Content Writer
Jacey Tran (left) and Bekah Roux
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Kutztown University alumnus, Collin DiGalbo, signs professional contract to continue football career overseas.
Kutztown University student Joey Strain has lived out his dream of being a children’s book illustrator, and he hasn’t even graduated yet.
The Blues and Rock Ensemble at Kutztown University will make you get out of your seat and dance - and applaud this award-winning group.
READ FULL STORYAfter graduation, Heather Browne '16 moved back to the Baltimore area, where she is now a first-grade teacher at the Maryland School for the Blind.
READ FULL STORYTwo years after graduating in 2009, Clay created his first fantasy football website. A year later, he launched the Pro Football Focus Fantasy section. By 2016, ESPN came calling.
READ FULL STORYNessa Cartagena, of Bethlehem, Pa., was awarded the 2018 Enlightened Leadership Scholarship to attend KU, and is a double major in finance and personal financial planning.
READ FULL STORYAward-winning Executive Chef Larry Gattens opens up about KU, his bronze medal and his second year at the NACUFS Culinary Challenge.
READ FULL STORYA field hockey player by training, she soon identified the characteristic that would come to define her love for politics: a competitive spirit.
READ FULL STORYKU students Aleska Gonzalez and Eric Schulden gain hands-on experience in their dream jobs through The Harrisburg Internship Semester.
READ FULL STORYPeace Corps volunteer Yorman De La Rosa made it to Morocco by way of Kutztown University, after a semester-long stop in our nation’s capital.
READ FULL STORYMarybeth Kern ’09, M’19, who recently secured a spot as a featured artist in Logic’s music video, is all about collaboration.
READ FULL STORYErika Barbera, a freshman allied health major and field hockey athlete, faces life’s battles with determination to succeed.
READ FULL STORYTekiah Brabham's commitment to urban classrooms leads her to teach in Washington, D.C.
READ FULL STORYKU Celebrates First Graduating Cohort of the Education Doctorate Program.
READ FULL STORYChristina Franko Uliano ’07 used a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms grant to broaden her curriculum. After spending time abroad in Colombia, Christina joined a Fulbright global education online course to learn the tools for bringing global thinking into the classroom.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its relationship with an unexpected place – the Lake Peninsula School District in the state of Alaska.
READ FULL STORYSarah is a junior, majoring in social media theory and strategy, with a double minor in business and communications.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University gave Moe an opportunity that no other school did, to study a prestigious major while playing championship-level basketball.
READ FULL STORYMichael is a sophomore, majoring in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics.
READ FULL STORYLaura is a senior, majoring in anthropology.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University alumnus, Collin DiGalbo, signs professional contract to continue football career overseas.
READ FULL STORYKutztown University student Joey Strain has lived out his dream of being a children’s book illustrator, and he hasn’t even graduated yet.
READ FULL STORY