Daily Brief
May 1, 2026
Piano Palooza
Join us for the annual Piano Palooza 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 4, Schaeffer Auditorium. We are bringing together a wonderful mix of alumni, faculty, students and young community members for a joyful celebration at the keys. Expect an eclectic lineup featuring Queen, Brahms, Strauss, Chatzis and more. Don’t miss this inspiring showcase of talent across generations and genres. Free and open to all.
Maya Strava Kokkinou, Music
National High School Sport Business Case Competition 2026
The Department of Sport Management hosted the 2026 National High School Sport Business Case Competition for the fourth year in a row April 23-24. Students in Dr. Yongjae Kim's Event and Facility Management course and office staff assistant student worker Paris Maldonado served as volunteers throughout the two-day event that brought five high school teams from Pennsylvania and New Jersey to compete on campus. Alumni from the Sport Management program, along with retired and current KU professors, served as judges for the competition.
Lisa Draper, Sport Management
Weather
Weather forecasts are provided by KU's Dr. Michael Davis and "Monsoon Mike" Regensburger
Announcements
Upcoming External Groups at KU: May 1-10
Here is a look at the external groups visiting Kutztown University this upcoming week. Please join us in welcoming these organizations to campus and making them feel welcome.
Sunday, May 3
- Next Phase Rugby Tournament, Rugby Farm Fields
- Western Lehigh United Soccer Club, Keystone Field
- High Styx Field Hockey, Andre Reed Stadium
Saturday, May 9
- Special Olympics PA Eastern Spring Sectionals, Multiple Campus Locations
Sunday, May 10
- Next Phase Rugby Tournament, Rugby Farm Fields
- Western Lehigh United Soccer Club, Keystone Field
- High Styx Field Hockey, Andre Reed Stadium
Jason Garcia, Conference and Event Services
Join Us for Capstone Projects Demo Day
The Department of Computer Science and Information Technology is pleased to host the Spring Software Engineering Capstone Projects Demo Day Monday, May 4, 218 MSU. Student presentations and demonstrations will run from 8:10 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. followed by poster sessions and individual demos 1-3 p.m. Over the past two semesters, our students have developed an impressive range of projects, including video games, mobile and web applications, a support tool for nursing staff, a medical educational game and a program analysis tool. We invite you to attend all or part of the day’s events and support the outstanding work of our students.
Charlie Shim, Computer Science and Information Technology
Orientation Welcome Crew Members Wanted
With summer quickly approaching, we are working hard in the New Student Orientation office to plan and deliver an even stronger orientation experience than last year. As a continuation of one of our well-received initiatives from Summer 2025, we want your help. Connections Orientation is seeking personable and engaging members of the KU community to help create a welcoming and warm environment for our new Golden Bears. Last summer, families and students were highly receptive to professional staff who served in roles such as morning greeters, directional guides and lunch hosts. We hope to continue providing similar experiences this year. If you are on campus in the summer with flexibility and permission to assist at orientation, we would love to have you. The more connections and welcoming faces our guests encounter on campus, the better. If interested in a role on the welcome crew, please reach out to Brett Santos for more information. As a reminder, freshman dates will take place July 8-11 and July 22-25. A production meeting will take place in June to cover more detailed plans for the program.
New Student Orientation
May Parents and Family Bulletin
The May 2026 edition of the KU Parents and Family Bulletin has been sent to registered subscribers and may be found on the Parents and Family Bulletin webpage.
University Relations
Upcoming Events
| Date | Time | Event |
| May 1-2 | -- | Bearfest |
| May 1 | 10:45 a.m. | College of Business Dean, Candidate D 135 Rickenbach |
| May 1 | 7 p.m. | Company Schaeffer Little Theater (Tickets) |
| May 1 | 7:30 p.m. | Wind Ensemble Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 2 | 2 p.m. | Company Schaeffer Little Theater (Tickets) |
| May 2 | 3 p.m. | Saxophone Concert 163 Old Main |
| May 2 | 7 p.m. | Company Schaeffer Little Theater (Tickets) |
| May 2 | 7:30 p.m. | Spring Symphonic Band Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 3 | 9 a.m. | Pickleball Picklefest O'Pake Fieldhouse (Register) |
| May 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Trombone Concert Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 4 | All Day | CSIT Demo Day 218 MSU |
| May 4 | 10 a.m. | Dissertation Defense: Daniel Sleiman 245 Beekey |
| May 4 | Noon | Dissertation Defense: Faith King Zoom |
| May 4 | 3:30 p.m. | President's Open Hour MSU Fireside Lounge |
| May 4 | 7:30 p.m. | Piano Palooza Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Senior Recital: Brandon Ramos Wells-Rapp Center |
| May 5 | 7:30 p.m. | Latin Ensemble Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 6 | 7:30 p.m. | Jazz Ensemble II Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 7 | 10 a.m. | Dissertation Defense: June Roger 245 Beekey |
| May 7 | 3 p.m. | Dissertation Defense: Jessica Baker Zoom |
| May 7 | 4 p.m. | University Senate 202 Academic Forum |
| May 7 | 7:30 p.m. | Jazz Ensemble I Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 8 | 7:30 p.m. | Carmina Burana Schaeffer Auditorium |
| May 11 | 1 p.m. | Dissertation Defense: Lou Blair 245 Beekey |
| May 14 | 4 p.m. | Senior Toast 250 MSU |
| May 15 | 5 p.m. | Graduate Commencement O'Pake Fieldhouse (Watch) |
| May 16 | 9 a.m. | Undergraduate Commencement: COE, CLAS O'Pake Fieldhouse (Watch) |
| May 16 | 2 p.m. | Undergraduate Commencement: COB, CVPA O'Pake Fieldhouse (Watch) |
Athletics
Gonzalez, Schernecke Honored as Kutztown's Male and Female Senior Athletes of the Year
Erin Gonzalez of the Kutztown University field hockey team and Ryan Schernecke of Golden Bear football were voted Kutztown University athletics Senior Athletes of the Year for 2025-26. The awards were voted upon by the athletic department's coaches, administration and support staff, and presented to the recipients at the All-Sports Celebration this past Monday night, April 27.
2025-26 Senior Athletes of the Year
Athletic Communications
| Date | Time | Event |
| May 1-2 | All Day | Track and Field at PSAC Championships Shippensburg, Pa. (Watch | Results) |
| May 1 | 1 p.m. | Softball vs. Millersville (DH) North Campus Field (Watch | Stats) |
| May 1 | 4 p.m. | Women's Lacrosse vs. ESU PSAC Semifinals Slippery Rock, Pa. (Watch | Stats) |
| May 3 | 1 p.m. | Women's Lacrosse PSAC Championship Game *if KU wins 5/1 Slippery Rock, Pa. (Watch | Stats) |
Accommodations
Persons with a disability, and who require accommodation, should notify the Disability Services Office two weeks prior to the event at 610-683-4108 or email DSO@kutztown.edu, TDD number: 610-683-4499, in order to discuss accommodations. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations. Please note: Kutztown University does not provide wheelchairs or other mobility devices.
Non-Discrimination Statement
Kutztown University does not discriminate in employment or educational opportunities on the basis of sex, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status. To discuss a complaint of discrimination, please contact the Office of Social Equity, Old Main A-Wing, Room 02, by phone at 610-683-4700 or by email at socialequity@kutztown.edu. Pursuant to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Kutztown University does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, including admissions and employment. Any inquiries regarding the application of Title IX at Kutztown University may be made to Bradley Davis, the university’s Title IX coordinator, located in Old Main A-Wing, Room 01, by phone at 610-683-4782 or by email at titleix@kutztown.edu. You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights located in the Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg., 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-1100, by phone at 800-421-3481 (TDD: 800-877-8339), by fax at 202-453-6012, or by email at OCR@ed.gov.