Daily Brief

Hispanic Honor Society Initiation

Thirteen students were inducted into Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, at a ceremony Monday, May 4, Multicultural Center. Dr. Karen Rauch and Dr. John Stanley offered welcoming remarks during the ceremony. Inductees pictured left to right: (front row) Jariana Taiz Vázquez García, Sydney Watts, Justin Ariel Núñez Sánchez, Kaitlynne Pérez, Kendall Zuk and Laci Skidmore; (back row) Nathaniel Francis Smolinsky, Josevidal Jiménez, Dharianny Jerez, Valerie Guadron Deras, Araceli Cárdenas, Morgan S. Biege and Donovan Aragón. Congratulations to all the inductees for their achievements in Spanish and Hispanic Studies, as well as their overall academic success.

Christine Núñez, Department of Society, History, and Culture

Spring Software Engineering Capstone Projects Demo Day

The Department of Computer Science and Information Technology hosted the Spring Software Engineering Capstone Projects Demo Day Monday, May 4, 218 MSU. This year's event featured nine capstone projects presented on the main stage. In addition, nine first‑semester senior seminar prototypes and posters, along with three rapid‑prototyping posters and products, were showcased in 223 MSU. Demo Day was attended by students, faculty, administrators and local industry partners, who provided valuable feedback and encouraged students to continue developing their projects for potential commercial applications. The Liquid Interactive Best Project Award was presented to Prodrome, a clinic‑simulation game designed to teach users about ailments and their treatments to support patient care. The team members are: Kylee Hager, Computer Science/Game Development; Evan Mohr, Computer Science; Michael Colandene, Computer Science/Game Development; Dylan Derstine, Computer Science; Michael Germanetti, Computer Science.

Charlie Shim, Computer Science and Information Technology

Environmental Science Program Alumni Panel and Awards Ceremony

The Environmental Science program recently hosted an alumni panel seminar. Giuliana Simmons '21, Environmental Science Geography, Steve Schoeniger '23, Environmental Science Biology, and Emily Coghlan '18, Environmental Science Biology, discussed their career experiences with current students and faculty. Additionally, six Environmental Science students were recognized with awards at the event for excellence in academic performance, service and/or research. From left to right: Nicholas Rivera, Sarah Grace Ferber, Ava Esterly, Liam Brown, Andre Johnson, Valerie Davidheiser and Environmental Science Program Coordinator, Dr. Jacob Sewall. Congratulations to all.

Dr. Chris Habeck, Biology, Environmental Science

Small Business Support Hours Bring Resource Partners Together in Lebanon County

Entrepreneurs and small-business owners in Lebanon County have access to a powerful, often underutilized resource designed to simplify the process of starting and sustaining a business. The Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts free Small Business Support Hours once a month following its workshop series. The next session will take place Wednesday, May 27. Unlike traditional one-on-one advising models, Small Business Support Hours bring together an ecosystem of business support organizations, allowing real-time collaboration, problem-solving and coordinated guidance. By bringing together organizations specializing in business planning, access to capital, mentorship and technical assistance, Small Business Support Hours create a streamlined and effective pathway for entrepreneurs to access the resources they need to confidently start, grow and sustain successful businesses. At a recent session, partners worked collaboratively to support a startup business, demonstrating how coordinated economic development efforts can accelerate progress and reduce barriers for new and existing businesses alike. Resource partners included representatives from the Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce, Kutztown Small Business Development Center, ASSETS, Finanta and SCORE.

Lebanon Valley Chamber of Commerce

Rachael Wolfe, KU Small Business Development Center

Final HR Walking Group of the Semester

Join your Human Resources team for the final HR Walking Group of the spring semester 12:15 p.m. Friday, May 8, Student Recreation Center. After this week, we will pause our weekly walking group during the summer and start again in the fall. 

Bradley Davis, Human Resources

Spirit Fridays

Fridays at KU are Spirit Fridays. All faculty, staff, students and the community are encouraged to wear maroon and gold and/or Kutztown University apparel on Fridays throughout the year. The KU Campus Store offers 20% off apparel and gifts the first Friday of every month as part of its First Friday Sale (in-store and online).

University Relations

Assistant Director, Office of Student Involvement Candidate Open Forum

Candidates for the position of assistant director in the Office of Student Involvement: Fraternity and Sorority Life, Traditions, Events and Alumni Engagement will be on campus Monday, May 11. We welcome you to attend the open session for each candidate.
- Trevor McClenon, 10 a.m. Monday, May 11, 250 MSU
- Kelly Gillis, 1 p.m. Monday, May 11, 250 MSU

Amanda Garcia, MSU Operations

Celebration of Dr. Fernando's Kutztown Career

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Sudarshan Fernando as he prepares to leave Kutztown University at the end of the Spring 2026 semester after 21 years of dedicated service. We will get together and celebrate 1 p.m. Thursday, May 14 in the lobby of 145 Boehm. Light refreshments will be served. We invite you to stop by and share your appreciation and well wishes. Since arriving in August 2005, Dr. Fernando has been integral to the physics program and to the Department of Physical Sciences, most recently serving as department chair for the past three years. His contributions have left a lasting impact on our students and department. Please join us as we thank Dr. Fernando for his years of service and for celebrating his many accomplishments.

Christine Kocott-Shay, Department of Physical Sciences

University Lost and Found

The last day to claim any lost and found item is Friday, May 15. Please use the online inventory link to check whether we have your item. If so, please stop by the Information Desk at MSU to claim it by Friday, May 15. 

MSU Lost and Found

Amanda Garcia, MSU Operations

A1 Parking Lot

Parking lot A1 (MSU) will be closed for renovation Monday, May 18, through June (date TBD). The parking lot will be repaved and the physical meters will be removed and replaced with a digital payment system. After renovation, A1 will remain a pay-to-park lot, through a new digital system, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday during the academic year. The cost will be $2.40/hour, with a maximum of two hours. The only method of payment is mobile – no app is required. Instructions will be available on parking lot signage. Vehicle license plate will need to be entered into the mobile payment portal. There will not be a kiosk. Students, faculty and staff should utilize the parking permit process and park in their assigned lot on campus. Visitors should obtain a visitor parking permit.

University Relations

Addressing Mail and Packages for Faculty and Staff

Please avoid including Kutztown University or a P.O. Box Number in the mailing address; instead, use 425 Baldy Road. To ensure faster delivery, include your full name, room number and department name. If you are responsible for ordering for someone in another department, make sure to include that person’s full name, room number and department name. Incorrect addressing may result in mail or packages being returned to the sender.  For package inquiries, send the tracking number to mailservices@kutztown.edu.
EXAMPLE:
Full Name, Room Number
Department Name
425 Baldy Road
Kutztown, PA 19530

Louis Richuitti, Mail Services

Tutor.com Orientation Session

Faculty and staff are invited to attend an orientation session for Tutor.com, a 24/7 virtual tutoring platform, 1-1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 14, on Teams - Meeting ID: 270 620 619 168 302, Passcode: Rx7yK9u7. Tutor.com is available free of charge to KU students through the Title III grant and can provide support in the summer sessions when peer tutors are not available. In this orientation, our Tutor.com representative will review the system's features and how to connect with a tutor on the platform. Please contact Adam Troxel at troxel@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4221 if you have any questions.

Adam Troxel, Tutoring Services