Daily Brief

KUSSI's "Kick for Tuition" Winner Scores a Semester of Tuition

Family Day brought another unforgettable moment to Kutztown University this past weekend. David Van Brunt was randomly selected for KUSSI's Kick for Tuition during Saturday's Family Day football game. Standing on a rain-soaked field at halftime, David successfully made a 25-yard field goal, winning one semester of in-state tuition for his son, Evan Van Brunt, a KU student majoring in history with a minor in geology. President Phil Cavalier and Kutztown University Student Services, Inc. (KUSSI) executive director Lisa Kowalski joined the Van Brunt family on the field to celebrate the winning kick. Congratulations to the entire Van Brunt family and thank you to everyone who helped make this year's Family Day another great day to be golden. KUSSI is an independent nonprofit affiliate of Kutztown University. KUSSI works closely with the university and the Student Government Board to support KU students and student-led organizations. Surplus from KUSSI operations is reinvested in student organization activities, student scholarships and campus athletics.

KU Campus Store, KUSSI

Heritage Center Welcomes Berks County Commissioner to Heemet Fescht

Kutztown University hosted Christian Leinbach, chair, Berks County Board of Commissioners, to its annual Heemet Fescht celebration at the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center Saturday, Sept. 26. Heemet Fescht celebrated America's 250th with live music in the barnyard, traditional crafts, presentations, folklife demonstrations, hearth-cooking, farm animals, children's activities and more.

University Relations

Golden Bears Give Back

More than 50 KU students completed nearly 200 hours of community service in town Sunday, Sept. 27. Hats off to these Golden Bears who dedicated their Sunday to giving back to our Kutztown community. It sure is Good to be Golden.

Amanda Garcia, Community Outreach Center

Retirement of Diane Biehl

Heartfelt gratitude and sincere congratulations to Diane Biehl on her retirement. Diane has brought so much goodwill and endless support to the Kutztown community through her time at the Early Learning Center, Facilities, International Admissions and the past six years at the Women's Center and LGBTQ+ Resource Center. Please send Diane well wishes via email: biehl@kutztown.edu. Her last day is Wednesday, Sept. 30.

Christine Price, LGBTQ+ Resource Center

EMS Room Reservation System Maintenance

The EMS Room Reservation System will go offline 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30, for scheduled maintenance. It will remain unavailable for approximately 24 hours while the work is completed.
What this means for you:
- Submit any reservation requests by 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30. Requests submitted after that time run the risk of not being captured with the data backup.
- Our office will not have access to any room reservation information during the outage, so please plan accordingly.
- When the system returns, it will be accessible via a new URL. Old bookmarks will no longer work.
To access EMS after the update, use one of these paths:
- The Conference and Event Services webpage, or
- The Faculty and Staff webpage, under Online Tools

Conference and Event Services

Return of the CD Grads

This year we have two incredible Communication Design graduates, Nicholas Stover '15 and Meg Yoder '15, returning to share their insights with us 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, 120 Sharadin. Stover is a multidisciplinary designer who worked at New York studios Carbone Smolan and Order and is now a Senior Art Director at Apple in Cupertino, California. Yoder designs product and packaging for home brands like Anthropologie and Studio McGee, translating the vision of chefs, artists and tastemakers into market-ready decor.

Josh Miller, Art and Design

Advisor Forum

Join us 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, 183 MSU to connect with fellow student organization advisors, share real-world insights and discover tools to help your group thrive. Whether you’re a seasoned advisor or navigating the role for the first time, this is a welcoming space to swap ideas, celebrate successes and learn strategies to navigate common challenges together. You’ll leave with practical resources, fresh inspiration and a stronger network of colleagues. Come collaborate, recharge and help make our campus community even stronger.

Student Affairs

Honorary Degree Nomination

The honorary degree may be awarded to recognize distinguished contributions in the service to humanity, scholarship, government, business, creativity, science or the community. It is strongly recommended that nominees for an honorary degree from Kutztown University have an affiliation with the university. The nomination must come from a member of the university community. Information about the honorary degree, including the nomination process and nomination form, can be found on the Honorary Degree Committee website. The submission deadline is Sunday, Nov. 1.

Lisa Frye, University Senate President

Psychology Career Conference

The Psychology Career Conference is 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, Georgian Room. This event provides an excellent opportunity to connect with professionals from various fields in psychology. Attendees can ask questions and learn about potential careers and graduate school options. Whether you’re a current student or a recent graduate, this event is essential for gaining insights into your future in psychology. Join us to enhance your understanding of career opportunities and network with industry experts.

Kara Barrell, Psychology

First-Generation Student Research Opportunity

Are you a first-generation college student who currently lives or has previously lived in university housing at Kutztown University? A research study is seeking participants to discuss their residential life experiences and sense of belonging while living on campus. Eligible participants must be:
- 18 years of age or older
- Undergraduate students
- First-generation college students
- Current or former residence hall residents
Participants will attend one focus group lasting approximately 60-to-90 minutes and will be entered into a drawing for one of four $25 Amazon gift cards. Participation is completely voluntary. The study aims to better understand how the residential experience influences first-generation students' sense of belonging and academic success, with findings intended to inform future support and programming initiatives. Thank you for your support in sharing this opportunity, it is greatly appreciated.

First-Generation College Student Research Study

Maria N. De La Cruz, Doctor of Social Work Candidate