CVPA Celebration
Thank you for attending the VPA Spring Celebration!
2025 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 two 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.
lisa weckerle
Department of Communication Studies
Dr. Weckerle is a dynamic scholar whose work on popular culture in Communication continues to make an impact. She is currently writing a book on Breaking Bad and has presented her research at multiple conferences. Her innovative courses in this area are student favorites and enrich the Communication Studies Major. Most notably, she leads COMM 211: Performance and Production for Young Audiences, a standout, community-embedded course that offers students invaluable hands-on learning.
Derrick Thompson
Department of Music
In his 1st year as Choral Director in the Department of Music, Dr. Derrick Thompson embodies one word: trailblazer. In his first year, he’s been awarded a “KU Influencer” award for his positive and affirming work with students, and he is a colleague who models the qualities of dedication, passion, and a relentless drive to make his pedagogical offerings relevant and challenging to the students he teaches. The choir has seen an exponential rise in numbers and quality of musicianship, and his commitment to DEI ideals is reflected in his repertoire of choices, as well as his welcoming and always-positive demeanor.
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.
Marilyn Hardy
Department of Music
Marilyn has served as the Administrative Assistant for 2 years in the Music Department. In that time, she has admirably and successfully navigated a complicated and demanding position and done so with indestructible fortitude and unwavering kindness. She is invested in faculty, students, and the success of the department. Her positive demeanor, and endless generosity are inspiring to us all, and the love and dedication with which she performs her duties at Kutztown University for our Department of Music is infinitely treasured.
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.
Daniel Moyer
Department of Art & Design
Daniel Moyer, a 2008 KU BFA graduate in Photography, is a successful professional photographer who generously gives back to the KU community. Each year, he returns to campus multiple times to work one-on-one with Communication Design seniors, helping style and photograph their projects for portfolio use. His high-quality, retouched images—and his warm, professional presence—make a lasting impact. Students love working with Dan, and his mentorship is an invaluable part of their experience.
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.
Mal Dover
Department of Art & Design
Mal Dover has distinguished themselves as an exceptional and dedicated member of the Textiles and Weaving community at Kutztown University. Their passion for fiber arts is evident not only in their personal making practice, but also in the generous spirit with which they support their peers, faculty, and the wider artistic community. Mal consistently goes above and beyond the expectations of a student, demonstrating initiative, professionalism, and a deep commitment to their craft. As a studio monitor for the textiles studio, they have proven to be highly reliable, often ensuring that the studio remains functional and accessible after hours. As an artist, Mal has actively pursued professional development opportunities that further enrich their artistic practice. Mal’s studio work is a testament to their skill level, dependability, and ability to collaborate effectively in a teaching context.
Kristina Bryan
Department of Art Education
As a dean’s list dual art education and fine art major, Kristina excels in both disciplines and makes connections to her studio work through her art education theorizing and practical applicability. She bridges theory and practice beautifully, showcasing her work in campus and community exhibitions. A dedicated member of the National Art Education Association, she leads engaging art lessons for children through Friday Night Out and develops interdisciplinary curricula. Kristina actively supports university wide events, contributing to live mural collaborations for KU Presents performances like Día de los Muertos and The Ugly Duckling Live Light Show. She also volunteers at KU and PAEA conferences, demonstrating remarkable leadership, creativity, and passion. Her commitment, leadership and interdisciplinary work is a testament of her diligence in her studio and art education practice.
Gabby Edwards
Department of Art & Design
Gabby Edwards has been a monitor in the Print Lab since Spring semester 2023. In these 2.5 years, Gabby has grown as a designer and an artist, but also a true leader and mentor for new monitors. As head monitor, Gabby plays a pivotal role in assisting with daily operations and serves as the go-to person for just about everything. Her technical expertise with the printers is unmatched, and her exceptional customer service sets a high standard for the team. Gabby’s proactive approach ensures potential issues are addressed before they arise, and she consistently delivers assignments ahead of schedule, often surpassing expectations. To say she is irreplaceable would be an understatement. Although she has quiet and humble demeanor, she is a powerhouse of a leader.
Alison Bender
Communication Studies Department
Alison Bender has demonstrated exceptional service, leadership, and enthusiasm for learning throughout her academic journey. As President of the Communication Club, Alison has been instrumental in working with faculty to creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the discipline outside of the classroom. Her approach to coursework demonstrates her intellectual curiosity and a genuine desire to deepen her understanding of communication theory and practice. Moreover, her academic diligence is matched by a sincere interest in applying course materials to real-world contexts, often connecting theory to current events. Alison embodies the best of what the field of communication studies represents: thoughtful leadership, committed service, and an enduring passion for understanding how communication shapes human experience.
Sarah Love
Department of Cinema, Media, & Television Production
Sarah Love, from the CTM Department, has made a significant impact through numerous short-form projects and as a student assistant in key courses like Post-Production, Cinematography, and Live Event Production. She’s also contributed to other departments, including recording a webinar for Disability Services. As president of the KU Film Club, Sarah actively participates in student panels and events for the College of Visual and Performing Arts. Outside the department, she plays a vital role in Kutztown’s New Student Orientation program is the Transfer Orientation Program Coordinator. Recently, Sarah and Professor Joy were awarded a 2025 KU Bears Grant to produce and direct a feature-length film, an ambitious project that will explore all facets of creative filmmaking, from vision to post-production.
Sarah Olszewski
Department of Music
Sarah is an inspiration to all the students at KU. She plays in multiple ensembles, is always prepared at a high level. Always smiling and ready to lend a hand, Sarah takes on numerous projects, completing them to a professional grade without complaint. Her presence in the department of music and in the Commercial Studies area makes everyone around her better. In a highly competitive and successful program, she stands out as exceptional. Her recordings with both Jazz and Rock Ensembles I can be found on Spotify. As a bassist in multiple groups, Sarah understands that her preparation directly impacts the entire ensemble. She consistently comes fully prepared, to the point where her seamless contributions go unnoticed—her quiet preparedness is the hallmark of true musical leadership.
Natalie Reitzes
Department of Music
Natalie has shown exceptional dedication to service within our department, volunteering for events including organizing and performing benefit concerts, assisting with recruitment activities, and mentoring younger students. Natalie’s leadership qualities are exemplary, having served in multiple leadership roles within the Kutztown University Orchestra, including President, Vice President, and Treasurer. Her leadership has not only benefited her fellow students but has also contributed to the overall growth and success of our department. Natalie’s passion for music is truly inspiring. Her commitment to her craft is evident in her outstanding academic performance, consistently earning a place on the Dean’s List, and her active participation in various ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, and Chamber Ensemble. Whether through teaching, performing, or collaborating with her peers, Natalie’s love for music shines through in everything she does.