September 01, 2020
Erika Barbera
Life is filled with challenges and obstacles that each individual person must cope with daily, and most are out of one’s control.
In October of 2012, Hurricane Sandy hit the shores of New Jersey and devastated many communities, including Kutztown University freshman Erika Barbera’s hometown of Beach Haven. The storm flooded the streets and severely damaged property, with Barbera’s home, family’s business, and her school feeling the brunt of the superstorm. She had to start over, going to a new school and living in a different place.
“Warrior” is the word used to describe Barbera by her coaches, teachers and teammates. And she proved to be one.
“That was the biggest battle I’ve ever had to go through,” said Barbera on Hurricane Sandy. “Our house, my belongings, my school, our family shop, all gone. It was really scary, just crazy watching how much water was in the streets. And we just knew that our house was being destroyed. We didn’t know what we were going to do.”
Barbera’s commute to school went from a quick walk down the road to a 45-minute drive. A lot changed in her and her family’s lives, but they still had each other and their community to get them through.
“After that devastation and after all of that change happened, the rebuilding of it all was just amazing to see and be a part of,” said Barbera. “It was hard learning to adjust to a new environment, new school, at such a young age. I kind of grew up quickly. But even with all of the bad that had happened, there was also a lot of good that came out of it. It’s about how you treat every day and the situations that you face in life.”
Seeing the help and support her community received following the storm, Barbera gravitated toward helping other people as years went on. She’s learned to cope with challenges that life throws at her, and works with other people in the same light. Barbera helped run an autism walk while she was at Southern Regional High School.
“It was such a cool experience,” Barbera said. “The walk was to get kids with autism and their families out to have some fun and just express themselves and enjoy the day.”
Recognition for her efforts
For her strength and courage, along with the hard work put into the classroom and on the field hockey and lacrosse fields, Barbera received the distinguished honor of earning the Marine Corps. award as a Semper Fidelis All-American.
The Semper Fidelis All-American Program recognizes high school students who face life’s battles with the conviction and determination to succeed. These students embody the same fighting spirit that Marines stand for by taking on the challenges of succeeding academically while bettering their communities and excelling in athletics and extracurricular activities. They have turned obstacles into victories through drive and passion.
The criteria for the nominees: be a junior in high school, have a 3.5 or higher GPA on a 4.0 scale, or equivalent, be active in community service, play a competitive team sport, and hold a student or community leadership position.
“When I found out that I was selected for the honor, I was in complete shock,” said Barbera. “To learn that there was only one female and one male in all of the state of New Jersey to be recognized, it was just crazy. It felt great to know that hard work does pay off in the end. It was such a unique and amazing experience and I’m so glad my family and friends were there with me to receive it. It was something I will never forget.”
Barbera was a three-year letter winner at Southern. She finished her senior season with 18 goals and 14 assists, and her team went 18-3 overall. Barbera was a South Conference and Shore Conference First Teamer and a team captain. In the classroom, she received NFHCA High School National Academic Squad Scholar of Distinction honors and was a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society and the high honor roll.
Committing to Kutztown University
Barbera committed to head coach Marci Scheuing and the Golden Bears during her junior year of high school. After participating in a clinic and touring campus, she knew right away that Kutztown University was where she wanted to call home.
“I knew I wanted to play field hockey in college,” said Barbera. “Coach Scheuing had been in touch with me for a while [before I committed]. We took a tour of campus and I just instantly fell in love with it. After the field hockey clinic, I talked to coach Scheuing and she asked me to come back. So, a week later, I returned and then committed a few days later. I didn’t want to look at any other schools. I knew where I wanted to be.”
Scheuing couldn’t be happier to have Barbera as a part of her program.
“Erika is an outstanding student-athlete who we are very excited to have at Kutztown,” said Scheuing. “She is the total package in every way. She is a great person, an outstanding athlete, and gives back to her community. I was inspired by her story and it just shows how resilient and tough she really is.”
Kutztown had its first team gathering last week since arriving on campus for the fall semester, so Barbera was able to put names to faces and meet her new teammates. She caught up with some upperclassmen who coached at past clinics, and also became acquainted with classmates and dormmates that will be neighbors.
“The girls on the team were a huge reason why I wanted to play at Kutztown,” Barbera said. “Everyone is so welcoming and friendly and are just amazing people. You see them and you just instantly have a smile on your face. I just recently met the entire team since getting to campus and it just feels like I’ve known them my whole life. It’s a big family. They take you in as one of their own family members.”
So, with almost two weeks as a college student under her belt, Barbera, who is majoring in Biology: Allied Health, is enjoying her time at Kutztown, getting to know teammates, classmates and everyone around campus.
“I love meeting new people,” Barbera said. “It’s really cool being in a residence hall with mainly other student-athletes and meeting different people and hearing about their backgrounds and different experiences. Everyone has a unique story to share and I enjoy listening to them.”
By C.J. Hemerly, assistant sports information director
The Blues and Rock Ensemble at Kutztown University will make you get out of your seat and dance - and applaud this award-winning group.
After 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.
Two 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.
Nessa 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.
Award-winning Executive Chef Larry Gattens opens up about KU, his bronze medal and his second year at the NACUFS Culinary Challenge.
A field hockey player by training, she soon identified the characteristic that would come to define her love for politics: a competitive spirit.
Peace 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.
Marybeth Kern ’09, M’19, who recently secured a spot as a featured artist in Logic’s music video, is all about collaboration.
Tekiah Brabham's commitment to urban classrooms leads her to teach in Washington, D.C.
KU Celebrates First Graduating Cohort of the Education Doctorate Program.
Christina 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.
Jacey Tran and Bekah Roux, honors students at KU, became fast friends during the unexpected 2020 quarantine.
Kutztown University is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its relationship with an unexpected place – the Lake Peninsula School District in the state of Alaska.
Sarah is a junior, majoring in social media theory and strategy, with a double minor in business and communications.
Kutztown University gave Moe an opportunity that no other school did, to study a prestigious major while playing championship-level basketball.
Michael is a sophomore, majoring in secondary education with a concentration in mathematics.
Laura is a senior, majoring in anthropology.
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.
Recent graduate Tyler Shull is ready to set out on his journey as a teacher.
Briana combined a marketing major with a social media minor to create a path to success in a field she can't wait to join.
Savina found the perfect combination at KU, with a double major in chemistry and environmental science.
Chinonyerem, "Noye" is a senior, majoring in Elementary Education/Pre-K - 4 and Special Education/Visual Impairments.
Frankmarlin is a 2020 Kutztown University graduate of the Studio Arts Program. He returned to KU in 2020-21 as an artist in residence.
Nicholas found a community of ambitious, talented students who challenge him to grow as an artist and aspiring teacher.
KU's Upward Bound program helps prepare students in Allentown's William Allen School District for a college education.
Students and faculty conducted an archaeological dig at a prehistoric site on campus.
KU alumnus dedicates career to defending "everyday people."
KU alumna charts a path to her dream job.
KU alumna works to increase the prevalence of multicultural literature in schools.
KU alumnus finds entrepreneurial success in an unexpected way.
KU alumna find success in show business.
This professional writing graduate is helping to bring PennDOT's message to the people of Pennsylvania.
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 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 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 STORYJacey Tran and Bekah Roux, honors students at KU, became fast friends during the unexpected 2020 quarantine.
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 STORYRecent graduate Tyler Shull is ready to set out on his journey as a teacher.
READ FULL STORYBriana combined a marketing major with a social media minor to create a path to success in a field she can't wait to join.
READ FULL STORYSavina found the perfect combination at KU, with a double major in chemistry and environmental science.
READ FULL STORYChinonyerem, "Noye" is a senior, majoring in Elementary Education/Pre-K - 4 and Special Education/Visual Impairments.
READ FULL STORYFrankmarlin is a 2020 Kutztown University graduate of the Studio Arts Program. He returned to KU in 2020-21 as an artist in residence.
READ FULL STORYNicholas found a community of ambitious, talented students who challenge him to grow as an artist and aspiring teacher.
READ FULL STORYKU's Upward Bound program helps prepare students in Allentown's William Allen School District for a college education.
READ FULL STORYStudents and faculty conducted an archaeological dig at a prehistoric site on campus.
READ FULL STORYKU alumnus dedicates career to defending "everyday people."
READ FULL STORYKU alumna charts a path to her dream job.
READ FULL STORYKU alumna works to increase the prevalence of multicultural literature in schools.
READ FULL STORYKU alumnus finds entrepreneurial success in an unexpected way.
READ FULL STORYKU alumna find success in show business.
READ FULL STORYThis professional writing graduate is helping to bring PennDOT's message to the people of Pennsylvania.
READ FULL STORY