Kutztown University honours top graduates in arts, education and athletics
College news
Graduations
Christine Blaisdell, of Mount Joy, recently graduated with a Master of Arts from the College of Communication and Information from Kent University, Kent, Ohio.
Lauren Medina, of Lancaster, graduated in fall 2025 from Georgia State University, Atlanta, Ga., with an Associate of Science in health science professions.
Area students were among those who earned degrees following the fall 2025 semester from Kutztown University. Students are listed with their hometowns, honors and degrees. Students who have requested privacy (FERPA) are not listed publicly. Akron - Cheyenne Getz, Master of Arts in arts administration. Atglen - Nora P. Wentz, Bachelor of Fine Arts in animated arts, summa cum laude. Denver - Emily Griest, Bachelor of Science in art education; Blake Kenneth Johnson, Bachelor of Arts in communication studies. Elizabethtown - Samantha P. Baer, Bachelor of Arts in sociology. Ephrata - Ashlyn Brooke Althouse, Bachelor of Science in business administration-marketing; Mallory Michelle Dover, Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art, cum laude. Honey Brook - Caitlyn Ann Dojka, Bachelor of Science in psychology. Lancaster - Ashley R. Barzola, Bachelor of Arts in political science; Erin Giovanetti Billiard, Master of Education, reading specialist. Leola - Sophia Wentz, Bachelor of Science in elementary education-PreK-4. Mohnton - Alicia Marie Uhrig, Master of Education in elementary education. Mount Joy - Joshua Cheney, Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art. New Holland - Kayla Faith Jin Bradley, Bachelor of Science in elementary education- PreK-4, summa cum laude. Oxford - Rowen William Canaday, Bachelor of Science in secondary education-social studies; Skylar H. Eshleman, Bachelor of Arts in communication studies and Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, summa cum laude. Strasburg - Vincent Warren Shickora, Master of Education in music education.
Honors
Leah Laubach, of Marietta, a member of the Wilson College women's basketball team, was named to the United East All-Conference Second Team. Laubach was a pivotal part of the women's team's return to the quarterfinals. Her 14.3 points per game were 10th in the conference. She was seventh in the league with 125 free throw attempts and ninth with 78 makes.
Reagan Flory, of Elizabethtown, is among the 24 Shenandoah University, Winchester, Va. student-athletes placed on the NFHCA Division III National Academic Squad as announced by the National National Field Hockey Coaches Association.
Holly Grube, of New Providence, a member of the Lebanon Valley College softball team, was named the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom Player of the Week for the week ending March 1. Grube went 4-for-6 at the plate in two games, highlighted by a solo home run and two RBIs in the victory over Marian.
Taylor Funk, of Denver, was one of four Kutztown University indoor track and field student-athletes who earned 2025-26 NCAA Division II U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-Atlantic Region honors. Funk finished All-PSAC with a third-place finish at the PSAC Indoor Championships on Feb. 28 and March 1.
Madeline Reider, of Lititz, a doctorate student at Lebanon Valley College, presented student-faculty research posters at the national American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in February. Reider's poster was titled 'The Effects Mobility Dogs Have on Gait and Balance: A Pilot Study.'
