NEWS NOTES Graver honored for commitment to KU’s history Jason Graver ’92, M’18 was presented with the Kutztown University President’s Medal for his volunteerism, commitment, and dedication to preserving and celebrating the university’s rich history. Graver has specialized in the collection of Kutztown memorabilia and the history of the institution. In 2015, he became an alumni volunteer, serving on the history subcommittee of the KU Sesquicentennial Planning Committee. The history display in the Old Main Concourse opened to the public with the help of Graver’s knowledge and collection. Since that time, he has worked closely with the Miller Gallery director and Office of University Relations to refresh and maintain the display. In addition, Graver has been a featured speaker at the annual Holiday Tea, held by the KU Foundation, and has been the lead speaker at other KU historical events. Graver graduated from KU with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/political science and a master’s degree in library science. He currently is a middle school teacher at Northern Lehigh School District. KU recognizes athletics Hall of Fame class Kutztown University athletics inducted its 2024 and 45th annual Hall of Fame class at a ceremony in November 2024. The class was comprised of six former Golden Bear greats (pictured above from left): Nicole Henninger ’14 (softball), Sara Keeny ’19 (softball), Sam Costello ’15 (women’s soccer); (top row) Matthew Rowan ’06 (men’s swimming), Josh Mastromatto ’13 (football), and Joshua Johnson ’17 (men’s basketball). With the induction of the 2024 class, KU’s all-time hall of fame membership grew to 245 since the inaugural class was enshrined in 1977. KU also celebrated the Kutztown University Athletics Legacy Award, presented this year to Dr. David E. McFarland. McFarland served as KU's 10th president for 15 years, from 1987 to 2002. He has coauthored multiple books on educational and engineering subjects, and he has written articles for scholarly and professional journals on topics such as academic success and student athletes, effective teaching, academic advising and engineering. Speirs receives Art Educator award Dr. Peg Speirs, professor of Art Education, was the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Higher Education Art Educator award from the Pennsylvania Art Education Association during its conference. Through a rigorous review process, the association identified Speirs as an outstanding leader in the field of art education for her creative contributions, excellence in professional engagement and dedication to service. She stands out as a leader who is committed to the continued growth and collaborative efforts of art educators across Pennsylvania. FALL 2025 | TOWER 9
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