KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY

Lisamarie Feliciano and Matthew J. Kuna, both of Allentown, are among recent recipients of the Copper Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award.

The award is among the prestigious given by the school.

Feliciano was recognized for academic excellence. She recently earned her bachelor’s degree in biology with a focus on pre-medicine and health careers and was recognized for her research projects and outstanding service.

Feliciano conducted a research project in which she evaluated different methods of cleaning bird feeders with and without organic debris to remove pathogenic Salmonella; the study addresses the concern over the spread of several diseases believed transmitted through bird feeders.

She presented her research at several conferences, including a regional biology conference and an international ornithology conference.

She was the founder and organizer of Global Brigades club, an organization facilitating university students volunteering to help small communities around the world meet their health needs. The group traveled to Panama to provide aid and medical care to approximately 350 impoverished people.

Feliciano has also volunteered extensively in the biology department and for the university in general.

She was chosen as a scholar in the Summer Medical and Dental Education Program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and received the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Scholarship in 2014 and 2015 and the Association of Pennsylvania State College & University Faculties Scholarship in 2014. Feliciano hopes to become a physician in an underserved area.

Kuna earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a focus on Spanish and English as a second language and was recognized for his original research looking at art education and middle level students. He will present his findings at the Eastern Educational Research Association and is developing a publishable article for the research.

He received the Who’s Who Among College Students honor, the Levi Gresh Scholarship, the President F. Javier Cevallos Latin American Scholarship, the College of Education Recognition Award, the Bartholomew Freshman Composition Award, the Class of 1954 Scholarship and the Board of Governor’s Tuition Scholarship and was a member of Sigma Delta Pi (National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society), the Catholic Newman Council, the National Association for Multicultural Education, the Association for Middle Level Education, the dean’s list and the Honors Program.

He has also been a program assistant and peer tutor with Kutztown University Tutoring Services and an academic planner with the Connections Orientation Program.

Kuna plans to pursue a teaching position in a high-risk area and make a difference in the lives of under-serviced students and their families.

The Academic Achievement Award was established through a donation provided by Dr. Carlson R. Chambliss, a member of the Kutztown University faculty from 1970 to 2003. The award recognizes the exceptional individual achievements of a select group of graduating seniors. Specially designed coin medallions of gold, silver, and copper are presented.

Feliciano and Kuna received copper medallions.