Muhlenberg College

Accompanied by Associate Professor of Biology Giancarlo Cuadra, Ph.D., several Muhlenberg College students presented research at the PA Academy of Sciences meeting in Harrisburg, Pa., during the organization's 100th anniversary this spring. Sophie Tomov was awarded second place for best poster presentations (out of a field of roughly 200 presentations), and was awarded a grant to move forward in research on the "Effects of Cinnamon E-liquids on OKF6 Cell Toxicity and Death." Maya Tabakha was also awarded a grant to research "Phagocytosis, Escape and Invasion of Porphyromonas gingivalis under E-liquid Treatments." Both will take on their research with their Muhlenberg College biology lab mentor, Giancarlo Cuadra, Ph.D.

Academic awards are bestowed each spring at Muhlenberg College's annual Honors Convocation -- a formal academic ceremony designed to honor and celebrate leadership and scholarly excellence and achievement in the college community. This year's convocation was held on Sunday, April 27, in Egner Chapel.

Cunningham was among the founding members of A-Town Records, a student-run record label and music association. She also conducted research in music and held an internship with a record label during her semester in Dublin.

Ty Palmieri, an economics major at Muhlenberg College, will finish his bachelor's degree a year early and head to the Charles Widger School of Law at Villanova University.

"The human mind is so interesting. There's so much left unknown," says Emma Shay, a psychology major with minors in women's and gender studies and Italian studies. "That's part of how I knew that specifically, research was for me - thinking about how there's so much that we don't know." (Click name to read full story):

As co-captain, Evan Schlotterbeck '25 helped lead the 2024 Muhlenberg men's soccer team to the Centennial Conference championship game. The team also earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Its the team's second appearance in the tournament in the last three years. Schlotterbeck's final season as a Mule mirrored the success he has found off the field. Click name to read full story:

As a junior in high school, Ibrahim Sidibeh '25 dreamt that he was a psychiatrist helping a younger boy - so much so that the boy considered him a mentor and a father figure. Now as he prepares to graduate from Muhlenberg, his impact both on and off campus, has earned him the Harry A. Benfer Memorial Scholarship - an award given to a rising senior "who promotes goodwill and who has an appreciation for all phases of college life." It's an honor his friends describe as a "good person award." Click name to read full story:

Samuel Roter '25 is a familiar presence on Muhlenberg's stages - he's been in six departmental productions. Most notably, he played Pierre in last fall's musical, "Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812." The cult favorite, which ran on Broadway for less than a year, was the best known of the departmental productions he's been in. The challenge of performing in these more experimental, less commercially palatable shows has transformed his idea of what theatre can and should be. (Click name for full story):

"I'm in a really unique position to be able to advocate for and alongside young people, getting a seat at the table and being part of these conversations about solutions, specifically around climate change," says Davidson. "It's so cool, and it makes so much sense that I ended up in this arena." Click name to read full story:

The "Contemporary music festival: the music of Vincent Trovato" concert was held March 22, in the Baker Center for the Arts, Empie Theatre.

Fifty-two Muhlenberg College student-athletes were recognized for their performance in the classroom and on the court, mat and track with their selection to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll for the winter 2024-25 season. To be named to the Academic Honor Roll, student-athletes must be sophomores or higher in class standing carrying at least a 3.40 cumulative grade-point average.

Five Muhlenberg athletes were recognized for their behavior on the court, mat, and track with their selection to the 2025 Winter All-Centennial Conference Sportsmanship Team.

Alpha Epsilon Delta is the national honor society for students who plan to enter the health professions. Student must have completed at least three semesters of pre-health coursework with at least a 3.2 GPA.

Muhlenberg basketball team senior Giovanni Rubino has been named to the D3hoops.com All-Region 5 second team. The all-region nod was the second for Rubino, who also earned second-team honors in 2023.

Three Muhlenberg sophomores, David Seel, Maya Richwine and Christopher Short, earned All-Metro Region honors from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

First-year students, Karla Lazaro and Alessandra Rodriguez -- both members of the inaugural Muhlenberg team received the NCAA Women's Scholar All-American Award from the National Wrestling Coaches Association.

Boasting the highest cumulative GPA on the All-Centennial team, Muhlenberg College senior Andrew Franklin has been named Centennial Conference Wrestling Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Franklin is the first Mule men's wrestler ever to win the honor.

In addition to maintaining a 2.0 GPA and committing to uphold the Muhlenberg College Student Code of Conduct, Muhlenberg Tour Guides complete training sessions throughout the year in order to share the most accurate, honest, and complete information to prospective students and families. They conduct individual and group tours and help visitors understand the opportunities available to Muhlenberg students.

Princeton in Asia (PiA) fellowships are one- or two-year immersive, paid work placements at host organizations in Asia. The fellowships emphasize cultural immersion and contributing to host communities. Fellows are committed to furthering the PiA mission of fostering mutual appreciation and cross-cultural understanding between the United States and Asia. Only about 10% of PiA applicants are accepted into the program.

Caya Greenspan-Layman '22 and Keanna Pena '25 have been named Fulbright Study/Research Award Semi-Finalists. Applicants design their own projects, and if chosen, typically work with advisers at foreign universities or other institutes of higher education.

More than 90 Muhlenberg students are taking advantage of the college's wide variety of global study abroad experiences this spring.

Muhlenberg College graduate Michael Albdewi, of Brooklyn, N.Y., has been named a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist, beating out thousands of applicants around the country. Rhodes Scholars are selected for academic excellence, character, leadership potential, and a commitment to service. Albdewi graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and Russian studies in 2022.

"Blue Stockings" will be performed in Muhlenberg College's Dorothy Hess Baker Theatre, Feb. 27-March 2. The play tells the story of four women at the first women's college at Cambridge, campaigning for the right to receive their degrees upon graduation.

Muhlenberg College freshman Kelsey Gelb has qualified for the NCWWC Championships, scheduled for March 7-8 in Coralville, Iowa, by placing fourth at 160 at the Region 2 qualifier meet at East Stroudsburg.

More than 30% of Muhlenberg students participate in the college's 23-sport intercollegiate athletics program. The red and grey Muhls are part of the NCAA Division III, Centennial Conference. The college's athletic programs are designed to motivate and empower students to develop leadership, well-being, sportsmanship, and interpersonal skills while nurturing a sense of civic responsibility.

More than 30% of Muhlenberg students participate in the college's 23-sport intercollegiate athletics program. The red and grey Muhls are part of the NCAA Division III, Centennial Conference. The college's athletic programs are designed to motivate and empower students to develop leadership, well-being, sportsmanship, and interpersonal skills while nurturing a sense of civic responsibility.

More than 30% of Muhlenberg students participate in the college's 23-sport intercollegiate athletics program. The red and grey Muhls are part of the NCAA Division III, Centennial Conference. The college's athletic programs are designed to motivate and empower students to develop leadership, well-being, sportsmanship, and interpersonal skills while nurturing a sense of civic responsibility.

Muhlenberg's annual tour-de-force dance concert features world-premiere dance works by acclaimed guest artists and faculty, performed by Muhlenberg College student-artists. "In Motion 2025" takes place Feb.6-8 in the Baker Center for the Arts' Paul C. Empie Theatre, Allentown, Pa., featuring the innovative works of Baker Artist-in-Residence David Dorfman, guest artist Kyle "JustSole" Clark, and Muhlenberg dance faculty Heidi Cruz-Austin, Karen Dearborn, Noel Price-Bracey, and Robyn Watson, and Artistic Director Karen Dearborn.

Taking place over winter break, Muhlenberg's externship program allows students early in their college experience to shadow professionals -- often Muhlenberg alumni -- in order to gain exposure to specific work environments and daily work life.

To be eligible for the Dean's List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during a semester.