Muhlenberg College

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

Muhlenberg basketball players Drew Greene and Emily Unger have been named to the Lehigh Valley Small College Media Organization Scholar-Athlete Team. The team honors one player on each of the 11 area small college basketball teams for academic excellence.

Muhlenberg graduate student Joey Lamparelli has been named Centennial Conference wrestler of the week. Lamparelli went 3-0 with two wins against regionally ranked opponents at the John Reese Duals. After recording a 13-4 major decision against the eighth-ranked 125-pounder in Region 2 in the Oneonta match, he held his Ithaca opponent, the third-ranked wrestler in that region, without a point in a 5-0 decision. Lamaprelli, who is 13-4 this season, picked up a forfeit win against Keystone to complete the 3-0 day and move into a tie for fourth place on the program's all-time list with 94 career wins. The major decision against Oneonta gave Lamparelli 17 for his career, just three short of the school record. He ranks second in program history with 18 career technical falls.

Only 20 students nationwide are invited to be part of the mentorship program each year.

In a Muhlenberg College neuroscience lab, Teigan Brown '25 collects eggs from live frogs and explores the anti-anxiety properties of skullcap -- a medicinal herb. A graduate of Downingtown STEM Academy, Brown is studying neuroscience at Muhlenberg while conducting original research in the laboratory of Stanley Road Professor of Neuroscience, Jeremy Teissere, Ph.D. "The culture of the Teissere lab is very unique," says Brown. "It's important to me to be around people who care about the work that I'm doing, who care about me, and who I also care about. "[Teissere] has uplifted me and supported me through this entire process while making sure that it is an experience that is completely authentic to me. I'm just so proud of how far this project has come."

Muhlenberg College dancers spearheaded their own choreographic endeavors, under the guidance of dance professor Robyn Watson in fall 2024. Twelve student-choreographed dances were performed by more than 60 student dancers.

The musical "Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812," written by Dave Malloy and directed by James Peck, was performed Oct. 31-Nov. 3, 2024, in Muhlenberg College's Empie Theatre. The work is a musical adaptation of a scandalous 70-page segment from Leo Tolstoy's 1869 novel "War and Peace."

Muhlenberg College student-choreographers and dancers presented seven new dance pieces as part of the college's "Studio Sessions" in December. Under the guidance of artistic director and dance professor Lisa Busfield, each original piece demonstrates growth and the journey of collaborative, creative leadership.

Running Sept. 26-29, 2024 in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance at Muhlenberg College, "The Penelopiad" is author Margaret Atwood's vision of Homer's "The Odyssey," from the perspective of Penelope -- during the 20 years of Odysseus's absence. Known for her novel "The Handmaid's Tale," Atwood adapted the "The Penelopiad" from her own novella.

Roman Craig '27 and Alexa Cinelli '27 researched Muhlenberg College's LGBTQ+ history and created a website to showcase their findings.

Muhlenberg student Sophie Tomov '26 spearheaded a change to the college's bat removal policy in order to make the survival of captured bats more likely.

International student Fuka Aizawa '26 has worked in two different labs at Muhlenberg, followed by a research assistantship in Copenhagen, Denmark.

A choreographic tour-de-force from Muhlenberg's dance faculty choreographers and a guest artist, 'In Motion' ran Feb. 8-10, 2024, featuring student dancers who astonished the community with their tremendous talent.

Muhlenberg student actors performed the hit jukebox musical, "Head Over Heels," in April 2024, put on by the Muhlenberg Theatre and Dance Department.

Muhlenberg students took part in the college's 67th annual Advent Candlelight Carols Service, Dec. 7-8 - held in the Gideon F. Egner Memorial Chapel. Adapted from the Festival of Lessons and Carols of King's College, Cambridge University in England, the event featured stories of promise, songs of hope and liberation and a reminder of the power of presence and community.

Maddie Davidson '25 received a Youth Climate Action Fund Grant from the City of Allentown to create a tree science and stewardship project at Allentown School District's Muhlenberg Elementary School. She also presented at a worldwide conference called CityLab that was held on October 14-16 in Mexico City.

Muhlenberg senior guard John "Jack" Kinerney has been named to the D3football.com All-Region 2 third team for the second year in a row. A three-time first-team All-Centennial Conference (CC) selection, Kinerney started every game at right guard for the third consecutive season. As the Mules' top lineman, he helped the offense average a CC-leading 37.2 points per game and 441.0 yards per game, allowing only one sack all year. Kinerney played in 45 of Muhlenberg's 46 games since 2021, starting 37. During that time, the Mules went 36-10, averaging 37.2 points and 424.0 yards per game.