Muhlenberg College

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):

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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."