KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University standout student-athletes Kayla Argen (Cresco, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) of the women's soccer team and Rylee Derr (Lititz, Pa./Warwick) of the women's basketball program were honored last Friday afternoon as 2-of-just-6 recipients of the 2022 Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Award, presented at a formal reception at the Georgian Room inside of Old Main.
 
Argen was presented a silver medal and Derr a copper medal in the category of noteworthy achievement in athletics.
 
This is the 10th straight year at least one KU student-athlete has been awarded a Chambliss Award
(History).
 
Argen is a sport management major graduating in May from Cresco, Pa. She was a captain and center midfielder for the nationally ranked KU women's soccer team, where she helped lead the Golden Bears to a successful 17-1-2 season in 2021 and participate in the PSAC and NCAA tournaments. Argen was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America First Team and D2CCA All-America Third Team, the eighth player in program history to earn All-America status and only the third to receive the recognition from multiple organizations in a single season. She has been an active member of the women's soccer program all three competitive seasons that she has been a student at KU, starting in 53 of 58 career games played. Argen led KU last year in scoring with 10 goals and five assists for 25 points, which ranked fourth in the PSAC. Throughout her career, she has 17 goals and 15 assists, fifth all-time in program history for career assists. These numbers have accounted for three years due to the 2020 season being canceled due to COVID-19. Argen is planning to return to the field this fall as the NCAA granted an extra year of eligibility due to COVID-19. Her future aspirations involve a professional athletic playing career and/or a career path working in the sports field.
 
Derr is from Lititz, Pa., and graduated in December with dual degrees in special education and elementary education. She has been a starter and member of the KU women's basketball team since 2017 and led the Golden Bears to two PSAC East titles, two PSAC Final Four appearances and the program's first NCAA Tournament since 1996. Derr is the all-time leading scorer in KU women's basketball history. She also holds the school record for three-pointers made in a game, season and career. She is a three-time All-PSAC selection, was the KU Freshman of the Year and has made the Dean's List and been named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete every year. She was the team captain this season and returned to complete her four years of athletics due to COVID-19. In doing so, she is pursuing her master's degree in education and her reading specialist certification. Derr aspires to become a teacher and remain involved in basketball.
 
About the Chambliss Academic Achievement Awards

The Chambliss Student Academic Achievement Awards were established through a generous gift provided by Dr. Carlson R. Chambliss, who served as a member of the Kutztown University faculty from 1970 until 2003. The purpose of the awards is to recognize the exceptional individual achievements of a select group of senior students as their careers at Kutztown University draw to a close.
 
Faculty and staff at Kutztown University are encouraged to nominate students worthy of consideration for this prestigious award. The criterion requires that the nominee exemplify an individual achievement in one or more of the following areas in order to be considered for one of the twelve awards. The areas of achievement are:
 
a) Successfully completed research projects
b) Original artwork of high quality
c) Artistic performances (music, chorus, drama, etc.) of high quality
d) Original writing in literature or meritorious writing in other fields
e) Noteworthy achievements in athletics
f) Outstanding service to the Kutztown University community
 
Dr. Chambliss has provided the resources for up to 12 medals (1 gold, 4 silver, 7 copper) to be issued annually to the students selected for this award. In addition, each student recipient will receive a certificate acknowledging conferral of the award.