Penn State Abington Student-Athlete Engineers Success On and Off the Court
ABINGTON, PA – Balancing the rigorous demands of NCAA Division III athletics with a challenging engineering curriculum is no small feat. But Kolby Miller, a recent graduate of Penn State Abington, proved it’s possible with dedication, support, and a passion for building a better future.
Miller successfully navigated his undergraduate years as a student-athlete, playing basketball while pursuing a demanding engineering degree. He credits a strong support system – coaches, faculty, and staff – for helping him manage the competing priorities of travel, practice, and complex coursework.
“There were a lot of long nights,especially starting junior year when the classes became more hands-on,” Miller explained. “But my coaches were remarkable, consistently checking in to ensure the team stayed focused on academics.” The basketball season, with conditioning beginning in august and games extending into the spring semester, added another layer of complexity to his schedule.
However,Miller was quick to highlight the pivotal role played by the engineering faculty. He specifically thanked Robert Avanzato, associate professor and program chair, for keeping him on track for timely graduation.He also praised professors Mukul Talaty and David Brown for their approachable mentorship, describing them as always willing to connect and offer guidance.
“They were always willing to ‘chop it up’ with me,” Miller said, reflecting on the supportive relationships he built with his professors.
He also lauded Sally Sue richmond, an assistant teaching professor of facts science at Penn State Great Valley’s Innovation Center, where many engineering students complete their final two years. “Professor Richmond would pull us aside and help us work through our struggles. She realy understood what we were going through.”
Miller’s academic journey wasn’t confined to the classroom. He applied his engineering knowledge in real-world settings through a required internship with the Delaware River Port Authority in Camden,NJ,and a capstone project. Working alongside senior engineers,he even had the opportunity to explore the infrastructure beneath the iconic Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
The capstone project itself was a practical application of his skills: Miller,along with two classmates,designed and 3D-printed hoods to reduce vibrations during braking. The project was showcased
