Abington student-athlete engineers success in class and on the court

ABINGTON, Pa. — Kolby Miller’s dogged determination led him to successfully balance life as an NCAA Division III student-athlete at Penn State Abington and the demands of the engineering major. He leaned into basketball coaches, faculty and staff for support as he managed travel to games, conditioning and practice, and math- and science-heavy coursework. 

“There were a lot of long nights after practices and games especially starting junior year when my classes became much more hands on, but I need to shoutout my coaches — they checked in to make sure the team stayed on top of academics,” he said, noting that conditioning starts in August and they play into the spring semester. 

Miller was quick to credit Robert Avanzato, associate professor and program chair for engineering, for helping him stay on track to graduate on time while engineering faculty Mukul Talaty and David Brown were praised for “chopping it up with me.”  

He also singled out Sally Sue Richmond, assistant teaching professor of information science in the Innovation Center engineering lab at the Great Valley campus, where engineering majors complete much of their last two years of work.

“We all have our own struggles, and Professor Richmond would pull us into her office and help us,” said Miller, a dean's list student who always wanted to study math. 

As an engineering student, Miller applied concepts in real-world contexts, including during his required internship and capstone project. Along with two other students, he developed 3D-printed hoods to reduce vibrations when braking, which they presented at the end-of-semester capstone course showcase. 

“I love building things and collaborating with other students — that was the most exciting part for me because that’s what it’s like in your career,” he said. 

Miller’s internship took him underground and over water at the Delaware River Port Authority in Camden. The agency manages bridges, ferries and a high-speed commuter rail line that links Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where he lives. 

“It was an incredible experience working with senior engineers. I did a lot of site visits, and they even took us under the Benjamin Franklin Bridge,” he said of his internship, which is a keystone of the Abington Experience, a roadmap to launch students successfully from campus to career. 

As a two-sport athlete in high school, Miller visited several NCAAs schools before committing to Abington. He achieved his goals at Abington — playing basketball and preparing for a career in engineering, while finding friendship and community in both worlds. 

“I visited Division I and Division III schools, and I wanted to play basketball and become an engineer. I realized Abington was the best fit for me,” said Miller, a former high school basketball and football standout. “I built connections with my professors and with other student-athletes and coaches. We were always made to feel we could reach out to anyone, and I did.”

Erin Foley, director of athletics, intramurals and recreation at Penn State Abington, said they were fortunate to have Miller on the team for four years. 

“Kolby’s dedication, work ethic and leadership on and off the court is a prime example of what it takes to be a Division III student-athlete,” Foley said. “Despite the ups and downs on the court, Kolby remained positive and led by example. That determination carried over into the classroom, where he was able to balance the demands of both athletics and academics.” 

Miller urged student-athletes not to settle for less than their goal. 

“You need to learn time management and balance. It takes a lot of sacrifice to finish your education, but at the end of the day, it’s worth it,” he said. 

About Penn State Abington 

Penn State Abington provides an affordable, accessible and high-impact education resulting in the success of a diverse student body. It is committed to student success through innovative approaches to 21st-century public higher education within a world-class research university. With more than 3,100 students, Penn State Abington is a residential campus that offers baccalaureate degrees in 26 majors, accelerated master's degrees, undergraduate research, the Schreyer Honors College, NCAA Division III athletics and more.