Hall of Fame
Cindy Kepler of Catwissa, Pa., Class of 1994, is one of the best swimmers in the history of Shippensburg University. She led the Lady Raider swim teams of the early 1990s to prominence while breaking several school records along the way.
As a sophomore in 1992, Kepler dazzled with a time of 51.71 seconds for the 100-yard freestyle. That same year, she also posted a record time in the 200-yard freestyle, registering a swim of 1:52.40. Both of these times are still the best in the history of Shippensburg swimming.
One year later, Kepler posted a mark of 23.86 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle, earning her third seat in the all-time school record books. At the 1993 PSAC Championships, Kepler won the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events, guiding the team to a second place finish overall. Shippensburg also posted a 13th place finish at the Division II National Championships this season, as Kepler earned All-America honors in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle events.
As talented of a freestyle swimmer as Kepler has been throughout her career, she has been equally adept academically. Kepler was named the PSAC Scholar Athlete of the Year in addition to earning Academic-All American honors during her senior year in 1994. During her first academic year she received a Freshman Chemistry award from Shippensburg in 1991, and over her four-year collegiate career, Kepler has collected 22 All-America honors in swimming.
Kepler graduated from Shippensburg with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, finishing her academic career with a 3.78 grade-point average. She received her Ph.D. in organosilicon polymer chemistry from the University of Southern California four years later.
Dr. Kepler became an assistant professor of chemistry at Bloomsburg University, a fellow member of the PSAC. Her research specialties included organic and polymer chemistry. While devoted primarily to chemistry, Kepler has not forgotten her athletic past; she became the faculty advisor to the Bloomsburg University women’s water polo club in addition to their chapter of the American Chemical Society.
