Academics

John Valkovci is a Renaissance Man: a United States Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corp litigator, Department of Justice Assistant United States Attorney, certified auto mechanic who restores classic muscle cars, and devoted family man.

Saint Francis University is happy to announce that SFU Science Outreach Center will again host the Pennsylvania Statistics Poster Competition for 2021. The competitions, held virtually, will offer cash prizes and certificates for first, second, third, and fourth place in each category. Certificates are awarded for honorable mentions in each category. The winning posters from the Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the National Statistics Poster Competition. Posters MUST be registered/submitted electronically by midnight on Friday, March 12, 2021. General Information: A statistics poster

Congratulations to Saint Francis University sophomore, Matthew Berzonsky. The Environmental Engineering student won first place at Bucknell University's Virtual 2020 River Symposium undergraduate poster competition held last November. His authored work, entitled "Analyzing the Impact of Mine Drainage Residuals on Phosphorus Sequestration and Agricultural Production," was among dozens of presenters from regional universities. The work was co-authored by fellow Environmental Engineering student, Benjamin Dumm, and Environmental Engineering alum, Sarah White. Along with faculty members, Dr

Saint Francis University honored the enduring legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with in-person and virtual discussions, group activities and educational displays. The MLK Day Celebration was a day of education and reflection on Dr. Kings’ philosophy of nonviolent social change and conflict-reconciliation. This year’s Martin Luther King Day coincided with SFU’s Convocation, and featured keynote speaker, Mr. Bill Strickland, founder, and Chairman of Manchester Bidwell Corporation . Mr. Strickland is the author of “Make the Impossible Possible”, which speaks of his personal crusade to inspire

The fullest and most far-reaching expression of the mission of Saint Francis University are the Franciscan values which were lived by its founding brothers. Humbleness, respect, and service are just a few of the G oals of Franciscan Higher Education . These goals reach well beyond the comfy confines of Loretto and extend to the surrounding community. Recently, Saint Francis University donated over a dozen laptop computers to the Flood City Youth Fitness Academy’s virtual learning center, a charitable organization serving the needs of children and their families living in the Johnstown area. We

Tapestries is a university-sponsored literary and visual arts magazine, reflecting the broad creative talents of the university’s burgeoning writers and artists. About the contest Each year the School of STEAM hosts the Gunard Berry Carlson Writing Contest to recognize undergraduate students’ outstanding writing and visual artwork. Writing categories include fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, and essay writing; visual arts categories include photography, painting (oil or water), sculpture, and sketch. ___ Submit your work Any currently enrolled Saint Francis undergraduate may submit writing

Editor's note: As people around the globe struggle to navigate the COVID-19 crisis, and as health care providers work diligently, and think creatively about ways to protect and treat patients, it seems especially apropos to thank those like Dr. John Karduck who have devoted decades of their lives to serving in the trenches of clinical medicine and training others to respond in times of injury, disease and crisis. This profile of Dr. Karduck, was shared by his colleague Dr. Thomas Woods. Faculty Spotlight: Dr. John Karduck, MD Clinical Associate Professor, Physician Assistant Science

Morhard Interview on CBS3 Ahead of Historic SpaceX Launch On Saturday, May 30, NASA astronauts are scheduled to fly on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft, lifting off on a Falcon 9 rocket at 3:22 p.m. EDT from Launch Complex 39A in Florida. According to NASA, the Commercial Crew SpaceX Demo-2 Flight Test (Crewed) mission, will validate the company’s crew transportation system, including the launch pad, rocket, spacecraft, and operational capabilities. SFU Connection NASA's Launch America program and Saint Francis University share a vital link: NASA Deputy Administrator James Morhard . Morhard, a

Sarah Davis once dreamed of becoming a nurse—and serving in the military. Thanks to Saint Francis University's military-friendly options , Sarah was able to graduate from the top Nursing program in the nation and become a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army through IUP's elite ROTC Warrior Battalion program . LT Sarah Davis, SFU (19' Nursing ) and Warrior Battalion alumna, was one of the great cadets-turned-2nd LT from the program. She graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate as well as the number one nursing cadet in the US Army’s Cadet Command 2nd Brigade. LT Davis said that the

Are larger clawed crayfish more aggressive? Are crayfish territorial? Does size matter? The Animal Behavior (BIOL 208) lab exposes Biology students to the broad, interdisciplinary field of animal behavior. In Dr. Justin Merry’s lab shown in this video, students are testing hypotheses about what traits best predict the ability of the crayfish to control resources in territorial contests. Candidate traits include factors like mass or length, as well as claw size, health (as inferred by body-mass index), or even animal personality. The emphasis throughout the laboratory course is that students