Academics

Q&A with Danielle What sparked your interest in Physical Therapy? How old were you? I was first exposed to physical therapy when I was 13. I sustained a back injury caused by years of gymnastics. I wore a back brace for 2 years and received frequent physical therapy. It was the first career in which I could picture myself working. I was never interested in being a doctor or a nurse, but after growing up doing gymnastics, being in the PT gym just felt like home. What have you been up to since graduation? HealthSouth Rehab Hospital has been an excellent environment for me to begin my career as a

A First-Year Convocation was held on August 19, and all first-year students were in attendance. The Deans from the Schools at Saint Francis alongside the Provost Wayne Powel, President Father Malachi Van Tassell, T.O.R., current student Gabrielle Beck, and alumna Elisha Fleig processed into the filled auditorium to officially welcome students academically to the University and offer words of wisdom. After a welcome and opening prayer, Fr. Malachi expressed his confidence in the first-year students’ ability to succeed, and current student Gabrielle Beck (double major in psychology and Spanish )

The July issue of Blair Business Mirror featured Kimberly Elter, a recent Saint Francis graduate and current Blair County Chamber of Commerce intern. The article featured in the issue highlighted the experience and unique opportunities Kimberly is gaining as an intern for the Chamber. A well-sought-after destination for internships, the Blair County Chamber of Commerce offers internships in Marketing and Business Administration. Linda Stotler, the Chamber’s Vice President of Communication and Marketing, spearheads the internship program, setting and expecting high standards from the interns

Have you ever come across a stream or pond that was full of a thick, murky, orange sludge? You likely saw a case of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) pollution. AMD occurs when acidic, metal-rich water emerges at the surface after passing through abandoned coal or clay mines. These metals then precipitate in a thick, orange sludge called “yellow boy” that can smother life in streams and ponds. This summer, two teams of SFU Biology students studied the effects of pollution on freshwater biodiversity. Dr. Lane Loya and Dr. Justin Merry teamed with a group of four biology students as well as faculty

Saint Francis University has recently employed the use of submersible video cameras in its aquariums because of the many educational benefits video could provide for the university and its visitors. The first of these benefits is an underwater view of the1500 gallon salt water aquarium containing several marine vertebrates. We chose to use security cameras that are specialized for underwater use and provide the opportunity to monitor fish behavior, feeding habits, and health. We can check on animal behavior at any point in the day or night, aiding in training of Marine Biology and Aquarium and

Saint Francis University senior Tara Fritz of Johnstown, Pa. was named the recipient of the first ever Social Justice Award from the Lydia Maria Child Society in May. Fritz was recognized for her award during the American Literature Association Conference in San Francisco last month. “I feel so incredibly honored to be the first recipient of the society’s undergraduate Social Justice Award,” Fritz said. “I think my interest in social justice comes from the fact that I am a strong feminist, and to me, being a feminist means not only standing up for women but also for all other marginalized

“Appreciative, humble, intelligent, and persistent—that’s Desmend Phillips,” stated Kristin Weixel, assistant director of the Upward Bound Program at Saint Francis University. Desmend is an incoming freshman in the petroleum and natural gas engineering program, but he is no stranger to Saint Francis University. He participated in the University’s Upward Bound Program where he learned about himself and his dreams, and began making them come true. The Upward Bound Program, celebrating 50 years at Saint Francis University, is a program designed to motivate and prepare students for a four-year

For the second year in a row, students at Saint Francis University trained and conditioned dogs from the Central PA Humane Society and found them loving families and forever homes. Three different dogs, one goal This year, Saint Francis University welcomed three dogs—Neeko, Jango and Akira—to campus through the help of Central PA Humane Society member and trainer Megan Sanchez. Akira was the youngest, shyest of the three. A puppy with a lot of love to give, Akira was a six-month-old female dog. Neeko was a fun-loving, full-of-energy, three-year-old female dog, and Jango was a very relaxed and

The Environmental Engineering Department at Saint Francis University is pleased to thank Gwin Dobson & Foreman Consulting Engineers of Altoona, Pennsylvania for their generous donation of an Armfield hydraulic flume. The flume is 2.5 meters long (center) and comes with a large hydraulic workbench with pump (right). This flume will be of great teaching and research value in the department. It will provide a tool for courses such as Hydraulics & Hydrology and Fluid Mechanics in addition to student research and real class projects. Standing with the flume are nine of our thirteen Environmental

Heather N. McHenry, PA-C, ’08, MPAS, ’09, has been selected as the speaker for the 2016 Graduate Commencement ceremony on May 8. About Ms. McHenry Heather McHenry says she knew immediately—on her first trip to Honduras as a Saint Francis undergraduate—that she was hooked on medical missions. “It opened my eyes,” says McHenry of the experience. Even though she was not a licensed provider at the time and could only assist the physical therapy team in charge of the trip, she says she found the work immensely gratifying. After earning her master’s in physician assistant science and licensure