Alvernia University

Junior psychology major Kevin Shainline has been named a Newman Civic Fellow by Campus Compact. Newman Civic Fellow Awards honor inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated their investment in finding solutions to the challenges that face our communities throughout the country.

At age 25, Eric Sears has already served his country well. The Marine veteran who served four years and one deployment to Afghanistan is now back home in Pennsylvania, a junior majoring in sport management at Alvernia University. But this spring break, he is not following his classmates to the beach. Instead, he is spending it on a hospital bed, donating stem cells to save the life of a fellow veteran with leukemia -- one he will likely never meet.

The following local residents are spending Spring Break working to make a difference in Camden, N.J., Reading, Pa., and the Dominican Republic, through Alvernia University 'Alternative Break' programs:

The following local students have been awarded scholarships to attend Alvernia University this fall:

The following local residents served as volunteers for Alvernia University's South Reading Youth Initiative (SRYI) program last semester. The program aims to promote continued education, mentoring and support for healthy choices in children who live or go to school in the South Reading area.

The following local residents served as volunteers for Alvernia University's "Alvernia READS" program last semester. The program is dedicated to promoting childhood literacy and improving academic achievement for underprivileged children. Volunteers included:

The following local students have been named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the fall 2013 semester:

The following local students are spending this semester studying abroad through a program at Alvernia University:

Two Alvernia University students were selected to participate in the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities' Franciscan Pilgrimage during winter break.

The following local students will graduate from Alvernia University on December 15, 2013:

The following local students are serving as members of Alvernia University's Alvernian student newspaper staff for the 201-2014 academic year:

The following local students have enrolled at Alvernia University, beginning this fall semester:

The following local students will spend the upcoming semester studying abroad through a program at Alvernia University:

The following local residents are serving as leaders during Orientation Weekend, fall 2012.

The following local residents were named Resident Assistants at Alvernia University for the 2013-14 academic year.

The following local residents served as volunteers for Alvernia University's "Alvernia READS" program last semester. The program is dedicated to promoting childhood literacy and improving academic achievement for underprivileged children. Volunteers included:

The following local residents are serving as volunteers for free, 10-day-long youth camps this summer at Alvernia Universtiy.

The following local residents served as volunteers for the free, week-long Carpenter Science Institute camp this summer at Alvernia Universtiy.

The following local students have been named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the spring 2013 semester:

The following local residents completed more than 300 service hours through the Holleran Center Community Fellowship program at Alvernia:

The following local residents served as volunteers for for Alvernia University's "Alvernia READS" program last semester. The program is dedicated to promoting childhood literacy and improving academic achievement for underprivileged children. Volunteers included:

The following local residents were among 14 students who earned Excellence in Service Awards from Alvernia's Holleran Center for Community Engagement, by completing more than 100 hours of community service in the last year.

The following local residents were named Student Ambassadors at Alvernia University for the 2013-14 academic year.

The following local students are active club members at Alvernia University.

The following local students were inducted into academic honor societies at Alvernia University this year.

The following local students will receive Master's Degrees from Alvernia University on May 11, 2013:

The following local students will graduate from Alvernia University on May 11, 2013:

Local students presented research at the 245th American Chemical Society (ACS) National Conference, held in New Orleans, La., Apr. 7-11, 2013. ACS is the world's largest scientific society. Alexandra Aloia, Daniel Kwasniewski, Brandi Loga, and Kacie Tokarski presented a successful Science Association club poster entitled "Energizing the Community Through Chemistry." The group accepted an Outstanding Award for the Science Association's community activities and the Green Chemistry Award for activities during the 2011-2012 academic year.

Two local Alvernia University students and three professors presented research findings at the annual meeting of the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences (ACJS) in Dallas, Texas, March 18-23, 2013. ACJS is the international association for criminal justice practitioners and professors. More than 1,200 participants came from all over the world.

The following local residents were named Resident Assistants at Alvernia University for the 2012-13 academic year.