Alvernia University

Alvernia University had a successful weekend at the FBLA Collegiate State Leadership Conference in Harrisburg, Pa. with three student competitors and two awardees: Tegan Pentek, Finance Case Competition 2nd Place Logan Minford, Entrepreneurship Concepts, 3rd Place Anthony Florkowski, Competitor in Project Management and Retail Management "The 2023 FBLA-Collegiate State Leadership Conference was an amazing experience and incredibly successful," said Alvernia senior, Tegan Pentek. "As a graduating senior, I have greatly appreciated my FBLA experience throughout college. Apart from the benefits in leadership, public speaking, and communication skills, FBLA has been an incredible and unique opportunity to bond with friends, meet new people, and expand my network. I will take these experiences, new friendships, and lifelong skills with me throughout my career." Students gain experiential learning opportunities in FBLA competitions through Alvernia's Phi Beta Lambda (PBL) student chapter. The purpose of the PBL student chapter is to help business students build documented accomplishments that complement their academic experiences. "Alvernia University's FBLA Collegiate members have the opportunity to develop 21st-century business skills, create valuable professional relationships and compete at both the state and national level throughout the year," said Michelle Conway, PBLchapter advisor. "The most recent State Leadership Conference provided our members with the opportunity to flex their technical skills, network and actively participate in personal and professional development workshops. These unique experiential learning opportunities prepare students for great success." Students can even become involved at a higher level such as Pentek who serves as the state secretary for PA-FBLA and as the president of the PBL student chapter. Involvement with PA-FBLA and PBL promotes competent, aggressive business leadership, understanding of American business enterprise, the establishment of career goals, scholarship, sound financial management, and the development of both character and self-confidence to facilitate the transition from school to work.

Biochemistry major, Brianna Beavens, published the academic research article "The Current Therapeutic Role of Chromatin Remodeling for the Prognosis and Treatment of Heart Failure" alongside Dr. Lindsay Kraus, assistant professor of biology. "Working with Dr. Kraus on this academic services project was even better than I imagined," said Beavens. "She spent time teaching me about scientific writing and the process of becoming published since it can be extremely overwhelming. I felt guided and involved for the entire duration of the project. I have learned so much from Dr. Kraus in a short time, and I cannot wait to continue working with her through the end of my undergraduate career." Read full article here.

Sara Hughes, a physical therapy student, and Madison Houck, an occupational therapy student presented at the Pro Bono Network conference at Widener University in Chester, Pa. alongside Dr. Robin Zappin, assistant professor of physical therapy, Dr. Gregory Chown, associate professor of occupational therapy and Jenna-Leigh Marrone, a speech-language pathology student from Misericordia University.

Alvernia University placed 15 field hockey student-athletes on the NFHCA National Academic Squad, and two student-athletes were named Scholars of Distinction, as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association.

Alvernia University honors student leaders for successfully completing Resident Assistant (RA) training and serving as an RA into the 2023-2024 academic year while pursuing their undergraduate or graduate degrees. "The purpose of RA training was to focus on the professional development within the RA role," said Logan Houptley, area coordinator. "Our goal was to equip the RAs with tools that they could use to further develop their critical thinking skills, increase their cultural humility, and increase their understanding of mental health supportive skills and services." As an RA, the group of student leaders encourages student responsibility and accountability while working to provide a residential environment that enhances and extends beyond classroom learning. RAs are academically successful students who help build strong, healthy and engaging residential communities while upholding the core values of Alvernia University. As peers, RAs not only serve as a campus resource for residents, but also plan educational, cultural, and social programs and assist with roommate/suitemate conflicts. "RA role has allowed me to build trusting connections with my residents as they depend on me to foster an inclusive, safe, and conforming community for them to live," said Sara Baker, a junior occupational therapy major & first-time RA. " I truly love my residents and the connections we've built. The RA role has also given me the opportunity to build connections with supervisors and professionals at Alvernia, who have all taught me valuable lessons and I know are supporting my growth and success in future endeavors. All 37 incoming and returning RAs were interviewed and received training on topics such as building competence & practicing humility, conflict mediation, emergency response protocol, establishing & maintaining healthy boundaries, suicide prevention, mental health and more. "RA training is essential to the foundation of the RA role," said Jaqueces Mathis '22, a three-time returning RA and master of social work graduate student. "These trainings equip RAs with the skills to handle diverse situations in the residence halls. Being a social work major, these trainings not only prepare me for the RA role but develop my skills for my profession. Without a doubt, I feel more comfortable because of RA training in both my profession and RA position."

Alvernia University physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) students and faculty served patients in a nine-day interdisciplinary, intercollegiate clinical study abroad experience across five local community organizations in Belmopan, Belize. "Our goal was to provide sustainable education first and, second, rehabilitation," said Dr. Robin Zappin, assistant professor of physical therapy Alvernia University. "We wanted to teach as many healthcare workers and community members about wellness, prevention and rehabilitation as possible to avoid 'combat therapy' where you drop in, do something and leave. Students created presentations, posters and pamphlets to leave with the community members based on their needs." Alvernia University's PT and OT students and faculty partnered with Misericordia University's speech-language pathology (SLP) program and Bellarmine University's PT program on this transformational study abroad service trip. They worked together in Mercy Clinic, Help Age Belize, the YWCA, LIFE, and the Inspiration Center in Belize. "Unlike here in the United States, the people of Belize are not as fortunate as we are here with accessibility and quality of healthcare available," said Zachary Wanner, PT student at Alvernia University. "It was very important for myself and the students from the other disciplines that I had never met before to come together and determine the major concerns and develop a concise plan with very limited to no resources available to us. It truly amazed me how in such little time, we were able to not only treat the patient based on their individual needs, but also instruct the caregivers on how to continue the care, progress the interventions when gains were met, and utilize household objects to help aide progression of their care." This interdisciplinary, intercollegiate model allowed the students to collaborate as professionals in their industry while developing an understanding of their patients' needs for treatment from professionals across other disciplines. "It was amazing to see each discipline address specific concerns and treat them so well," said Ashley Martins, OT student at Alvernia University. "It was very patient-centered and efficient. My biggest takeaway is the respect that each discipline has for one another and how an interdisciplinary team can truly address each concern that an individual may have to provide truly patient-centered care and improve their overall quality of life. We all learned a lot from each other, and we will be better occupational and physical therapists in the future because of this experience." Prior to treating patients and throughout their trip, the entire group of students and faculty made it a priority to become immersed in the Belizian culture. They traveled to the Belize Zoo, which is a destination cherished by Belizians, as well as toured the Mayan Ruins, another historically and culturally significant archaeological site, among other activities. "I honestly never experienced such gratitude and kindness from people before," said Wanner. "It did not matter if the people had to walk three miles to get to a clinic that I was working at, or if they had to wait three hours to be seen for 40 minutes; the amount of gratitude given was astronomical. What really spoke to me the most was to what lengths the people of Belize were willing to do to be seen by students from the United States. I have countless people that I was blessed with treating over my week in Belize that stated that 'You were a gift from God' and asked, 'Is it ok if I pray for you?' following a treatment session. The community was so welcoming and willing to share their life with me, and I feel truly blessed to have been a part of this service-learning experience."

Alvernia Women's Ice Hockey goalie Julia Beaven was named the UCHC Women's Goalie of the Week for her performance this past weekend.

Over 650 students were named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the fall 2022 semester. "Congratulations to these dedicated and hard-working students for getting the most out of the classroom and experiential learning experiences at Alvernia. Their hard work and academic achievement on top of their other personal, academic and professional responsibilities are to be applauded," said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. "I cannot wait to see the academic achievements they continue to accomplish in the 2023 spring semester." To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or better and take a minimum of 12 credits. "Each and everyone one of the students on this list should be commended for their commitment to their academic excellence and to themselves as they continue to grow personally and professionally while following their passions," said Alvernia University Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. A full list of students is available at Alvernia.edu.

By Marisa Lombardo, Director of Sports Information, Alvernia University Athletics 99 Alvernia student-athletes were named to the MAC Academic Honor Roll for the 2022 fall semester, as announced by the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Executive Director Megan Morrison on Monday.

Alvernia University women's basketball junior Jordan Karmonick earned MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball Player of the Week honors

Alvernia University's Mock Trial team debuted at the 17th annual Justice Louis D. Brandeis Mock Trial Invitational at Brandeis University in Waltham, Ma. Students from various majors put their knowledge to practice and prepped with local Berks County attorneys through this experiential learning opportunity. "This competition was an incredible experience. We brought a competitive team to our first competition and made many unforgettable memories while we were there," said Mock Trial Team Captain & History Major, Julia Davis. "The teamwork and dedication from everyone involved greatly contributed to our experience and we are excited to tackle the next competition. Mock Trial has allowed me to sharpen my skills in public speaking, debate, and most importantly, confidence. Overcoming challenging situations is the cornerstone of Mock Trial, and makes for an extremely rewarding experience." Students on the team have the opportunity to take on the roles of lawyers and witnesses while networking with other industry professionals and students and have a chance to win individual and team awards. Practicing lawyers and judges then critique the trial and award points for the performance of both lawyers and witnesses. Law schools also tend to recruit from undergraduate mock trial teams and award scholarships if students are interested. "Mock trial gave me a platform to speak, when all the other stages wouldn't. It welcomed me with open arms and allowed me to soar free within my passion for acting. It was the slipper that fit just right. A cracked window that I pushed open allowing light to come in," said Political Science & Theatre Dual Major, Grace Maketa. "The moment the idea of having a Mock trial team came to mind after having a mini-trial in my constitutional law class, I was on a mission to make it a reality. Professor Nicoletti helped bring that dream to life." The Alvernia Political Science Club sponsored the Mock Trial Team in the spring of 2022 and the team officially began competing in American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) tournaments in the fall of 2022. "This academic year, our team will travel to other universities to compete in invitational tournaments, eventually competing in the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Regional Playoff," said Associate Professor of Political Science, Dr. Nicholas Nicoletti. "Mock Trial is also a fantastic networking opportunity, and Alvernia students will also have the chance to win individual and team awards." Alvernia University is a Catholic comprehensive university with a liberal arts foundation founded by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters in 1958. The university serves over 3,000 students in Reading, Pottsville and Philadelphia with a unique blend of rigorous liberal arts education, strong technical training in many high demand majors, ever-expanding experiential learning opportunities through study abroad and internship experiences and community engagement through its Franciscan-based community service model.

Alvernia University Graduate Student Brooke Spezialetti was named an NFHCA All-American, as announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association

Alvernia University Men's Soccer sophomore Ryan Cogill earned All-Region honors for his performance during the 2022 season

Ten Alvernia student-athletes across men's and women's soccer earned CSC Academic All-District Honors, as announced by College Sports. Alvernia honorees for men's soccer included Evan Bauer, Ryan Cogill, Nick Denlinger, Justin Fetrow, Matthew Kerr, and Nick Willson. Women's soccer honorees included Breanna Dukehart, Olivia Malone, Heather Perna, and Grace Silva.

Alvernia University Men's Soccer placed five student-athletes on the 2022 All-MAC Commonwealth Men's Soccer team following their performances during the 2022 season, as announced by the Middle Atlantic Conference. Junior midfielder Gabe Wunderlich earned First Team All-MAC Commonwealth honors. Sophomore forward Ryan Cogill and sophomore defender Nick Willson earned Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth honors. Senior midfielder Nick Denlinger and sophomore goalie Evan Solley earned honorable mention honors.

Michael Ferrara and Kennedy Waterson were presented with a scholarship at Alvernia University's annual Criminal Justice Dinner. Ferrara and Waterson gathered with fellow students in the criminal justice program, faculty, and staff at the dinner to accept their awards. "[Ferrara] was chosen for the Professor Edgar J. Hartung Emeritus Award because of his passion to serve others in the community through law enforcement coupled with his excellent academics," said Rosemary McFee, instructor of criminal justice. "[Ferrara's] goal is to serve as a law enforcement officer and we have no doubt that he will attain that goal as he will be an asset to any department." Ferrara explained that his passion for criminal justice developed throughout his time at Alvernia. He also discovered the variety of plausible career paths criminal justice can provide. Ferrara shared that regardless of the path you take as a criminal justice major, the ubiquitous goal is typically to "make the world a safer place for everyone." "I'm beyond happy to receive this award," said Ferrara. "The more I hear about Professor Hartung and how much he impacted this school and its criminal justice program, the more I appreciate this award. It really feels like an honor." The Larrie Thomas Scholarship was created by Alvernia alumnus Nicholas Donohue '03. Donohue was inspired by how Larrie's kindness and good spirit affected those around her and thus, created the Larrie Summer Thomas Scholarship to keep her memory alive and to honor her tenacious, yet loving spirit that represents those who enter into the Criminal Justice field. "Kennedy is a double major (criminal justice and political science with a Pre-Law minor and has an impressive GPA of 3.96," said Dr. Malgorzata Zuber, assistant professor of criminal justice. "Overall, she is very engaged on campus life, and makes most of Alvernia's experience while still being a high-performing student in her major." Waterson is in Alvernia's Honors Program, represented Alvernia at the university's debut mock trial tournament, presented her scholarly research at the ASC conference in Atlanta, as well as serves as president of Alvernia's Criminal Justice Association, vice president of the Political Science Club, and as a tutor. "I am grateful to have been chosen as the recipient of the Larrie Summer Thomas Scholarship. Larrie's story is extremely motivating and encompasses the tenacity every individual should aspire to have," said Waterson. She explained that her biggest takeaway from being a criminal justice student at Alvernia is the ability to build close relationships with her peers and professors. She highlighted that the small class sizes promoted enhanced learning and facilitated her understanding of other students' perspectives.

Alvernia University graduate student Brooke Spezialetti was named to the 2022 NFHCA Senior Team, as announced by the National Field Field Hockey Coaches Association on Monday. Article by Director of Sports Information, Alvernia University Athletics, Marisa Lombardo.

The Philadelphia Campus Social Work Club hosts a bagged lunch event for unhoused populations in Center City Philadelphia each semester. Throughout the course of the semester, they collect donations to include in the bags, and this year they received enough donations to fill and distribute 35 bags with the help of volunteers. "Housing insecurity continues to be an ongoing issue in Philadelphia, and for social workers, we are often working on the front lines of these kinds of societal issues," said Paul Heffner, DSW, LSW, assistant professor of social work. "This is the reason it is so important for our students to be involved in concrete actions in the community to offer support... it may offer someone nourishment in a moment, and show care to people in a time that they may really feel forgotten. This falls very much in line with social work values, and for students in our field, to be a part of that, it is incredibly significant." The items collected for these bags included: winter hats and scarves, bottled water, granola bars, hand warmers, travel mugs, hot cocoa packets, tuna cracker packs, and resource information packets developed by Christina Joseph, a social work student who works with unhoused populations in Center City. "The Philadelphia Campus Social Work Club is dedicated to assisting the unhoused in Center City Philadelphia," said Michelle Johnson, president of the Social Work Club. We want to be impactful in the area of keeping them warm and providing some sort of nourishment. We are hopeful that we will be able to do more for the next event."

Pi Theta Epsilon (PTE) is an honor society for occupational therapy students in accredited educational programs. PTE promotes research, leadership, and scholarly activities to support and advance the field of occupational therapy. The honor society also helps serve the profession of occupational therapy as well as ensures quality healthcare services. "As a dedicated member of PTE, I have had endless opportunities to contribute to the field of occupational therapy. By collaborating with my peers, we have worked on raising awareness for our profession, participating in scholarly activities, and supporting local and national organizations dedicated to promoting research. As the current president of PTE, I have challenged myself to find more opportunities for this honors society to engage in occupation-focused events, give back to local communities through an occupational therapy lens, and promote the leadership skills in all of us," said Gabrielle Husko, president of PTE.

Assistant professor of biology Jamie Becker and environmental science major Alexander Kabrich joined a team of teachers, artists, and researchers in the Peruvian Amazon to pilot new methods for capturing and sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA). In collaboration with the ACEER Foundation and the Delaware Teachers Institute at the University of Delaware, Kabrich and Becker traveled to the Loreta region of Peru, where they learned traditional ecological knowledge from the Maijuna indigenous community of Sucusari. "One of the major things I pulled from this trip is how vast the ecosystems of the Earth can really be. I would recommend this trip to others because it provides a good insight into what I had learned in classes at Alvernia. I was able to apply some of my knowledge directly while in the field," said Kabrich,

Physical therapy and occupational therapy students served in Alvernia University's inaugural eight-week physical therapy and occupational therapy interprofessional pro bono clinic. Students provide services free of charge to individuals in the Reading community who cannot afford traditional services, have exhausted their insurance or would like help with their daily living skills which might not be readily available to them. Physical therapy students have served in this clinic for the last six years on Alvernia's campus in the PLEX, and this year, occupational therapy students became involved in the clinic. A licensed and professional therapist is always on-site to provide supervision and guidance. This hands-on experiential learning opportunity allows the students to learn about each industry's unique points of view and approach to care. They also learn and practice collaboration, negotiation and professionalism through practical experience working side-by-side with other professionals in order to cater to the unique needs of the patients they serve. Thus, students can develop the skills that they need to become competent and confident practitioners in the future.

The purpose of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is to acquaint students seeking careers in management, human resource (HR) management or labor relations with current issues and trends in these fields. Alvernia's Superior Merit winning student SHRM chapter is recognized locally by the Berks County SHRM Chapter. Sponsorship affords our students networking opportunities with professional chapter members during monthly meetings. The professional chapter also helps to sponsor events such as our on-campus Job Fair. Student members have been active participants in various community events such as Toys for Tots, Road Run, MADD fundraisers, and the chapter's Annual Animals Need Food, Too campaign. SHRM has also participated in Christmas on Campus, the Turkey Drive, and Trick-or-Treat for Unicef for community service projects.

The ten-week Student Undergraduate Research Fellows (SURF) program promotes and rewards undergraduate Student Fellow & Faculty Scholar results-driven, collaborative research or creative projects that yield publication and/or presentations. It includes a rigorous process of professional development modeled by faculty, career development opportunities, workshops and experiential learning. Following the program, Student Fellows are expected to present their work to the group and at various board meetings and conferences.

Eight third-year Alvernia nursing students accompanied professor Dr. Tracy Scheirer to Dingle, Ireland to study transcultural nursing to foster cultural competency to enhance their patients' care. Students had class Monday-Friday and after classes, the students were able to experience local culture by participating in various activities. They also hard from a variety of speakers, ranging from Ukranian refugees to local healthcare workers.

Assistant Professor of Leadership & Healthcare Science and Sustainability Initiatives Director, Dr. Alicia Sprow, traveled with six students and three alumni to Grand Manan Island in New Brunswick, Canada as a part of the Sustainability Global Immersion Program that introduces students to an efficient, sustainable island community in partnership with the Castalia Marsh Eco-Retreat and Grand Manan Community Museum. During the immersion experience, students provide service alongside community members, while they learn about leadership for sustainable change and sustainable living principles as well as expand their worldviews and exposure to other cultures during regular interactions with the island residents.

Alvernia students received academic excellence awards at the 2022 Honors Convocation. The awards are presented by the College of Business, Communication and Leadership; the College of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences; the College of Health Sciences; the College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics; and the University.

Students competed in the Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL) 2022 Collegiate Conference and were nationally qualified in their categories. Alvernia's PBL chapter helps business students build documented accomplishments that complement their academic experiences. Phi Beta Lambda provides opportunities for students to develop leadership, communication, and team skills.

Over 700 students were named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the spring 2022 semester. To be eligible for the Dean's List, students must carry a semester GPA of 3.5 or better and take a minimum of 12 credits. Congratulations to all of the students who earned this distinction due to their continued dedication and hard work.

17 veteran students graduated in the 2022 commencement commencement ceremony. The Alvernia University Veterans Center strives to to raise awareness of what is endured and accomplished by those who serve our country, and aims to provide anyone with ties to (or an interest in) the military with the resources, support, and advocacy necessary to succeed in higher education and industry. It serves as a comfortable place for veteran students to bond, study, socialize, and share experiences.

Over 670 students earned associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from Alvernia University during the 2021-22 academic year. Graduates from August 2021, December 2021 and May 2022 celebrated by walking across the stage on May 14, 2022.