Alvernia University

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.

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."

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.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Fifteen students were officially corded as graduating members of the Alvernia Honors Program. The Honors Program provides co-curricular activities, service opportunities, and intellectual and social support, adding significant dimensions to the student's academic program.

The Student Scholar Athlete Awards were given to 51 students at the 2022 Honors Convocation. These student athletes were awarded for their ability to maintain exceptional academic standing while upholding Alvernia's Athletics Vision Statement, which strives to attract a population of students who will succeed both academically and athletically.

Students in two courses taught by Dr. Jodi Radosh entered The Gift of Life Donor Program's College Challenge. These students were awarded first place of 18 other colleges and earned a $1,000 prize. The competition encourages participants to use media platforms to promote registering as organ, tissue, and cornea donors. Through their work, Alvernia students inspired over 400 people to register as new donors.

Delta Epsilon Sigma is a national scholastic honor society for students, faculty, and alumni of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition that was established in 1939. The society was founded at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa in 1939 by Father Fitzgerald. It is awarded to a senior that has been initiated as member of Delta Epsilon Sigma with a record of outstanding academic accomplishment, who have shown dedication to intellectual activity, and who have accepted their responsibility of service to others.

Several Alvernia students and registered student organizations earned Student Government Association awards for the 2021-22 academic year. The Student Government Association (SGA) works to voice student concerns to both faculty and administration, build a solid foundation between the students and administration, provide active and diverse social atmosphere throughout the university community, and continuously support and fund student club and organization initiatives. SGA Awards are given to a registered student organization (RSO), an RSO president, an RSO advisor, a senator, an event, and an RSO dedicated to community service all of which were outstanding in their efforts to enhance the student body and community at Alvernia.

The MAC Senior Scholar-Athlete award is presented to one senior student-athlete from each of the 11 spring sports. This award is one of the MAC's most prestigious honors and is presented to a student-athlete for their strong academic and athletic prowess.

More than 40 students were recognized by the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement for their dedication to service during an awards ceremony. During the ceremony, students received service awards and pins for their service accomplishments. The honorees all performed more than 100 hours of service in a variety of tracks during their time at Alvernia, incuding helping lead alternative breaks and university-wide service days, completing sustainability projects, participating in educational enrichment opportunities, and helping meet the needs of vulnerable populations in the community.

Nearly 700 students were named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the spring 2021 semester. "Congratulations to these talented and determined students for their continued commitment to their scholarly pursuits," said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. 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. "All the students on this list have continued to perform at the highest levels academically and should be commended for their continued success," said Alvernia University Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. A full list of students is available at Alvernia.edu.

Over 700 students were named to Alvernia University's Dean's List for the spring 2021 semester. "Congratulations to these outstanding students for their continued commitment during this especially challenging year, " said Alvernia University President John R. Loyack. "We couldn't be more proud of their continued success." 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. "Every Alvernia student showed courage, determination and a deep care for one another that led to another successful semester, despite the challenges presented by COVID-19," said Alvernia University Senior Vice President and Provost Glynis Fitzgerald. "The students that earned Dean's List honors also showcased an adept ability to persevere and thrive in uncertain times." A full list of students is available at Alvernia.edu.