Slippery Rock University

With flying insect populations rapidly declining around the world in the last decade, researchers at Slippery Rock University are taking the lead to identify the causes in western Pennsylvania. Cory Shoemaker, SRU associate professor of biology, and Christian Mitchell, a senior biology major from Brownfield (Laurel Highlands HS), are at the forefront. After Shoemaker and Mitchell started collecting and assessing insects using traps last summer, they've been preserving and examining their samples in a lab at SRU during the school year.

Creativity and talent of Slippery Rock University students were on display as the Martha Gault Art Gallery presented its annual Juried Student Art Exhibit with a reception, March 11, concluding the three-week installation featuring mixed medium art submitted by SRU art students. Out of 90 submitted works, 49 pieces were accepted for display. The exhibit was juried by Clayton Merrell, professor of art at Carnegie Mellon University. Merrell selected five awarded artworks: First place: Kayla Stallings, a senior art major from Sag Harbor, New York (Pierson HS) presenting "Fur," a sculpture submission. Second place: Alexa Rivero, a senior art major from Uniontown (Laurel Highlands HS) presenting "Under Occupation," a painting submission. Third place: Nora Weitzel, a junior art major from Oakmont (Riverview HS) presenting "Together" and "Delicate," an intaglio printmaking submission. Honorable mention: Emily Fuller, a junior art major from Irwin (Boone Grove HS) presenting "Freaky Cheese," a fiber art submission. Honorable mention: Veronica Yeschke, a senior art major from West View (North Hills HS) presenting "The Big Picture," a ceramics submission.

United as a community in celebration and collaboration, Slippery Rock University students, faculty and staff will find themselves dancing the night away as "Dancing with the SRU Stars" returns at 7 p.m., March 12, in the Stoner West Dance Studio Theater. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at sru.edu/tickets. The event is SRU's version of the hit television series "Dancing with the Stars," in which professional dancers pair with celebrities to train and compete in ballroom dancing. At the University, "Dancing with the SRU Stars" will feature student dance majors as the "dancers," partnered with professors and staff members as the "stars."

Affirmed by an international peer panel for excellence, a Slippery Rock University student achieved one of the highest honors for her creative work in student media as an on-air radio personality. Chloe Kemp, a senior strategic communication and media major from Crescent (Moon HS), won a Broadcast Education Association Best of Festival Award in the Student Audio Competition. Kemp earned an Award of Excellence in the Air Personality Category for submission of work that she did with WSRU-FM, the student-run radio station at SRU. More than 400 students and 48 faculty members were recognized by the BEA from over 2,350 entries and a 20% acceptance rate for student competitions.

Two Slippery Rock University students are recognized as prominent leaders in their field after earning fully funded internships to attend the 2026 Stadium Managers Association Seminar in New Orleans, Feb. 7-12. Senior sport management majors Aaron Chaplin, from Altoona (Altoona HS), and Joseph Young, from Winchester, Virginia (Millbrook HS), were chosen for the networking-focused internship with the Stadium Managers Association. The SMA is a professional organization that works to foster and strengthen networking connections among venue managers, league officials, leading industry suppliers, and other key resources across the sport management field. As interns, Chaplin and Young assisted with the coordination and operations of the seminar, which welcomed more than 400 attendees.

Audiences will have five chances to experience the students' artistry and talents as the Slippery Rock University Theatre Department's presents "Ride the Cyclone," March 6-11. A popular musical from 2009, featuring music and lyrics by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell, "Ride the Cyclone" follows the story of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir whose lives are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they wake up, each is given the chance to tell a story, with the prize being an opportunity to come to life. Showtimes and dates are 7:30 p.m. on March 6-7 and March 10-11, and 2 p.m. on March 8 in the Stoner Black Box Theater. Tickets can be purchased at sru.edu/tickets.

Slippery Rock University is seeking a student trustee after Charli Severo has spent the last two years advocating for and speaking on behalf of students as a member of the University's council of trustees. Severo, a senior political science major from Albion (Northwestern HS), will conclude her appointment upon graduating in May and the deadline for students to apply to replace her is Feb. 27.

Serenity Williams embodies the importance of affordable higher education, not just as a scholarship recipient at Slippery Rock University but in her work supporting her fellow students on their financial path to pay for college and achieve success. "I'm a first-generation college student, so without the financial aid and scholarships that I've received, I definitely wouldn't be here today," said Williams, a sophomore psychology major from Johnstown (Ferndale HS). Wiliams can identify with many of the students she assistants through her on-campus job working in SRU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Quinn Parson can empathize with students and families who rely on financial aid. Not only does he depend on it, but he's also often on the other end of the "Did I miss the FAFSA deadline?" phone calls. Parson, a senior strategic communication and media major from Slippery Rock (Slippery Rock HS), is a student worker in SRU's Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.

A Slippery Rock University student achieved a unique display placement for her artwork-front and center in SRU President Karen Riley's on-campus residence. Samantha Toki, a senior dual art and strategic communication and media major from Windber (Windber HS), is the winner of the Spring 2026 SRU President's Student Art in Residence Award. Since Fall 2023, SRU art faculty select student art for display in the foyer of the president's home where guests attended special events can enjoy the work.

Eight Slippery Rock University students earned a coveted opportunity at one of the largest spectacles in sport by joining the staff that brought Super Bowl LX to life in Santa Clara, California, for more the than 90,000 fans attending the NFL's marquee event.

For a second straight year, students from Slippery Rock University who are preparing for careers in public relations were recognized by a Pittsburgh area professional association as the highest achieving students in the region. The Public Relations Student Society of America's SRU chapter, known as Rock PRSSA, was named the Public Relations Society of America Pittsburgh's 2026 PRSSA Chapter of the Year at the PRSA Pittsburgh Renaissance Awards on Jan. 29 in Pittsburgh. The rare back-to-back distinction for the chapter reflects its consistent performance and the applied, professional focus of SRU strategic communication and media program.

A Slippery Rock University student has eagerly seized opportunities to make her mark in SRU's proud and vibrant community. Jayden Williams, a senior strategic communication and media major with from Turtle Creek (Taylor Alderdice HS), went from describing herself as a very introverted upon arriving at SRU four years ago to now being an active leader involved in organizations like Queens, Black Action Society, the Frederick Douglass Institute, and as an employee of the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership."

A Slippery Rock University student is exploring new ground and empowering those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) through a faculty-led research project. Natalie Krulac, a senior recreational therapy major from McKees Rocks (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart HS), is studying the effects that students' preferred music has on their focus and attention, examining potential coping strategies for those with ADHD and potentially decreasing excessive use of prescription drugs. Krulac's interest in research took root during a research-based course that she took with Betsy Kemeny, professor of recreational therapy. Krulac credits Kemeny as an important mentor in her time at SRU, supporting and encouraging her through her research.

The Slippery Rock University Dance Department presents its boundary pushing, cutting edge Emerging Artists Dance Concert with two shows, 7 p.m., Jan. 30, and 2 p.m., Jan. 31, at the Performing Arts Center's Miller Theater. Tickets are available for purchase for $15 at www.sru.edu/tickets. This unique concert is an important tradition in the SRU Dance Department, highlighting the choreography of SRU students and lifting up the creative voices of the next generation of dance artists. This year's concert offerings are the creations of junior and senior dance majors:

By engaging in student organizations and fostering a welcoming and supportive campus culture, Garrett Kristen has established himself as a resilient leader at Slippery Rock University. Kristen overcame early struggles and now serves on the executive boards of Green and White Society and the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, promoting campus traditions and opportunities for students to connect with one another. Kristen, a senior strategic communications and media major from Elizabeth (Elizabeth Forward HS), chose SRU because he values the small-town, tight-knit feelings evoked by campus and town alike that reminds him of his own hometown.

Celebrating academic excellence and the dedication of high-achieving students, Slippery Rock University has announced its dean's list for the Fall 2025 semester. The dean's list consists of SRU undergraduate students who earned an adjusted semester grade-point average of 3.5 or higher, based on a schedule of at least 12 newly attempted and earned credits.

A Slippery Rock University student is making a lasting impact on the lives of her peers by doing what she loves most - helping others. Haley Barner, a senior chemistry major from Sharpsville (Hickory HS), spent the fall semester serving as a mentor in FYRST seminar, SRU's one-credit course designed to help first-year students bridge the transition between high school and college. Barner was inspired to pursue a position as a FYRST mentor by the experiences that she had in her own FYRST seminar. Barner said that she thought so highly of her own FYRST peer mentor that she decided that she'd like to pay it forward by offering the same support to younger students. This led Barner to serve in the classroom under Ashley Loe, associate professor of chemistry, who was the very professor who ran the FYRST seminar that started it all for Barner.

A Slippery Rock University student experienced what it's like to nurture the potential of local school-age kids by helping them avoid summer learning loss, all while having fun doing it. Dimajio Locante, an SRU sophomore secondary education major from Pittsburgh (Keystone Oaks HS), spent this summer as a lead counselor for Camp Batch, a summer camp program in Homestead for students in grades 3-10 run by the Best of the Batch Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by former Pittsburgh Steeler Charlie Batch.

Showcasing the outcomes of its commitment to student success, Slippery Rock University will honor graduates who have reached a pivotal milestone in their academic journeys by hosting its 2025 fall commencement ceremony, 11 a.m., Dec. 13, at the Morrow Field House. More than 530 students are eligible to graduate and participate in the ceremony. Graduate students and undergraduates from each of SRU's five colleges will receive their degrees in one ceremony.

A Slippery Rock University dance student was again featured on an international stage in New York City. Lauren Mortimer, a senior dual dance and early childhood education major from Butler (Butler HS), was one of 10 choreographers selected to have their work performed at the Nov. 16 Steps Beyond Foundation Choreography Lab. Mortimer performed a piece she choreographed at SRU titled "Breaking Barriers," honoring the resilience of working women. The showcase serves to present a variety of dance styles and expressions at the highest artistic merit level.

A Slippery Rock University student has established herself as a forward-thinking, driving force for change in campus sustainability through her internship with Aramark, the University's contracted food service provider. Abi Lushefski, a senior geography major from Trucksville (Dallas HS), has led the charge to replace the regular plastic bags in campus dining facilities with a cornstarch-based alternative produced by Plastech, a manufacturer of environmentally friendly plastic-alternative products. Through implementing these bags, SRU will save 160,000 plastic bags from entering landfills and ecosystems and contributing to rising levels of microplastics in the environment and greenhouse gas emissions.

Eight seniors in Slippery Rock University's Bachelor of Fine Arts program are sharing the culmination of their college careers through capstone art projects at the Martha Gault Art Gallery Dec. 1-4 and 8-11. Featured artists for Dec. 1-4 are: Megan Anthony from Butler (Butler HS) presenting "Beneath the Surface" (photography). Emma Barrell from Hellertown (Saucon Valley HS) presenting "Hardly Working" (painting). Sarah Heary from Saint Marys (Saint Marys HS) presenting "The Shuffle and the Deal" (drawing). Carla Snodgrass from Petrolia presenting "Held Fragments" (metalsmithing). Featured artists for Dec. 8-11 are: Madison Bauer from Gibsonia (Deer Lakes HS) presenting "Welcome Home" (printmaking). Kimberly Dominguez from McKees Rocks (Montour HS) presenting "In Their Silence" (painting). Nathaniel Gabriel from Monroeville (Gateway HS) presenting "How the Water Holds You" (painting). Zoey Galat from Beaver Falls (Lawrence County Career and Technical Center presenting "Ask Me About My Grief" (photography). The Martha Gault Art Gallery is located at 108 Maltby Ave. and is all-accessible by parking and entry on Campus Drive near Rhoads Hall. Hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Five senior civil engineering students at Slippery Rock University are making tangible change in the community through their capstone project. They are creating a plan to revitalize and improve the accessibility of Misty Hollow Residency, an outdoor space near Ellport for eco-centric artists and scientists to engage the public with their projects.

Student choreography and creative achievements will be on display as the Slippery Rock University Dance Department presents the Fresh Moves Dance Showcase Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 6 at 2 p.m. in the Stoner West Dance Studio Theater. The showcase will feature nine choreographed performances by current SRU dance students. Tickets are $10 for general admission and can be purchased online at sru.edu/tickets or at the Smith Student Center information desk.

Bella Bartoletti is establishing herself as an accomplished, rising voice in her field thanks to her experience at Slippery Rock University. Bartoletti, a senior psychology major from Portage (Portage HS), took home the first prize for the Sloane Prize for Undergraduate Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences category at the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in San Diego, Nov. 6-9. Bartoletti's research focus is sports psychology, an area that is close to home for her as a javelin thrower on the SRU track and field team. The research that she presented at the conference focused on the relationship between psychological strain and depression in collegiate athletes, examining how factors of psychological strain, isolation and flourishing patterns predict depression among student-athletes.

Allison Taylor is gaining valuable experience contributing to a faculty-led research project that tests how gas is stored underground. Taylor, a Slippery Rock University senior petroleum and natural gas engineering major from Fremont, Ohio (Fremont-Ross HS), has spent the last two years researching under the guidance of Xindi Sun, assistant professor of engineering. They are testing how nanogels, which are tiny gel-like polymers that absorb and release materials, can be more efficient at storing gas in land reservoirs.

A Slippery Rock University student showcased her newly developed leadership skills when Slippery Rock University hosted the Association of Residence Hall Students (ARHS) Regional Leadership Conference, Nov. 7-8. The Campus Success Center was filled with nearly 300 students and advisers from more than a dozen regional universities, but for the ARHS chapter at SRU and organizers like McKenzie Kuth, it was a culmination of their leadership experience across campus. Kuth, a senior mathematics major from Leechburg (Kiski HS), originally chose SRU because of its notable history as a teacher's college and quality of education, something she scoped out as early as when she was in the eighth grade. But once she visited SRU, Kuth noted the vibrancy of the campus and the welcoming community. That experience motivated her to demonstrate those traits upon becoming an SRU student. She got that opportunity by organizing a conference on campus.

Audiences will have four chances to witness the Slippery Rock University Theatre Department's production of "Into the Woods." This Tony Award-winning musical has become a modern classic since it first hit the stage in 1987, captivating audiences for almost four decades with its tale of wishes, family and the choices people make, all told through the entangled stories of characters from the Brothers Grimm's fairytales. Performances will take place in the Performing Arts Center Miller Theater at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 and 2 p.m. on Nov. 23. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for general admission. Tickets can be obtained at sru.edu/tickets or in-person at the ticket counter up to one hour before each performance.

The REACH program at Slippery Rock University gives students the opportunity to climb a rock wall, ride a zipline or complete a high ropes course, all without leaving campus. And students like Katie Weiner are right there, 25 feet above the ground, facilitating the experiences that take education literally to a higher level. Weiner, a junior early childhood and special education major from Levittown (Neshaminy HS), is part of the Campus Recreation student staff that runs the Outdoor Adventures programming, including the REACH program.