Slippery Rock University

More than 1,600 members of the Class of 2026 are ready to celebrate a major achievement: their graduation from Slippery Rock University. SRU will honor their hard work and success during four spring commencement ceremonies, May 8-9, at Morrow Field House: 6 p.m., May 8, Graduate Studies. 9 a.m., May 9, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts and Rock Life. Noon, May 9, Haverlack College of Business. 3 p.m., May 9, College of Engineering and Science and College of Health Professions.

Slippery Rock University students are engaged in the local community -- and one student has taken his involvement to new heights of leadership and collaboration. Justin Nowelle, a senior strategic communication and media major from Pittsburgh, has found purpose and impact as the founder of an organization, the Slippery Rock Community Library Friends Club. "As a civic leader on campus, it is my duty to connect students with opportunities, on and off campus for community service and engagement," Nowelle said. His experience as a civic leader started during his freshman year, when he applied for and received the Haverlack Good Citizen Scholarship before entering the Haverlack Civic Scholars Program.

A Slippery Rock University student is using her experience as a leading peer academic coach to help promote student success among first-year students. Riley Whitehill, a senior psychology major from Clinton, is a campus advocate for the Learning and Study Strategies Inventory, a nationwide assessment to gather information about learning and study practices and attitudes that is used by SRU's Center for Career and Academic Progress. "We want students to feel empowered to do things themselves," Whitehill said. "To have autonomy in their college decisions." The LASSI is a 60-item assessment of student's awareness about, and usage of learning and study strategies related to skill, will and self-regulation components of strategic learning.

Slippery Rock University students are leading the way as forward-thinking achievers in entrepreneurship through opportunities like the Butler County Chamber of Commerce's Emerging Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition on April 28 at the RLA Learning and Conference Center in Cranberry Township.

Slippery Rock University's newest member of its council of trustee is Alex Momyer, a junior safety management major from Punxsutawney (Punxsutawney HS). Momyer was sworn during a ceremony in Old Main on April 28. Momyer is now one piece of the 12-member COT, serving as the student voice on the University's highest governing body. Momyer has the same voting privileges as the other trustees. "I've seen so much of the University at different levels, so I have insights that allow me not to give my opinion, but to give the collective's opinion," Momyer said.

A Slippery Rock University student is well on his way to building his own business as a resilient competitor. Gavin Beck, a senior finance major from Meadville (Meadville HS), is responsible for the starting up three separate successful business ventures through Prestige Shine Detailing, William & Charles Capital and Beck's Lake Rentals, all based around Meadville. "In being a young entrepreneur, I would say that the seed was planted long before any of these businesses were a real thing," Beck said. "From a young age, I've always had this type of mentality and work ethic. I was knocking on neighbor's doors, shoveling and mowing, landscaping, and doing other odd jobs here and there. I was always doing something to try and find what I was looking for; a job."

Audiences will have two chances on May 2 to experience the Slippery Rock University Theatre Department's production of "A Grand Night for Singing, Musical Revue"by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The show will be directed by a variety of SRU students with artistic oversight by Aaron Galligan-Stierle, an associate professor of theatre. Showtimes are at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. in Stoner West's Dance Studio Theater. Tickets can be purchased online at sru.edu/tickets. "A Grand Night for Singing"is a musical revue from the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, featuring selected songs from various hit productions like "The Sound of Music," "Oklahoma!" and "Carousel."You won't want to miss this showcase of talent from SRU's theatre community.

Slippery Rock University's nursing program provides students like Mylah O'Hanlon the opportunity to gain the hands-on technical skills and interpersonal intelligence medical professionals need to excel as providers and leaders. O'Hanlon, a sophomore nursing major from Derry (Derry HS), entered into SRU's new accelerated 1+2+1 program after spending time as on the pre-physician assistant student track while taking biology and chemistry courses. She instead preferred the patient-forward experiences offered by the new program, where an empathetic approach to patient care made the program the right fit.

Collaboration across Slippery Rock University's student media and academic programs is opening doors to real-world experiences. Nowhere was that more evident than at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, April 23-25. A group of SRU students attended the draft as credentialed members of the media, gaining rare, behind-the-scenes access to one of the NFL's biggest events. Through WSRU-FM and The Rocket, two student-run media organizations at SRU, students secured official media credentials that allowed them to cover press conferences, attend media availability sessions and operate within a fast-paced, professional environment.

With growing concerns about the accuracy of wrist-worn health devices, a Slippery Rock University student is charting a course toward better results through undergraduate research. Matthew Deemer, a senior exercise science major from Zelienople (Seneca Valley HS), is leading a research project titled "Validation of Wrist-Worn Devices for Blood Pressure Measurement." The project is funded through the Slippery Rock University Faculty & Student Research Grant Program.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Lauren Mortimer, a senior dual dance and early childhood education major from Butler (Butler HS), is awarded the College of Liberal Arts' Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award from Dean Dan Bauer. Mortimer was recognized for her work on "Breaking Barriers," a research-driven dance project that she choreographic and performed and at several international dance festivals and showcases, including selection into the renowned Steps Beyond Foundation Choreography Lab at Steps on Broadway in New York City. The Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award is presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding involvement in a variety of research, scholarly and creative projects.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Martina Tatalias, a junior mechanical engineering major from Bethel Park (Bethel Park HS), was awarded the College of Engineering and Science's Outstanding Student Academic Leader award from Dean Nicole Dafoe. Tatalias was recognized for her work as president of the Society of Women Engineers Chapter at SRU. The Outstanding Student Academic Leaders award recognizes students for their outstanding leadership within an academic department or college.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Jacob Onoffrey, a senior music education major from Greensburg (Hempfield HS), was awarded the College of Liberal Arts' Outstanding Student Academic Leader award from Dean Dan Bauer. Onoffrey has served in principal and section leadership roles across nearly every major ensemble in the Music Department, including Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, Orchestra, chamber music, and the concert choirs, and he founded the Trombone Choir. The Outstanding Student Academic Leaders award recognizes students for their outstanding leadership within an academic department or college.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Audrey Schubert, a senior physics major from Pittsburgh (Northgate HS), was awarded the College of Engineering and Science's Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award from Dean Nicole Dafoe. Schubert was a research assistant in SRU's Quantum Devices and Materials Laboratory, where she is working on an externally funded project aimed at developing a low cost magneto optical system for trapping rubidium atoms. The Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award is presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding involvement in a variety of research, scholarly and creative projects.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Cassandra Clemency, a senior economics major from Slippery Rock (Slippery Rock HS), was awarded the Haverlack College of Business' Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award by Dean Prasad Vemala. Clemency was recognized for her work on a policy-oriented econometrics community engagement project. The Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award is presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding involvement in a variety of research, scholarly and creative projects.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Autumn Crawford, a junior early childhood education major from Coatesville (Downingtown HS), was awarded the College of Education's Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award by Dean Keith Dils. Crawford was a researcher on a grant-funded project to better support military-affiliated students at SRU and she contributed to a research project in Dominica, where she conducted qualitative research with the indigenous Kalinago community and helped develop a digital repository of cultural and historical curriculum and resources for elementary students. The Outstanding Student in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity award is presented to students who have demonstrated outstanding involvement in a variety of research, scholarly and creative projects.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Elizabeth Anderson, a senior mid-level math education major from Sewickley (Avonworth HS), accepted the College of Education's Outstanding Student Academic Leader award. Anderson was recognized for her role as president of the SRU chapter of the Kappa Delta Pi, an international honor society in education. The Outstanding Student Academic Leaders award recognizes students for their outstanding leadership within an academic department or college.

Motivated by a relentless pursuit of excellence, Slippery Rock University honors its highest-achieving students whose leadership, scholarship and determination set the standard at the Legacy Leadership Awards ceremony, April 8, at the Smith Student Center. Paige McCullough, a senior communication major from Erie (McDowell HS), was awarded the Haverlack College of Business' Outstanding Student Academic Leader award by Dean Prasad Vemala. McCullough was recognized for her work as president of Rock PRSSA, the student-run public relations and marketing communication agency at SRU, and for the development of a campus-based pilot awareness campaign for organ recovery and education. The Outstanding Student Academic Leaders award recognizes students for their outstanding leadership within an academic department or college.

Slippery Rock University's highest-achieving students are leading the classroom and outperforming their peers on a statewide level. Abby Becker, a senior mathematics major from North Warren (Panama Central HS), is the 2026 recipient of the Syed Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence, which is awarded to a senior in Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education who demonstrates exceptional academic achievement and leadership. Becker will be recognized at the PASSHE Board of Governors meeting in Harrisburg, April 16, and presented with a $2,500 award.

Slippery Rock University students will bring the William Shakespeare classic "The Winter's Tale" to life with five performances April 17-21. First performed in 1611, "The Winter's Tale"is a timeless story about love, jealousy and forgiveness. As King Leontes of Sicilia is overcome by baseless jealousy, he starts to unravel all that is familiar. But, as the seasons begin to change, hope appears beneath the snow. Experience the talent and artistry of SRU student as they perform this timeless production, filled with passion, princes and princesses, betrayal, unexpected joy and even a man-eating bear. Showtimes and dates are 7:30 p.m. on April 17, 18 and 21, 2 p.m. on April 19, and 10:30 a.m. on April 20. All performances will be in the Miller Theater inside the Performing Arts Center.

The culminating performance of 11 Slippery Rock University senior dance majors will be on display April 25-26 as the SRU Dance Department presents "Ephemeral: A Senior Capstone Dance Concert." This concert, based on the research of senior Bachelor of Fine Arts dance students, is divided into two shows, 2 p.m., April 25, and 5 p.m., April 26, both at the Stoner West Dance Studio Theater. Tickets are $10 for each show and they can be purchased at sru.edu/tickets.

Carmella Ryan is turning her fascination with the human brain into lasting impactful research in the cognitive neuroscience field. Ryan, a Slippery Rock University junior psychology major from West Sunbury (Moniteau HS), and Shannon McKnight, instructor of psychology, have spent the year preparing to collect data determining how emotion interacts with cognitive processes.

After an initial performance at the annual Holocaust Remembrance Event at Slippery Rock University, the cast of "The Singer of Shanghai" will be taking the production on the road to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

A Slippery Rock University student is an accomplished saxophonist who earned a scholarship and a professional recording session with a local symphony orchestra. Quin Coltman, a junior dual music education and music performance major from Conneaut, Ohio (Conneaut HS), won the 2026 Butler County Symphony Orchestra Collegiate Concerto Competition.

Tax season is becoming less burdensome for local residents thanks to support from Slippery Rock University students who are gaining valuable real-world experience by providing tax preparation services. Diana Ouro-Koura is one of those volunteers. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, commonly known as VITA, Ouro-Koura helps prepare free tax returns for individuals and households earning less than $60,000 per year. The program, run by the Butler County Center for Community Resources, provides tax preparation services to county residents who may not otherwise be able to afford them.

Slippery Rock University student Amina Tandukar has achieved one of the most prominent awards in her discipline, earning a Meritus Award of $1,500 from the American Association of Civil Engineers, Pittsburgh Section, at the professional association's annual Engineers Week Banquet on Feb. 28. Tandukar, a senior civil engineering major from Kathmandu, Nepal, received this award for her outstanding academic record and her service through the ASCE student chapter at SRU. Tandukar is no stranger to accolades of this nature as she took home a $1,000 Merit scholarship through the Student Awards Foundation at last year's banquet, making her a proven up-and-comer in the world of civil engineering.

Twelve Slippery Rock University engineering students proved themselves to be collaborative achievers at the 10th Annual Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania Student Estimating Competition last month. These students, all members of the Associated General Contractors Student Chapter at SRU, comprised two teams, "Rock On" and the deceptively named "Rock Bottom," the latter of which took the third place slot out of 10 overall teams. The competition specifically targeted students' skills in estimating, a niche but critical realm of civil engineering that involves projecting what the cost for a project will be as well as what materials will be needed to complete it.

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."