Slippery Rock University

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.