STEAM

Discover how an environmental engineering student at Saint Francis University found leadership, purpose, and a full scholarship through Army ROTC—culminating in a commission as a Second Lieutenant.

Profile: Honors Student Toby Cree is a chemistry major with a passion for Green Chemistry. Toby’s thesis explores sustainable approaches to nanoparticle synthesis, specifically focusing on gold nanoparticles and fluorescent carbon dots.

Profile of Honors Student Ava Rhoads, a double major in Aquarium and Zoo Science and Psychology, with minors in Biological Diving and Animal-Assisted Healthcare and Education. She has a full plate, but she thrives on the challenge.

Profile of Honors Student Gavin Ross, a chemistry major pursuing minors in history, mathematics, and Spanish. For his thesis project, he is exploring the sustainable use of mechanochemistry in metalation. He enjoys engaging with peers in the program who bring diverse perspectives to the table.

Saint Francis University is one of the few small master’s comprehensive universities with an ABET-accredited engineering program, offering both personalized learning and graduate opportunities. This unique distinction sets SFU apart from most small schools, combining a close-knit community with the resources of a larger university.

Profile of Honors Student Natalie Vogt, a junior biochemistry major with a pre-veterinary concentration, who is currently researching the effects of caffeine on cataracts in cow eyes. Last year, she completed a directed readings course, exploring the ethics of mortality and cancer’s impact on patients and families, presenting her findings at a research symposium.

Saint Francis University’s SFU-1 team completed the Mission Definition Review for its first satellite, a 3U CubeSat studying solar flares’ effects on the ionosphere. With a launch planned for 2027, the team now prepares for the next milestone: the Preliminary Design Review in fall 2025.

The 2024 digital edition of Tapestries, the literary and visual arts magazine of Saint Francis University, is available. The magazine features the winning entries of the Gunard Berry Carlson Creative Writing and Visual Arts Contest and the winners of the annual Father Callan Poetry Contest hosted by the School of STEAM and The Department of Literature & Languages.

Celebrating 31 years of innovation, Saint Francis University's STEAM Day continues to inspire high school students with hands-on learning and discovery across science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

Since 1995, the Rural Outreach Chemistry for Kids (R.O.C.K.) program at Saint Francis University has had an enormous impact, with over 3,700 events reaching over 86,000 school children and community members.