Haley Gray: Connecting Campus and Capturing Memories
Written by Rachel (Vasilko) Heckman '13 | 03/17/2026
This senior Communications major can be found snapping photos for events organized by the Student Government Association (SGA), the Student Activities Organization (SAO), SFU Greek Life, SFU Athletics, and more.
Seth Cunningham: Growing His Businesses and His Faith
Written by Rachel (Vasilko) Heckman '13 | 03/05/2026
Feeling like college just wasn’t what he needed, Seth wanted to jump straight into growing his online businesses and finding new pursuits. But then he was introduced to a core group of students in Campus Ministry, and everything instantly clicked.
Olivia Renk: Future Healer and Athletic Record Breaker
Athletics & University Communications | 02/17/2026
Olivia is just getting started in her college track career, and she has already broken several SFU track records. Plus, she's getting a head start on her healthcare career as an undergraduate PA student in the Accelerated Early-Entry (3+2) MPAS program.
Erin Riggi: Finding Her Voice through Teaching, Art, and Faith
Written by Rachel (Vasilko) Heckman '13 | 02/04/2026
Ed.D. Candidate Erin Riggi is embracing the Power of And. Erin is a devoted Italian Catholic mother, a studio instructor and art history teacher, a painter and ceramist, and now, thanks to insights gained through her graduate work, she is adding "leader" to her list of accomplishments.
Abrielle Brown: Future Physician with a Heart for Service
Written by Rachel (Vasilko) Heckman '13 | 01/13/2026
Abrielle Brown, a junior Biology/Pre-med major, active in Student Government and Greek Life, shares how small acts of service make a big impact.
A Voice for Compassionate Healthcare: Alexis Marcotte's Honors Journey
Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 11/19/2025
Emerging healthcare professional Alexis Marcotte is a dedicated Honors scholar, a curious global explorer, and a voice for compassionate health care. Her Honors Thesis investigated factors that influence quality of life in skilled nursing facilities, inspired by her work in a nursing home.
Finding Balance and Purpose: Jayden Foster’s Honors Journey
Written by David Lyttle, Class of 2027 | 11/07/2025
Balancing roles in several student advocacy groups and SFU's track team, Honors student Jayden Foster is making the most of his Saint Francis experience—embracing wellness, leadership, and learning as he prepares for a future in Public Health.
Honing Engineering Skills at a Geochemistry Start-Up
Environmental Engineering at SFU | 09/29/2025
Dr. Joel Bandstra helped Sarah Hartwell, an SFU Environmental Engineering rising senior, secure an internship with an environmental geochemistry firm, Mineralogic, in Duluth, MN. Throughout the summer, Sarah built upon skills she learned at SFU, such as coding with Python, PHREEQC, and R Studio, while gaining new experiences working with software such as PowerBI and researching rules and regulations in Minnesota.
Thomas Grove Awarded DoD Cyber Scholarship
University Communications & Marketing | 07/08/2025
SFU sophomore Thomas Grove earned the university’s first DoD Cyber Service Academy scholarship. The award covers two years of tuition and includes a guaranteed federal job after graduation. It highlights both Thomas’s achievements and the strength of SFU’s Cybersecurity program.
Success Profile Erika Ellison
Marie Young, University Communications & Marketing | 06/02/2025
From student-athlete to emerging business professional and Army officer, 2nd Lt. Erika Ellison is a Saint Francis University graduate whose career journey is rooted in discipline, ambition, and a desire to serve. A native of Washington State, Erika came to SFU to play lacrosse—and left five years later with not only two degrees but also a clear sense of direction.