Olivia Renk: Future Healer and Athletic Record Breaker

 SFU Sophomore Olivia Renk is embracing the Power of And.
 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.

Fast on the Track. Focused in Class.

Olivia doesn’t just run fast — she lives fast. The sophomore owns the Saint Francis indoor records in both the 200-meter and 300-meter dash, breaking marks that had stood for more than a decade. At the IC4A/ECAC Indoor Championships, she ran 24.70 in the 200m to reset a 13-year-old Track & Field school record.

But her drive doesn’t end at the finish line.

As a student in Saint Francis University’s Accelerated Early-Entry (3+2) MPAS  program, Olivia is already building toward her Master of Physician Assistant Science degree.

Her interest in medicine began in high school anatomy class. As a multi-sport athlete (track and soccer), she was naturally curious about how the body works. That curiosity drove her to explore Saint Francis’ highly respected direct-entry PA program after a campus tour including the healthcare simulation facilities.

Discipline Meets Determination

Olivia pursues dual passions with equal determination.

Her advisor, Dr. Jill Cavalet, describes her as conscientious, professional, and academically excellent, noting her strong work ethic and thoughtful approach to planning her coursework. “She is an ideal advisee and I'm happy to have the opportunity to engage with her as her advisor and instructor,” Dr. Cavalet shared.

"Dr. Cavalet has really helped me with being certain that I want to be a PA and that I wasn't just interested in the anatomy aspect. She is encouraging me to job shadow and get more experience beyond the traditional education that I'm getting here to strengthen my career path."

That same intentionality shows up in her athletic practice.

Olivia is no stranger to the medal stand. She qualified for the state track meet as a high school freshman and was part of a gold-medal relay team. In fact, she left South Fayette High School in suburban Pittsburgh as one of its most decorated athletes, while carrying a 4.0 grade point average.

So maybe it is no surprise that when she arrived on campus her freshman year, she got right to work. Assistant coach and Saint Francis track and field alum Chris Frederick saw her potential immediately.

“She was a newcomer to the Conference but was always ready for the grind and workload, conducting herself like an upperclassman,” said Frederick.

Olivia stresses that her head coach, Doug Hoover, always makes sure academics are a priority, but track also provides her with some balance. “Track practice is like an outlet for me. It’s a way for me to release stress and get my mind off schoolwork for a couple of hours.”

Despite breaking records, she remains grounded — quick to credit teammates and focused on collective success.

I don’t need to be the leader or in charge,” Olivia shared. She sees herself playing a supportive role, yet her leadership skills are evident on the track and field team. While some sprinters have a reputation for showboating, Olivia maintains a quiet confidence. If asked what motivates her, she answers in one word: pride.

She wants to make herself proud. Her family proud. Her teammates proud.

And she organizes her life for success.

“People like to ask me if I do everything fast,” Olivia shares. “Absolutely,” she answers with a laugh. “I’m not a procrastinator. When I have work, I like to get it done. I don’t like to push stuff off. I like to get stuff out of my way so I can relax later.

Technology, Teamwork, and the Whole Person

In this early undergraduate pre-professional phase of her PA journey, she is gaining a strong medical foundation through courses such as Anatomy, Intro to Medicine, Compassionate Caregiving, and Healthcare Ethics.

She is looking forward to spending some time in the Experiential Learning Commons (ELC), which is filled with technology geared to healthcare students but also used by majors across campus.

The next assignment in her Compassionate Caregiving course is using VR glasses to experience what the world looks like to an older patient with glaucoma. She is also preparing for a healthcare team project presentation in March when different healthcare majors come together for a unified challenge.

Finding Her Fit

Olivia has found a nice rhythm between academics and athletics at SFU. In her downtime, she enjoys spending time with her roommate in Joan Hall and with a group of friends from track and a group of friends she met in her classes.

When deciding on a college, Olivia said she initially wanted to go to a big school. Turns out Saint Francis has been the perfect fit. While many of her peers chose larger universities, Olivia discovered that SFU’s close-knit environment better supports her goals. Here, she doesn’t have to choose between being driven and being supported, between competing and belonging. Here, she can have both.

Olivia’s story embodies what Saint Francis University champions: students are not one thing.

They are scholars and athletes.
They are competitors and caregivers.
They are ambitious and compassionate.

Rooted in a Catholic and Franciscan tradition that values educating the whole person, SFU encourages students not to settle for a single label, but to connect passions and explore fully.

Olivia Renk is doing exactly that.

She sprints toward the finish line — and toward a future in medicine.
She breaks records — and prepares to heal.
She runs with speed — and leads with heart.

At Saint Francis, that’s not unusual. That’s The Power of “And.”

The Power of "And"

At Saint Francis University, we encourage our students to embrace the power of “and.” Every new skill, talent, and challenge they explore here under our guidance builds a foundation for something greater. It’s through blending passions, disciplines, and experiences that they become that someone they are uniquely called to be.

Written by Chris Miller, University Athletics,  and Marie Young, University Communications/Marketing. Photos by Scott Stover,  Professional Photographer and Adjunct Professor.