Things to do at SFU

Explore Nature  
Take a walk on the nature trail around the lake or just sit by the lake to relax with some friends. 

Strengthen your faith  
Regardless of your denomination, Saint Francis offers countless opportunities to get involved with fellow Christians.  Cru, Campus Ministry, Bible Studies, and the Overflow service all host weekly events and services that allow college students to stay connected and grow their faith. 

Snow Tubing  
Race your friends down the slope at the Lakeview snow tubing park on campus. 

Catch a game in the 'Burgh 
Participate in an organized bus trip to see the Pittsburgh Pirates play at PNC Park.  It is a fun, inexpensive way to take a trip with friends off campus.  

Tailgate before a RedFlash game
Food, friends and e a game of corn hole in the JFK parking lot is the perfect warm-up before attending the Red Flash football game, even on a rainy day.

Study abroad in an eleventh-century monastery
SFU has many options for traveling and studying abroad, one of which being their site in Ambialet, France. Students live in this cozy town in the south of France, but also get to travel to Paris, Barcelona, and many other exciting places! 

Attend conferences with the student organizations
The Business School's Enactus group competes annually in National competitions judged by CEOs and Fortune 500 leaders.

Celebrate new beginnings
SFU often has new and exciting additions and renovations to be celebrated, such as the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony of Schwab Hall.

Learn to SCUBA dive
SFU offers many diving courses, which is perfect for anyone in the marine biology field, or anyone who just wants to pick up a fun hobby!

Publish your work
SFU has many mediums in which students’ work is published and celebrated! From photography being showcased in the library to articles being published on the Troubadour’s website, there is no shortage of artistic expression being encouraged and acknowledged here at SFU.

Go Greek! 
SFU has 12 fraternities and sororities, and they participate in many events together throughout the school year. Greek week takes place in the spring, and has competitions such as Greek Sing, dodgeball, flag football, and more! 

 

Welcome new students!
Upperclassmen can serve as “Orientation Counselors,” who help students move in and adjust to college life here at SFU! There are many events during orientation weekend, one of which being a “welcome” speech by the Student Government Association president.

Celebrate Homecoming in Style
The Homecoming parade takes place every year, rain or shine! The Homecoming court, band, and other clubs and organizations make floats that the whole town comes to see before the football game.

Appreciate cultural diversity
Bolstered by a large international student population, SFU encourages open-minded discussions in the classroom and holds events such as Multicultural week to highlight the different contributions that each country makes to Loretto, PA.  

Haunted House
There is a haunted house and corn maze set up in Portage every year around Halloween. There are carnival games and chances to win a great pet fish for your dorm room.

Carve Pumpkins!
In the fall, local farms sell pumpkins, which provides the opportunity to carve them! After selecting the perfect pumpkin, carving with friends and roasting the pumpkin seeds is always a good time.

Climb a tree!
Here at SFU, we are the school among the pines. So go enjoy the outdoors with a couple friends, but be careful! 

Spring Fest
The Student Activities Organization always sets up a lot of fun activities for Spring Fest here on campus. Last year there was a petting zoo, this giant trampoline, and more.

Visit the Oval Office
There are many leadership opportunities on campus, including the opportunity to serve on the Student Government Association. It is led by an Executive Board, who attend the Conference on Student Government Associations every year to sharpen their leadership skills and get new ideas to bring back to campus!

Join in the victory dance from the sidelines!
The Red Flash Dance Team embodies school spirit at all home Football and Men’s and Women’s Basketball games.  These students have the opportunity to cheer on the teams both during the regular season and playoffs!

Tour Beautiful Churches
Students travel to Washington D.C. every year. This year they toured two large churches in D.C. During downtime, students were free to explore D.C. Here, a group of students snapped a photo in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

At Donut Heaven, the Student Government Association (SGA) provides donuts, coffee, ice cream, nachos, hot dogs, and more for the first three nights of finals week! Each semester, faculty members serve the food to their students in a show of solidarity and appreciation for their hard work!

Upperclassmen can serve as Orientation Counselors who help students move in and adjust to college life here at SFU! There are many events during orientation weekend, one of which being a welcome speech given by the SGA president. Two students are pictured here with University President Father Malachi Van Tassell.

Serve Those in Need
SFU fosters many service opportunities, including mission trips over spring break. Groups such as H.U.G.S. United and Habitat for Humanity send a team to different areas of need every year!  Students pictured are in the Dominican Republic.

Take a Drive in the Fall
SFU's campus is quite the spectical in the fall. Every turn you take on Manor drive will reveal incredible scenes with vivid, fall colors.

Become a Resident Assistant
Another leadership opportunity involves becoming an RA. This consists of assisting students in their residence halls through a variety of ways!

Lobby for fellow students
SFU attends Student Advocacy Day in Harrisburg every year. Here students and Financial Aid employees meet with our representatives to discuss the importance of funds for higher education.

Share your knowledge with others
SFU students frequently serve the surrounding community. One example is these Public Health students providing a health fair to the students of the Penn Cambria school district on R.E.D. Day, the University-wide day of service.

Springtime in London
Grouped with an Annual Course offering, the Shields School of Business conducts a trip to London every Spring Break. Over the course of ten days, students are given the opportunity to explore the financial heart of London and to gain a sense of British culture.

Join March for Life
SFU students travel to Washington D.C. to annually support pro-life efforts. It is a great way to come together as a community and stand up for what you believe in. 

Take a Trip to New York!
A bus trip to New York is offered in the fall for a small fee, which covers travel. The bus leaves early in the morning and returns late at night. Once in New York, students can shop, walk around, or do whatever catches their eye.