Alvernia University

Alvernia is a thriving university in Reading, Pa., that empowers students through real-world learning to discover their passion for life. While providing the education to turn what students love into lifetimes of career success and personal fulfillment, Alvernia helps them make the world a better place. This is truly an education in the Franciscan tradition. Catch Alvernia on Instagram:

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Still going strong for 30 years, Alvernia's Turkey Drive aims to feed more than 1,100 families in 2017. > Read more on alvernia.edu/news

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Each year after moving into residence halls, Alvernia's first-year students spend their first full day on campus performing community service alongside their professors and student leaders. See what it looked like for the Class of 2021, as they spread out into 19 schools across the Reading School District this August.

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Francis Hall's roof tiles (damaged in the epic hailstorm of 2014) are being carefully replaced this summer. Interesting factoid: the new clay tiles are made by the exact same company that produced them in 1924. Check out the close-up of the individual tile below, which reads "Ludowici Celadon Co., Chicago...1924."

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Contemplation is a core value of Alvernia University. Don’t let graduation be the last time you take a moment for yourself - to see with God’s eyes. 

Definition:

1a:  concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion

1b:  a state of mystical awareness of God's being

2:  an act of considering with attention: study made the decision after much contemplation

3:  the act of regarding steadily was lost in quiet contemplation of the scene

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Student named Mother of the Year

This Mother’s Day, Alvernia Philadelphia Center student Carnita Washington (social work) was awarded “Mother of the Year,” during the Philadelphia City Council’s Celebration of Mothers.

Above, Carnita (right) is pictured with City Councilwoman, Jannie L. Blackwell (middle), from city's the 3rd District. Also in attendance were Carnita's two daughters, grandmother, aunt, son-in-law, and best friend.

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Twenty Alvernia University students met with Harrisburg lawmakers April 4, to lobby for legislative support of private institutions in higher education, as part of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universites of Pennsylvania (AICUP) Student Aid Advocacy Day. The students were accompanied by Dr. Josh Hayes, assistant professor of philosophy, and David Myers, director of Alvernia's O'Pake Institute for Ethics, Leadership and Public Service.

This year's advocacy day primarily focused on opposing a 50% proposed cut in institutional assistance grants, maintaining funding of PHEAA grant programs and growing the Ready to Succeed Scholarship program so that more middle-income students can benefit from the financial help it provides.

In addition to meeting with hometown representatives, Alvernia students met with Tom Caltagirone, Judy Schwank's chief of staff, and Will Donowski - Governor Wolf's Legislative Secretary.

> Read more on MERIT

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Schuylkill Center Director Cynthia Mensch talks about the value of the Schulkill Chamber’s Women In Business program. Learn more and the Chamber at https://www.schuylkillchamber.com

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Alvernia University’s Holleran Center is expanding to offer its students a centralized hub to explore a wide range of real-world learning experiences. To reflect the center’s new purpose, The Holleran Center for Community Engagement has also been renamed the Holleran Center for Community and Global Engagement (HCCGE).

“We want the Alvernia experience to be transformational — to help them turn what they love into a lifetime of career success and personal fulfillment,” said Worrall.

> Read full story

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Alvernia’s Social Work program was ranked as one of the top 50 “Best Bachelor’s in Social Work, 2016 Programs” in the country by College Choice.

College Choice rankings are made from a few different sources. First consideration is data taken from a nationwide survey published by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA where students evaluate academic reputation as well as school costs and post-graduate achievements on the job market. That data is then weighted with data from other public sources, including U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, and PayScale.com.

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"We understand budget challenges. But this cut will hardly solve the state's revenue shortfall. It doesn't even come close. It will, however, adversely affect deserving students. Equally important is the message that this sends: that the commonwealth doesn't value the contributions of its 90 private colleges and universities to the people of this state." — Alvernia University President Thomas Flynn (left) and Albright College President Lex McMillan (right).

> Read OpEd “Higher education budget unfair, misguided” in the Reading Eagle

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Sherry Boone (soprano) and Seth Weinstein (piano) visit Muhlenburg High School Feb. 10, to meet choral students from the middle and high schools. 

Ms. Boone and Mr. Weinstein, along with Albert Christmas (baritone) and John Rozum (drums), performed Broadway Classics at Alvernia University on the evening of Feb. 9. The group earned a standing ovation with many rounds of applause. 

Alvernia’s focus on artistic excellence includes outreach to students interested in the arts. During a Q&A session, Ms. Boone noted that preparation and opportunity, along with relationship building, lead to success in the arts and in life. In addition to sharing musical gifts with the students, the guest artists joined the students in singing a choral number to show the power of connection through music.

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Alvernia freshman Ty Osoria shares his personal story of teenaged homelessness in a two-part WMFZ 69 News series.

WATCH:

Homeless teens in Berks: A hidden problem (Part 1)

Homeless teens in Berks: A hidden problem (Part 2)

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Best wishes to Bishop Barres on his installation as Bishop of Rockville Centre! Alvernia University will miss you! 

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Looking for photos from December 2016 graduation? 

> See GradImages candid photos from December 2016 Commencement

> See staff candid photos from December 2016 Graduation ceremonies

For personal photos, Visit www.gradimages.com and enter your last name, "Alvernia University" and select 2016 from the drop down menu. Once you see your name, click on the link to view your photos. 

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WFMZ Channel 69 News VIDEO: 

Coach Mike Miller becomes Alvernia’s all-time wins leader

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Predicting Pennsylvania in the 2016 election - with presidential expert Dr. Tim Blessing.

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Charles Barbera, M.D., Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Reading Health System, is a regular guest lecturer for students studying Pathopsyiology in Alvernia's Doctor of Nursing Practice degree program. Interesting fact: Dr. Barbera earned his master’s degree from Alvernia in 2001!