Events
New Biology Honor Society Launches
The Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society (TriBeta)
opened a chapter at St. Francis College. This Society creates
new opportunities for students to apply for research grants and
present their work at national conferences and conventions.
Founded in 1922, TriBeta has 626 chapters around the U.S. and
promotes cooperation in biological research and scholarship.
The opening induction ceremony for the newly formed Chi
Delta Gamma chapter was held on February 9, 2018. Among
the inductees were 31 Nursing students, 25 Biology majors, and eight Biology
and Health Promotion professors. Annemarie Bettica, Ph.D., a retired biology
professor from Manhattanville College, presided over the event, which featured
candles, the presentation of an honors charter, recital of pledges, and the
distribution of certificates and key chains.
“Hopefully, the chapter will enhance everyone’s involvement and experience
in the biological sciences,” said TriBeta faculty advisor and chair of the Biology,
Health Promotion, and Health Care Management department Kathleen Nolan.
Planning for the ceremony and preparations for the students were handled
by Noemi Rivera ’12, Biology Academic Advisor and Departmental Assistant
who was also inducted into TriBeta.
bit.ly/SFC-Biology-Honor-Society
St. Francis College Students
Earn Prestigious Scholarships
Alpha Lambda Delta, a national honor society for first-year
students, recently awarded scholarships to two St. Francis
College students. Founded in 1924, Alpha Lambda Delta’s
mission is to “encourage superior academic achievement,
to promote intelligent living and a continued high standard
of learning, and to assist students in
recognizing and developing meaningful
goals for their unique roles in society.”
Andrea Rojo, who is studying management, is a
recipient of the 2018–19 James G. Stemler Study
Abroad Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Rojo
utilized the scholarship money, awarded to Alpha
Lambda Delta members who are pursuing credit-bear-
ing study abroad, to travel to France over the summer.
Nermina Markisic, a
Andrea Rojo.
political science major, was
awarded the Jo Anne J. Trow
Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for the 2018–19
academic year. Each year, Alpha Lambda Delta
awards 36 Trow scholarships to outstanding students
from across the country. Selection is based on
maintaining a 3.5 grade point average, academic
records, participation in Alpha Lambda Delta
activities, campus, and community service activities
Nermina Markisic.
and the applicant’s essay answers. ●
Terrier Spotlight
Student Journalist Discovers Her Passion at SFC
By Zanna Shapiro
A
s Communication Arts major Danielle Francavilla ’19
prepares to graduate this May, she reflects on her time at
SFC as a student leader, scholar, and student ambassador.
As founder of SFC Radio and the News Director of Terrier TV
where she anchors a weekly newscast, Francavilla still finds time
to remain actively involved with activities on and off campus.
However, it was not long ago that she was a high school senior
weighing all her options—one of which was St. Francis.
“What appealed to me most was that SFC gave such generous
scholarships, and I would be going entirely for free, said Francavilla.
“The idea of not having financial burdens in college or upon
graduating like many do, was extremely exciting.”
“Then I toured the college and as soon as I walked in the
building I felt like I was in my old grade school, a small, tight-knit
family. I knew I was going to attend, right in that moment.”
Upon enrollment, Francavilla quickly became involved on
campus, and was asked to share her experience in front of nearly
500 people at the Charter Award Dinner.
She did it, and “had an immediate
revelation. I loved it. I was nervous and
uncomfortable but I loved it. And right
there I knew I had to do this for the rest
of my life.”
She credits Thomas Flood, Vice
President for Advancement, with
providing this opportunity.
“I didn’t know it then, but Tom
saw something in me that I didn’t see it in myself, and pushed me
to do something, and for that I will forever be thankful.”
Soon after, Francavilla declared herself a communication arts
major and began building her resume.
She landed internships with the MLB Network where she worked
in media and public relations, as well as WNBC (NBC 4 NY), and
WPIX (PIX 11 News) where she gained experience producing
segments, writing for the web, and going out in the field as a journalist
to cover breaking news and events, such as the Tony Awards.
On campus, Francavilla devotes time to reporting as a Multimedia
Journalist for SFCTV. She’s also currently working on a project that
she holds near and dear to her heart—a short film highlighting SFC’s
celebration of 50 years of women and coeducation.
“I am a student founder of and on the Student Advisory Panel for
the Women’s Leadership Network, and I work closely with the
Advancement team on development/fundraising events, as I strongly
believe in the importance of philanthropy,” she said. “It’s a lot and
it’s challenging, but I love it. At a small
school running multiple grassroots
efforts is exhausting and very time
consuming, but I know it’s so worth it.
These are things I will leave at SFC as
my legacy when I graduate in May.
The opportunity to be able to do these
things is incredible to me. And I don’t
think they would be possible at just
any college.” ●
Danielle Francavilla ’19.
10
ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE TERRIER | WINTER 2018, VOLUME 82, NUMBER 1