USF Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) College of Arts & Sciences is proud to offer exciting musical performances to the Joliet and Will County communities through the Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser.

This fall’s lineup includes:

Illinois-Michigan Night: Crooked Tails and The Rebel Eves
Talented trios Crooked Tails and The Rebel Eves (pictured), from the Land of Lincoln and the Great Lakes State respectively, will magnify your sense of the world with their soulful songs and beautiful harmonies.

Date/Time: Tuesday, November 28 – 7 p.m.
Location: Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center)
Ticket Pricing: $15 per person | Free for USF Students with ID

Claritas Chorale: Christmas at the Motherhouse
Join Claritas Chorale, USF’s community choir, in a celebration of one of our most sacred and cherished seasons: Christmas!

Date/Time: Friday, December 1 – 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, December 2 – 1 p.m.
Location: St. Joseph Chapel (Motherhouse)
Ticket Pricing: Free for All Guests with Reservation

Joliet Symphony Orchestra: “Revitalize”
French horn soloist Emily Whittaker and the JSO explore music that revitalizes us in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s challenging “Concerto No. 3 in E-flat Major.” Also on the program are the stirring “Froissart Overture” by Sir Edward Elgar and Max Bruch’s masterful “Symphony No. 2 in f minor.” This program will delight and surprise as the JSO and audiences journey together through some familiar and unfamiliar musical landscapes. Enjoy a FREE pre-concert discussion 45 minutes prior to the performance.

Date/Time: Saturday, December 9 – 7 p.m. and Sunday, December 10 – 4 p.m.
Location: Sexton Auditorium (Moser Performing Arts Center)
Ticket Pricing: $10 Adults | $5 Seniors, Alumni & Non-USF Students | Free for USF Students/Staff & Music Educators with ID

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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves close to 4,000 students nationwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 53,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.

University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

USF Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) recently honored five outstanding alumni through the annual Distinguished Alumni Awards program in San Damiano Hall on Saturday, September 30, as part of the University’s 2023 homecoming festivities. Five awards were presented to USF alumni, including The Presidential Alumni Award, the most prestigious of the Distinguished Alumni Awards, and one award from each of the university’s four colleges in highlight of the diverse disciplines of a comprehensive university. The event also included the recognition of this year’s honored year alumni (the classes of 2022, 2018, 2013, 2008, 2003, 1998, 1993, 1988, 1983, 1978, 1973 and before) and celebrated the University’s 50th reunion alumnae as they were inducted into the USF Assisian Club.

The 2023 USF Distinguished Alumni Award winners include:

Presidential Alumni Award – Mike Brennan ‘81

Mike Brennan transferred to the University of St. Francis back when it was the College of St. Francis. He majored in Business Administration and was a member of the basketball team, where he made many lifelong friends and was lucky to have Pat Sullivan as his coach and mentor.

After graduating in 1981, Mike got a job at First Options of Chicago working on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange trading floor. In 2000, First Options was acquired by Goldman Sachs where Mike worked as a vice president until he retired in 2016.

Mike served as a trustee at the university for six years, co-chairing the finance and investment committees for two years. He experienced firsthand the collaboration and dedication that trustees bring to the university.

Mike is most proud to have contributed to and championed the capital campaigns in the naming of the Pat Sullivan Center and the Pat Quigley Court.

Currently, Mike is enjoying retirement by splitting his time between Arizona and Illinois with his wife Laura. They enjoy hiking, spring training baseball games, and any chance to see their sons, Joe, Dan and David.

College of Education Alumni Award – Dr. Abir Othman ’21

Dr. Abir Othman is currently the principal of Andrew High School in District 230, after serving as associate principal for 11 years and dean of students prior to that. She has been an educator for 26 years, serving the last 20 in District 230.

Dr. Othman was named Assistant Principal of the Year by the Illinois Principals Association in 2020 and the IPA South Cook Assistant Principal of the Year in 2019. She received the Illinois High School Theatre Festival Administrator Support Award in 2017, and the Outstanding Activity Director Award from the Illinois Directors of Student Activities in 2016.

Prior to joining District 230, she was an English teacher, academic advisor and administrator at Universal School in Bridgeview. Dr. Othman also served as head dean of students at Stagg High School in Palos Hills.

Dr. Othman is passionate about helping the community and making a difference for all students. Given her background as an immigrant looking to empower others, Dr. Othman has served for over ten years on the Board of Directors for Arab-American Family Services in Worth, an organization dedicated to helping families improve their quality of life. She is recognized as an emPower10 Women leader by the Arab American Business Professionals Association as one of ten most inspirational and empowering women in the state. She is also the first Arab American public high school principal in Illinois.

Dr. Othman earned Doctorate in Educational Leadership with Superintendent Endorsement from the University of St. Francis. The opportunity at St. Francis changed her life. She feels blessed for her wonderful experience at the College of Education. Additionally, the strong relationships fostered in her cohort with her peers and professors are unparalleled. Servant leadership is not just a token word used but was emulated by everyone in the College of Education. Dr. Othman also received a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Lewis University and a Bachelor of Arts in English Secondary Education from Governors State University.

College of Arts & Sciences Alumni Award – Victorio Pellicano ‘04

Victorio Pellicano is the founder and CEO of Avianna, the most revolutionary AI software on the planet today. Born out of his relentless pursuit to make robots smarter and humans safer, Avianna is the world’s first autonomous artificial intelligence software for robots that enables full autonomy and natural language communication between the robot and its operator. Avianna is revolutionizing how AI can be used for good, creating a transformative impact on our world through the intersection of robotics and AI.

Victorio is a veteran in software manufacturing whose path to founding Avianna was shaped by overcoming personal loss and navigating the founding, growth, and eventual sale of his first company to Oracle. Today, Victorio stands shoulder to shoulder with his team dismantling preconceived negative notions surrounding AI and actively enhancing the power of robots, data collection and surveillance, human safety, and the future of work. Beyond envisioning this future, Victorio is a devoted father of four (and counting), a loving husband, serial investor and active philanthropist.

College of Business & Health Administration Alumni Award – Drew Wolfer ‘17

Drew Wolfer came to USF in 2015 when he was offered a soccer scholarship by Coach Ko Thanadabouth. He participated as a student athlete for the next two seasons before graduating in 2017.

While a student, he participated in Student Government Association as the CFO of his class, as well as being the economics and finance tutor. During his first year, Dr. Shannon Brown, now dean of the College of Business & Health Administration, invited Wolfer to work with her to assist a local company in better understanding their corporate culture and values utilizing SPSS software. He received the Support for Research Excellence “SURE” Grant. In the following year, he worked at Providence Advisors with another esteemed professor, Dr. Steve Morrissette. Wolfer advised a surgicalist group based out of Arizona on whether to expand, merge, or allow itself to be acquired. Both of these opportunities, as well as experiences he had through organizations and activitied he participated in at USF, helped Wolfer acquire countless skills that supported his growth as a soon-to-be entrepreneur. He graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa and Delta Mu Delta honor societies.

Upon graduation, Wolfer was hired by Liberty Mutual. He eventually transitioned to a position in cyber security and technology at the IronShore division of Liberty Mutual in Chicago. In 2018, he started an e-commerce business and expanded it to over eight figures within the first year. That afforded him the ability to gracefully exit Corporate America to pursue his passions in entrepreneurship. He founded a wholesale and distribution company in the suburbs of Chicago that serviced clients across the United States, importing products from Europe.

When the COVID-19 outbreak happened in 2020, Wolfer’s import/export and wholesale/distribution companies took a backseat to e-commerce, which sparked and funded his entrepreneurial entrance into the blockchain industry in 2021. Since that time, he has founded multiple social media brands and channels, as well as a blockchain infrastructure company called Wolfer Finance in 2022. He was then approached with an opportunity to create and found a Silicon Valley-style technology startup company, PreSend, that now has a pending patent for transaction security processes inside the blockchain sector.

“My dream is to leave an impact on the world where my name will live on far after I have left this Earth, while also leaving a legacy and roadmap for my next generation of Wolfers,” he says. “PreSend and Wolfer Finance might just be that opportunity for me, and with the help of the countless people that love and support me—whether present or past—I will continue to build and innovate where I see fit, as well as attempt to provide the best life I am able to afford for my family along the way.”

College of Nursing Alumni Award – Kayla Worley ‘17, ‘19

Growing up in the greater Joliet area, Kayla’s grandparents and mother always instilled the value and importance of education. Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, she knew there was no question that she wanted to continue exploring her educational trajectory. She spent her early years as a nurse working on medical, telemetry, and post-operative units in Bloomington/Normal Illinois. In time, she was fortunate to have a once in a lifetime opportunity when she was relocated as an ER/trauma nurse at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in the Windy City. It was during this time that she found herself surrounded by colleagues and patients that continually whispered “keep going!”

She enrolled in the nursing program at USF with the intention to “test the waters” in online learning. “I’ve always loved learning,” Kayla shares, “but I still wasn’t convinced that I could be successful in a primarily asynchronous educational learning environment.” Despite initial hesitations, Kayla did surprisingly well and quickly took a liking to the often despised “3 P” courses. Through the encouragement of some of the greats (Dr. Prince, Dr. Nardi, and Dr. Terrell), she quickly learned that she wanted to be active; not only on the education side of the nursing profession, but also clinically. This decision is what ultimately led to her to applying for the MSN-FNP track. A “few courses” eventually turned into a master’s degree, and that turned into a prestigious doctorate! Kayla beams: “I’ve never had any regrets on becoming a USF Saint!”

Because of USF, she’s enjoyed career opportunities in both primary care and urgent care settings over the last five year. She also served as a university faculty member in various online learning communities over the last two years. Kayla presented her USF doctoral thesis on “Structuralized Racism in Health Care: The Impact on African Americans” during the Doctors of Nursing Practice Conference 2019 mini podium presentation series in Washington D.C. She currently is embarking on a new journey as a complex chronic care provider in correctional medicine. This which has inspired her to revise her doctoral thesis and focus on the health of incarcerated African American males. She adds,“Thanks to USF, the support of my family, and loyal standardized patient (now husband), I have been blessed with many opportunities to unapologetically explore my passions and shine my inner light in health care communities around me!”

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Students Learn the Impact of Random Acts of Kindness Courtesy of Jay It Forward

Joliet, Ill. – “It would seem wrong not to carry on with the passion that Jay had to make people smile.” – Jay It Forward

On Monday, September 25, over 200 students at the University of St. Francis (USF) personally experienced the positive impact that random acts of kindness can create. The students were recipients of gifts cards, goody bags and cash – all unannounced and unexpected – courtesy of Jay It Forward, an organization in honor of the late Jay Vana and his fun-loving demeanor and generous personality.

“The spirit of St. Francis is just something you need to experience first-hand on-campus at USF. That spirit was certainly robust when Jay It Forward celebrated with our students this week. The emotions on the faces of USF students, faculty and administrators was powerful as they opened envelopes and shared their plans of what they planned to do with the gifts they received,” said Lisa Sampalis, Vice President for University Advancement at the University of St. Francis.

Longtime USF supporters Michele and Tom Vana established Jay It Forward to honor the life of their son, Jay, who passed away in a car accident eleven years ago. Along with Jay’s family and friends, Jay It Forward takes to the community on the anniversary of his passing each year to “pay it forward” to with random acts of kindness. Before coming to USF, the organization also distributed similar random acts of kindness at a local fast-food restaurant and gas station.

“As much as it seems like others are benefiting from these random acts of kindness, I am the true recipient of the blessings. Helping others and seeing their smiles and joy is the healing that I need on this day. Making others happy is truly in the spirit of who Jay was. I really feel his presence when we do this in his memory,” said Michele Vana.

The organization also encourages others to consider performing their own acts of kindness as a tribute to Jay Vana.

About Jay It Forward

Jay Vana was a resident of Homer Glen, Ill., and a student at Lockport Township High School who was known for his fun-loving demeanor and generous personality. He, along with his family and friends, often performed random acts of kindness when they heard of others in need. Unfortunately, Vana passed away unexpectedly as a result of a car accident at the age of sixteen on September 25, 2012. Vana’s family and friends founded Jay It Forward as a way to honor his kind-hearted spirit by continuing to perform random acts of kindness.

Please visit facebook.com/jayitforward25 to learn more about Jay It Forward.

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

Joliet Symphony Orchestra Concert Set for October 7-8 at USF

Joliet, Ill. – The Joliet Symphony Orchestra (JSO) is pleased to announce the opening concert series of its 2023-2024 Season with newly appointed Artistic Director & Conductor, Dr. Sean Paul Mills, leading an all-orchestra program featuring music by Verdi, Dvorak, Mussorgsky, and Mendelssohn.

Titled “Renewal”, the JSO will be performing Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino Overture”, Antonin Dvorak’s “American Suite”, Modest Mussorgsky’s “Night on Bald Mountain”, and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Reformation Symphony” on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 8, 2023, at 4 p.m. Both performances will take place in Sexton Auditorium which is located in the Harold & Margaret Moser Performing Arts Center on the University of St. Francis campus at 500 Wilcox Street in Joliet.

New to the JSO this season is a series of FREE pre-concert discussions titled “Noteworthy.” These discussions will take place 45 minutes prior to each performance and provide audience members with an opportunity to learn more about the composers, selections, orchestra, and soloists as well as ask questions and interact with the conductor and guests.

Tickets for JSO concerts are available through the JSO website at www.jolietsymphonyorchestra.org, the Music at Moser website at stfrancis.edu/music-at-moser/, and at the door beginning one (1) hour before each performance. Adults are $10; Seniors, USF Alumni & Non-USF Students are $5; USF Students and Music Educators are FREE with a current ID.

Please join the JSO as it embarks on a new season of exploration and discovery featuring both familiar and new works for symphony orchestra. Upcoming performances will feature guest artists Emily Whittaker, French horn, performing Mozart’s “French horn Concerto No. 3”; mezzo-soprano Amanda Court performing Barber’s “Knoxville: Summer of 1915”. Additionally, the JSO will be performing orchestral works by Max Bruch, Aaron Copland, Edward Elgar, John Knowles Paine, and more!

For more information, please feel free to contact Michelle Mathena, JSO Social Media & Marketing, at jolietsymphonymarketing@gmail.com or Sean Paul Mills, JSO Artistic Director & Conductor, at jolietsymphonyconductor@gmail.com.

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

WCSF-88.7 FM Mega Music Rummage Sale Set for October 28

Joliet, Ill. – WCSF-88.7 FM, the radio station of the University of St. Francis (USF), is hosting its annual Mega Music Rummage Sale on Saturday, October 28, 2023 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The sale will take place at the University of St Francis’ St. Clare Campus (Assembly Hall), which is located at 1550 Plainfield Road in Joliet, Ill.

Donated LPs, compact discs, cassettes, sheet music, music books, musical instruments, stereo equipment and more music related items will be available for sale starting at $1.

For months, students have been organizing and cataloging the treasures for the sale. Admission to the event during its scheduled time is free of charge. Early bird admission at 7:30 a.m. is available with a $20 donation. All proceeds will be used to upgrade the nonprofit radio station facilities and equipment.

WCSF-88.7 FM is well-known in the greater Joliet area as the home of the popular “Spirit of Christmas” programming that is broadcasted each year from Thanksgiving Day to New Year’s Day. During the rest of the year, the station plays a great mix of new, alternative, independent and local music programmed and operated by USF students. The station is available on the radio and online at wcsf.streamon.fm.

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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USF News

U.S. News & World Report Names USF in 2023-2024 Best Colleges Rankings

Joliet, Ill. – U.S. News & World Report continues to recognize the University of St. Francis (USF) as a top university in the United States. This year’s recognition in the publication’s 2023-2024 Best Colleges rankings marks USF’s fifth year in the “National Universities” category, and the twentieth consecutive year that USF has been honored by U.S. News & World Report.

According to usnews.com/education, “Schools in the ‘National Universities’ category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, plus master’s and doctoral programs. These colleges also are committed to producing groundbreaking research.”

USF moved up in this year’s rankings to place among the top 280 schools in the “National Universities” category of this year’s publication. The ranking placed USF twelfth among all Illinois schools included in the report, seventh among private Illinois schools, and third among Illinois’ ranked Catholic schools.

USF is also once again Will County’s only school included in U.S News & World Report’s 2023-2024 “National Universities” rankings.

“U.S. News & World Report’s continued recognition of USF acknowledges the quality of a University of St. Francis education,” said USF President Arvid C. Johnson, Ph.D. “Rankings such as this help to validate the efforts of our faculty and provide us with many points of pride. These rankings are also more important now than ever before as high school students critically weigh their post-graduation options. USF graduates are considered top prospects by employers, and find jobs that launch their careers. This certainly validates our value proposition of the return on investment realized by USF graduates.”

U.S. News & World Report also ranked USF as one of the top 100 universities in the country in its Top Performers for Social Mobility list for fifth consecutive year. The ranking recognizes USF as a school that supports and assists economically disadvantaged students. According to usnews.com, “Some colleges are more successful than others at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants. The vast majority of these federal grants are awarded to students whose adjusted gross family incomes are under $50,000.”

USF was also included in the publication’s Best Undergraduate Nursing rankings for a third consecutive year.

Visit usnews.com/colleges for more information on the U.S. News and World Report 2023-2024 Best Colleges rankings.

National Recognition Continues

USF continues to receive high praise from a variety of national ranking agencies.

Most recently, USF ranked #130 overall and #8 in Illinois in WSJ/College Pulse’s 2024 Best Colleges in America. Visit wsj.com/rankings/college-rankings/best-colleges-2024 for more information.

Also, Niche.com released its 2024 Best Colleges in America rankings and placed USF as the #5 Best Value College in Illinois and #112 Best Value College (top 7%) in the nation. Visit niche.com/colleges/university-of-st-francis-illinois/ for more information on USF’s other categorical placement in the 2024 Best Colleges in America rankings by Niche.com.

Visit stfrancis.edu/nationally-ranked for more information on additional national accolades earned by USF.

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University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.

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Category: USF News

USF Music at Moser Fall 2023 Concert Series

USF Announces 2023 Distinguished Alumni Award Winners

Students Learn the Impact of Random Acts of Kindness Courtesy of Jay It Forward

Joliet Symphony Orchestra Concert Set for October 7-8 at USF

WCSF-88.7 FM Mega Music Rummage Sale Set for October 28

U.S. News & World Report Names USF in 2023-2024 Best Colleges Rankings

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