Meet the Pride Guides

The Pride Guides are an important asset to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Pride Guides assist with office tasks and help with admission events throughout the year. They share their SRU experiences and love for SRU on their campus tours.

PAIGE BAILEY

Hometown: Annandale, VA
Major: Environmental Geoscience
Minor: Adventure Fitness
Campus Involvement: Geography, Geology, and the Environment Club, Sigma Gamma Epsilon
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because I fell in love with the close community feel and how there are so many opportunities for everyone to try something new!"

KEVIN BEATTY JR

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Secondary Education - Social Studies
Campus Involvement: Orientation Ambassador, Pickleball Club, SEFE Club
Why I Chose SRU: "I chose SRU due to it having one of the best education programs in the state, the wide range of opportunities both inside and outside of my major, and the fact that SRU is a part of PASSHE, which opens a lot of potential for scholarships."

KATELYN BOOK

Hometown: Slippery Rock, PA
Major: Health and Physical Education
Minor: Adapted Physical Activity
Campus Involvement: Women's Track and Field Team, School Wellness Education Council, Adapted Physical Activity Council 
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because I love the overall feel of the campus, and the Health and P.E. Department. It is also a great balance of academics and athletics."

PAIGE BURKETT

Hometown: New Florence, PA
Major: Health Care Administration and Management - Leadership Concentration
Campus Involvement: Future Healthcare Leaders, Alpha Xi Delta
Why I chose SRU: "I chose Slippery Rock University because it felt like home! Growing up in a small town made it so much easier to adapt to college life. Choosing Slippery Rock was the best decision I have ever made!"

KYLA FAJOHN

Hometown: Slippery Rock, PA
Major: Early Childhood Education
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Early Childhood Club, Best Buddies, Psychology Club, Delight Ministries
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because I spent a lot of time growing up coming over to SRU and fell in love with the campus and the people who come here!"

EMILY GIANSANTE

Hometown: Clarence Center, NY
Major: Psychology - Pre-Student Affairs 
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Psychology Club, Club Softball, Orientation Ambassador
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because my in-person tour had a significant impact on me. SRU is a place with lots of opportunities to expand my interests and partake in activities I already enjoyed."

PAIGE GRIFFITH

Hometown: Hermitage, PA
Major: Health and Physical Education
Campus Involvement: Women's Track and Field Team, School Wellness Education Council
Why I Chose SRU: " I chose SRU because I love the feel here! I like the size of the town and campus, and I love the people. SRU also has a great program for my major and a great track team. I feel at home here and thrive in the environment."

ASHLYN KANITH

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Middle Level Math Education
Campus Involvement: Student PSEA Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose Slippery Rock University because of the education program and it just felt like home!"

ELIA MCKNIGHT

Hometown: Portersville, PA
Major: Safety Management
Minor: Leadership
Campus Involvement: Rock Wall Attendant, ASSP, the Honors College, Student Nonprofit Alliance 
Why I Chose SRU: "Choosing schools was heavy on my mind during the application process but I knew it would be Slippery Rock the moment I visited for Open House. The people here are so amazing, the atmosphere is welcoming, and no other school could compete with the programs' recognition and opportunities. SRU offers more resources than most other schools combined and hosts a caring staff of professors to foster our academic goals."

KAITLYN NOVAK

Hometown: Monroeville, PA
Major: Psychology - Developmental Concentration
Campus Involvement: Marching Pride, Flute Choir
Why I Chose SRU: "Out of the schools I looked at, SRU had the best Psychology program and accommodated my love of music. The friendly faces and welcoming environment made me feel right at home."

BAILEY O'BRIEN

Hometown: Brookfield, OH
Major: Homeland and Corporate Security - concentration in Organizational Security 
Campus Involvement: Women's Club Volleyball
Why I Chose SRU:I chose SRU because of the beautiful campus and size. The second I stepped on campus I fell in love with the quad and the other buildings and felt it fit exactly what I wanted in a college! I felt that at SRU I wasn't going to be just a face in a big classroom and that I would be able to succeed well in the smaller class sizes."

RILEY PAGE

Hometown: Windber, PA
Major: Recreational Therapy 
Minor: Adapted Physical Activity
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Recreational Therapy Club, Best Buddies, Adapted Physical Activity Council, The Harbor 
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because of all the unique programs offered and how many ways I saw myself getting involved. Slippery Rock and their faculty made it clear how much they valued their students which was something very important to me. The community could not have been any more welcoming and it was so easy to see my future here as a student. Coming to SRU was the best decision I could have made!”

EMMA PFUNDSTEIN

Hometown: Solon, OH
Major: Recreational Therapy - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Campus Involvement: Recreational Therapy Club, Pre-OT Club, SPARK
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because the minute I stepped onto campus for a tour, there was a sense of home about SRU that you can’t find anywhere else!"

HANNAH OGOREUC

Hometown: Grove City, PA
Majors: Health Care Administration and Management, Political Science
Minor: Aquatics
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Student Government Association, Aquatics and Scuba Club, Law Society
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because I grew up on this campus and it is my second home. I never even considered elsewhere. Slippery Rock has always been the place for me!

THERESA SARSFIELD

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Middle Level Science Eduation
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Secondary Education and Foundations of Education Club, University Program Board 
Why I Chose SRU:I knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I heard Slippery Rock was great to help me on my journey. I choose Slippery Rock over anywhere else because the campus was very inviting. After I had toured, I knew this is where I belonged

RYAN SCHMIDT 

Hometown: Apollo, PA
Major: Information Technology and Computer Science
Minor: Cybersecurity
Campus Involvement: Student Government Association, ARHS, The Honors College, University Program Board
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of its stunning campus and wonderful community. The beautiful surroundings and relatively modern infrastructure create a great learning environment. The inclusive campus community also stood out to me, making it the perfect fit for a well-rounded college experience."

GRACE VERDELLI

Hometown: Palmyra, PA
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvement: Suicide Awareness and Prevention
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because I loved how at home I felt here right away."

KASEY WALTER

Hometown: Aurora, OH
Major:  Public Health - Pre-Physican Assistant
Minor: Psychology 
Campus Involvement: Pre-PA Club, MEDLIFE
Why I Chose SRU: I chose SRU for it's small size, the personal feel, and the strong exercise science program with the opportunity to continue at Slippery Rock for my master’s program. Slippery Rock has a lot to offer and has definitely been the right decision for me!"

BREE WEAVER

Hometown: Lock Haven, PA
Major: Sport Management
Campus Involvement: Sport Management Alliance, Women in Sports and Events
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of the hometown feeling it gave. When I first came to Slippery Rock I instantly felt at home and knew that it was the perfect fit for me. SRU also offers so many clubs and activities for students to participate in while also having one of the best sport management programs."

KATHERYN WEINER 

Hometown: Levittown, PA
Major: Early Childhood and Special Eduation
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Symphony Orchestra, Kind Closet, Early Childhood Club, Student Non-Profit Alliance, Special Olympics Club
Why I Chose SRU:I chose Slippery Rock University not only because of its outstanding education program, but also because of the diverse opportunities it offers outside the classroom. SRU allows me to continue my passion for community service while also pursuing hobbies like orchestra. Additionally, the university's unique outdoor adventure program is a rare and exciting opportunity that sets it apart from many other institutions. 

JONATHAN WESS

Hometown: Ebensburg, PA
Major: Sport Management
Minor: Leadership
Campus Involvement: Men's Track and Field Team, Honors College, Disc Golf Club Team, Sport Management Alliance
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because the campus felt at home for me, and I loved the greenery and the vibe the campus gave off. I felt it had the perfect number of students on campus, along with one of the best sport management programs in the country. Along with nice and updated dorms, dining halls, and other facilities."

OLIVIA ZIGAROVICH

Hometown: Warren, OH
Major: Recreational Therapy
Minor: Adapted Physical Activity 
Campus Involvement: Recreational Therapy Club
Why I chose SRU: “I chose SRU because it felt like home the first time I was ever on campus and it had exactly what I wanted to do for my career."