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.

HEIDI BEDNARZ

Hometown: Butler, PA
Major: Cybersecurity with a concentration in Secure Software Development 
Minor: Homeland Security 
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Cyberspace Club, Women in Computing at the Rock
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because it felt like home. As soon as I stepped on campus I just knew that this was for me. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. Especially, with my mom being an alumna. She pushed me to give it a chance and I’m forever grateful that she did! I’m so happy that I ended up here and GO ROCK!"

EMILY BEMENT

Hometown: Hamburg, NY
Major: Exercise Science - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Minor: Spanish
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, MEDLIFE, Pre-OT Association, Exercise Science Society, Spanish Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of the welcoming atmosphere. From my first time on campus, everyone was so friendly, and I knew that SRU was going to be a perfect fit for me. It offered the best opportunities for me to get a one-of-a-kind education and do all of the extracurricular activities I wanted. I am so glad I chose Slippery Rock!"

LILY BURTCH

Hometown: Grove City, PA
Major: Public Health - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Minor: Psychology
Campus Involvement: Pre-OT Association, Public Health Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because it always felt like it was destiny for me to come here. My grandpa was a professor, both of my parents are alumni, and my sister had just recently graduated from SRU. The campus feels comfortable and everyone has been so wonderful. I am so happy about ending up here and I cannot wait to finish out my schooling."

EVAN CALLAHAN

Hometown: Jefferson Hills, PA
Major: Psychology
Campus Involvement: Pride Guide
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of how much it felt like home, especially the surrounding town. The minute I walked on campus for the first time, I could tell this was going to be my new home away from home."

SARAH DEFRANCESCO

Hometown: Monroeville, PA
Major: Psychology - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Campus Involvement: Psychology Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because while touring I felt like I was at home. The campus was not too small but not too big. I felt as if I was welcomed into my program. It also was the perfect distance from home."

MADISON FERRARO

Hometown: Erie, PA
Major: Secondary Education - History 
Campus Involvement: Alpha Sigma Tau, SEFE
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of how it felt like home. I knew my first day on campus, I made the right choice. I really like the one-on-one professor time we are offered here at SRU and how nice everyone is on campus. There is so much to get involved in on campus and be able to make connections and friendships. I knew SRU was the place where I wanted to be!"

EMILY GIANSANTE

Hometown: Clarence Center, NY
Major: Psychology - Pre Student Affairs 
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Psychology Club, Club Softball
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."

NIKOLE HUSNICK

Hometown: Brookfield, OH
Major: Secondary Education and Health and Physical Education
Campus Involvement: SGA, the Honors College, and Fitness & Wellness Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose Slippery Rock because of how campus felt like home to me. You get the feel of a big school while still being part of a close-knit community. It is also the perfect distance from home. Slippery Rock also had all the majors I was interested in which made it the perfect option for an Exploratory student, which is the major I started with."

MIRANDA MALICKI

Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Major: Recreational Therapy
Minor: Animal Assisted Interventions and Adapted Physical Activity
Campus Involvement: University Program Board, the Honors College, Recreational Therapy Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose Slippery Rock because of how I felt when I first visited campus. When I first visited, I immediately felt welcomed, and had great connections with everyone I talked to. From the moment I stepped foot on campus, I knew this was the place for me!"

BRANDI MARLIN

Hometown: Hatfield, PA
Major: Exercise Science 3+3 Pre-Occupational Therapy
Minor: Psychology
Campus Involvement: JumpStart Mentor, Pre-Occupational Therapy Association, the Honors College, Phi Sigma Pi, American Sign Language Club 
Why I Chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of the welcoming feel on campus. Coming from so far away, I knew I wanted a place that was friendly and kind to everyone. SRU made me feel like this was my home away from home from day one. SRU also had the ideal major I was looking for which made this the perfect place for me!"

ALEXIS MOSS

Hometown: Canonsburg, PA
Major: Political Science
Campus Involvement: Delight Ministries, Law Society, and Debate Society
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because I already felt so welcomed on my college tour and knew it would be even better as a student. I did not want to go to a large city and Slippery Rock felt like it could be my home away from home with the small and beautiful town!" 

LAUREN NAYLOR

Hometown: Canonsburg, PA
Major: Physical Therapy Graduate Student (Undergrad: Exercise Scicene 3+3 Pre-PT)
Campus Involvement: Exercise Science GA, Women's Track and Field Team, the Honors College, Exercise Science Student Research Assistant and Intern, Resistance Training Lab Assistant, Emerging Leadership Experience Peer Mentor and Specialist, FYRST Seminar Peer Leader
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because it felt like home the moment I stepped on campus for a tour. Throughout the course of my college search, the beautiful campus and facilities, endless opportunities to get involved, and amazing athletic programs stood out. Also, the Exercise Science program reputation set SRU a part. SRU had everything that I was looking for and allowed so much room for growth. Everyone made me feel welcome and the professors in the Exercise Science program were passionate and reassuring that they were here to help me succeed and find my path."

ANNA O'CONNOR

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Major: Early Childhood and Special Education
Campus Involvement: Early Childhood Club, Kappa Delta Pi, Best Buddies, Lamda Sigma
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of my major and the atmosphere of the campus. SRU has a great Early Childhood Education program that has really benefitted me. I also love how welcoming the campus is and the size!"

SAMANTHA OLIVER

Hometown: Annapolis, MD
Major: BFA Dance Major double concentration in Performance and Choreography and Studio Ownership and Dance Entrepreneurship
Minor: Philosophy
Campus Involvement: Delight Ministries, National Honor Society for Dance Arts, the Honors College, Dance Express, House Council, Slippery Rock Dance Theatre 
Why I Chose SRU: “I chose SRU because it felt like my home away from home and the amazing Dance program! When I toured for the first time, I loved the atmosphere and the friendly people on campus. I fell in love with the Dance program and the talented faculty members when I came to campus.”

RILEY PAGE

Hometown: Windber, PA
Major: Recreational Therapy - Pre-Occupational Therapy
Minor: Adapted Physical Activity and Adventure Fitness
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Recreational Therapy Club, Pre-Occupational Therapy Association, Aquatics Club, Future Healthcare Leaders, 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!”

SARAH PERSUN

Hometown: South Williamsport, PA
Major: Physical Therapy Graduate Student (Undergrad: Exercise Science 3+3 Pre-PT)
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Exercise Science Society, Pre-Physical Therapy Club, Applied Anatomy Laboratory Assistant
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because of the accelerated option offered through the Exercise Science program. This major provides meaningful hands-on learning experiences that aid in the preparation for graduate-level coursework. I also chose SRU because it is the perfect size for me and there are many opportunities to easily get involved on campus."

DELANEY PURCELL

Hometown: Brick, NJ
Major: Exercise Science - Pre-Physical Therapy 
Campus Involvement: Exercise Science Society, Pre-Physical Therapy Club
Why I chose SRU: "I chose SRU because it felt like my second home. Being so far from home, I needed a welcoming place where I felt like I fit best. The community is so welcoming and the Exercise Science program is amazing. Slippery Rock is everything and more for me!"

AMANDA REILLY

Hometown: Washington, PA
Major: Public Relations
Minor: Theatre
Campus Involvement: SGA, Rock PRSSA, Cru, Internal Affairs Committee, Campus Outreach Committee, Musical Theatre Society (MTS), and the Honors College
Why I Chose SRU: "I chose SRU because it's an inviting campus with very friendly students. It was the perfect distance from home and just the right size for me being from a small town. It offered me an amazing opportunity and when I came to visit it felt like home."

NATHAN ROZSI

Hometown: Johnstown, PA
Major: Exercise Science - Pre-Physician Therapy
Campus Involvement: The Honors College, Future Health Care Leaders, and The Marching Band
Why I Chose SRU: "I chose SRU because I really liked the size of the campus and how welcoming everyone is. The people here made campus feel like home, and I really felt like I had a place here.”

GABRIELA VERGINIS

Hometown: Massillon, OH
Major: Seconday English Education
Campus Involvement: Delta Zeta Sorority, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Delight Ministries, and Rotaract Club
Why I Chose SRU: "I chose SRU because I loved campus and the size was perfect for me! I love the small town feeling of it while still being close to all the fun things that come with living in a bigger city. It's also a really good school and I could see the care and passion that SRU staff had for education and helping students.”