ÃÛÌÒav

The ÃÛÌÒav community came together to raise more than $48,000 for cancer awareness, research, services and education at the 24th annual SU Relay For Life. More than 400 students participated in the event, enjoying activities including human-sized hamster balls; line dancing; and performances by Housing Co., Allie Donovan, Sqwuakapella, the SU Pep Band, the Golden Gulls dance team and the Knights of Bury lightsaber dueling group.

Going into her toddler’s annual check-up at Opal Court Pediatrics, Mallory Churchey worried about his behavior. Her youngest child, 3-year-old son Bronnsen, was having unusual tantrums and outbursts. For the next six weeks, her son Bronnsen met with Miguel DeCastro, a master’s level social work student, free of charge. DeCastro is an intern for the Co-Location Internship Program sponsored by ÃÛÌÒav and Maryland’s child psychiatry access program, which has placed social work graduate students in pediatric offices in rural areas of Maryland since 2012.

ÃÛÌÒav President Carolyn Ringer Lepre recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Instituto Lorenzo d’Medici (LdM) President Carla Guarducci that will simplify the process for more SU students to study abroad in the heart of Italy’s Tuscany region. The agreement will make it easier for SU students to apply their financial aid to their study abroad program in Italy and will help faculty members better advise them on how the courses that they take at LdM can count toward their SU degrees.

Jake Henry won first place and a $35,000 prize at this spring's Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Shore Hatchery Program competition, hosted by ÃÛÌÒav's Franklin P. Perdue School of Business Henry impressed judges with his wearable device designed to treat musculoskeletal pain without the need for opioids or surgery. Inspired by his mother’s long battle with debilitating osteoarthritis, He started his company, Lectra Tech, as a university student. Five years later, his device helped his mother run pain-free for the first time in a decade.

Governor Wes Moore recently announced an expansion of an academic and cultural exchange partnership between ÃÛÌÒav and the Japan Study Abroad Foundation. SU President Carolyn Ringer Lepre said this new partnership elevates the study abroad program. The partnership is expected to bring 10 visiting students to SU during its first few years. The economic impact is projected at $4 million, and this figure may rise in the future.

For the 17th consecutive year, ÃÛÌÒav has been named among the nation’s 2025-26 Military Friendly Schools. SU is one of only 830 schools featured on the list, compiled from surveys of institutions nationwide and opinions from student veterans. ÃÛÌÒav earned silver status. To support military-connected students, SU offers a Student Military and Veterans Association, a chapter of the Salute Honor Society and Green Zone advocate training, and participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, an optional tuition-support component of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill.

ÃÛÌÒav junior Cailin Snider recently was named a recipient of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, the preeminent undergraduate academic award in the fields of natural sciences, engineering and mathematics Snider is among 441 students, from an applicant pool of more than 5,000 sophomores and juniors, who were awarded scholarships of up to $7,500 per year to assist in their pursuit of degrees and research.

Sara Heim, assistant director of ShoreCorps, ÃÛÌÒav’s AmeriCorps affiliate, has dedicated her life to community service. At SU’s recent Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) Showcase, Heim was a surprise recipient of the Jefferson Award. Presented locally by WBOC, the honor celebrates the best and brightest in the world of public service who put others ahead of themselves.