Tag: university advancement

USF News

Support the USF Francis Fund through Giving Tuesday on November 28

Joliet, Ill. – If you have ever wanted to support the pursuit of a higher education for students at the University of St. Francis (USF), you have the opportunity to do so on Tuesday, November 28, a day known globally as Giving Tuesday. Join your fellow Saints worldwide as they come together to celebrate USF students and encourage giving to the university!

Lisa Sampalis, USF Vice President for University Advancement, said that the university’s Giving Tuesday focus for this year is the Francis Fund.

“The Francis Fund allows us the opportunity to respond to the emerging needs of our students, enabling them to bloom and pursue a brighter purpose. Take part in Giving Tuesday and support USF students in pursuing their academic goals,” she said.

Visit stfrancis.edu/givingtuesday to learn more about and participate in Giving Tuesday. For more information on Giving Tuesday at USF, please contact Aindrea Hogan, USF Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, at ahogan@stfrancis.edu.

About Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement that unleashes the power of radical generosity around the world. Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Visit GivingTuesday.org for more information.

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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 Awards Joseph “Tony” Delgado Scholarship at Inaugural Luncheon

Inaugural presentation of the new Joseph "Tony" Delgado Scholarship at USF

photo identification: (seated left to right) James R. Sefcik, Jr. (longtime USF donor and scholarship funder), Jo Ann Delgado (Tony Delgado’s wife), (standing left to right) Amanda Jensen (head USF softball coach), Isabella Landeros (USF softball recipient), Brian Michalak (head USF baseball coach), Matt Lopez (USF baseball recipient), and Michael Slovick (friend and former head football coach)

Joliet, Ill. – In late October, the University of St. Francis (USF) University Advancement office presented the new Joseph “Tony” Delgado Scholarship to its inaugural recipients during a special luncheon event. USF baseball player Matthew Lopez of Morris, Ill., and USF softball player Isabella Landeros of Frankfort, Ill., were named as the first two recipients of the scholarship.

The luncheon event was a special occasion filled with stories of Delgado, his love for athletics, St. Francis, and his community. During the event, longtime USF donor James R. Sefcik, Jr., explained that he started the scholarship in memory of Delgado and the impact he created.

“Coach Delgado was a lifelong friend who made an incredible impact on so many lives. I wanted to ensure that his legacy lives on,” Sefcik said.

Amanda Jensen, head women’s softball coach at USF, echoed the importance this new scholarship has in sustaining Delgado’s legacy.

“These scholarship recipients are carrying the light that Coach Delgado lit in the world,” Jensen said.

Aindrea Hogan, USF Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations, added that scholarships create a tremendous amount of impact for the students who receive them.

“The gift of scholarship is an incredibly impactful gift of generosity for our students. Scholarship funds open doors, allowing goals to be accomplished and dreams to come true. I hope that one day, our scholarship recipients will continue this tradition of generosity by supporting other future Saints,” Hogan said.

Individuals can support the Joseph “Tony” Delgado Scholarship by visiting stfrancis.edu/give or by contacting the University Advancement Office at 815-740-2266.

About Joseph “Tony” Delgado

Joseph “Tony” Delgado, one of only five individuals to have their number retired in the 51-year history of the University of St. Francis athletics program, passed away unexpectedly this past June. Delgado, who celebrated his 80th birthday just one day prior to his passing, was the co-architect of seven NAIA World Series teams alongside head coach Gordie Gillespie for 15 years at St. Francis, including the 1993 national championship baseball team.  Delgado and Gillespie worked together on the diamond for 20 years in all, including five seasons at nearby Lewis University, where they won another two NAIA championships together.

About Scholarships at USF

Approximately 96% of full-time undergraduate students at USF receive some form of financial assistance in the form of over $19.5 million in scholarships and grants annually. To learn more about scholarships and grants at USF, visit stfrancis.edu/scholarships. If you are interested in establishing a scholarship in honor or in memory of a loved one, visit stfrancis.edu/give or contact the University Advancement Office at 815-740-2266.

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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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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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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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Support USF Students through the Day of Giving on March 1

Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) will celebrate the Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 1, 2023, and invites alumni, parents, students, friends, and the community to support one of the five campus projects the University hopes to fully fund. This year’s campaign focuses on projects from diverse areas of campus, including:
  • Future Educators Summer Academy Project
  • Mac Lab Updates
  • Fitness Center Updates
  • Creating a Labyrinth on Campus
  • New Choral Risers
“Our 2023 Day of Giving projects are initiatives that, no matter the major a student is pursuing or their background, will positively impact all USF students. There truly is a project for everyone and we are excited to see how funding these projects will positively impact the lives of all members of the Saint family,” said USF Director of Advancement Aindrea Hogan. To support or learn more about these projects, please visit stfrancis.edu/dayofgiving or call the USF University Advancement Office at 815-740-2266. : : 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. # # #
Day of Giving 2023
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Support USF Students on April 6 through Day of Giving

Day of Giving - April 6, 2022
Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis (USF) will celebrate Day of Giving on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, and invites alumni, parents, students, friends and the community to support USF students as they continue on their journey of servant leadership. “Day of Giving is a special 24-hour time period during which USF invites our entire university community to make a gift and, more importantly, make a difference,” said Kim Kalafut, USF Director of the Annual Fund. In 2021, 100% of USF’s incoming freshmen received financial assistance. This financial assistance is made possible through many efforts throughout the year, including the Caritas Scholarship Ball, the fall and spring annual fund appeals, and special events such as Day of Giving. “Every single gift provides the much needed support for our students at USF.  Approximately 51% percent of this year’s freshman class is comprised of first generation college students – that is, they are the first in their family to attend college. In fact, over the course of the past decade, an average of 59% of each of our incoming freshman classes were first-generation college students. Without scholarship opportunities, their continued education would not be possible. Today’s students are faced with academic unpreparedness as an outcome of COVID. Today’s students need more support than they have ever needed before. Gifts made as part of Day of Giving support our students in their effort to think bigger and pursue a brighter purpose at the University of St. Francis,” added Lisa Sampalis, USF Vice President for Advancement. To make your gift, please visit stfrancis.edu/dayofgiving or call Kim Kalafut, USF Director of the Annual Fund, at 815-740-3610. : : 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 52,000 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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