Saint Francis University Science Outreach Center

01/28/2026

Registration is open for the 2026 PA Statistics Poster Competition hosted by the Saint Francis University Mathematics Department!

· Open to all K-12 students in Pennsylvania
· Four grade level categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12
· Submission deadline is: April 1, 2026
· Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
· Certificates awarded for honorable mentions for each grade category
· Winning posters from Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition

For more information about the competition and to register please visit: https://www.francis.edu/PA-Statistics-Poster-Competition

12/24/2025

Looking for a last-minute gift for someone special? Send their name on a mission around the Moon!🎁🚀🌕

Names will be placed on an SD card that will fly inside Orion when NASA Artemis II launches in 2026.

05/13/2025

Students entering grades 7 to 9 have the opportunity to participate in two exciting, hands-on STEAM-themed camps at SFU this summer!

STEM Art: The Wonderful World of Wool, June 12-13, 2025
🔗 Register here: https://events.francis.edu/event/stem-art-the-wonderful-world-of-wool-2-day-camp

CubeSat Explorers: Mission to Space, July 16-18, 2025
🔗 Register here: https://events.francis.edu/event/cubesat-explorers-mission-to-space-3-day-camp

Space is limited. Sign up today.

04/17/2025

STEM Art: The Wonderful World of Wool is a 2-day camp for students entering grades 7-9 that will be held on June 12 and 13, 2025, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Loretto, PA.

Participants will learn to transform soft wool fibers into beautiful, functional containers! This camp is perfect for anyone looking to try something new and explore the world of sustainable, durable fiber arts. Whether a beginner or someone with experience, students will leave with a unique piece of art and new crafting skills.

Use code 'save12' to take $12.00 off registration (valid through 4/26/2025). Learn more and register at: https://events.francis.edu/event/stem-art-the-wonderful-world-of-wool-2-day-camp

03/28/2025

Registration Extended to April 7, 2025!

THE 2025 PENNSYLVANIA STATISTICS POSTER COMPETITION
Saint Francis University Mathematics Department is pleased to announce that we will be hosting the PA Statistics Poster Competition for 2025! The state-wide competition is open to students in grades K-12 to submit a statistics poster, which is a display containing graphs that summarize data, provide different points of view and answer a question(s) about the data. Electronic submissions will be accepted of a digitally created poster or a high quality picture of a physical poster.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
· Open to all K-12 students in Pennsylvania
· Four grade level categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12
· Submission deadline is: (EXTENDED TO APRIL 7) March 31, 2025
· Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
· Certificates awarded for honorable mentions for each grade category
· Winning posters from Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition
https://www.francis.edu/PA-Statistics-Poster-Competition

The PA Statistics Poster Competition is being hosted by the Saint Francis University Mathematics Department!

The statewide competition is open to students in grades K-12 to submit a statistics poster, which is a display containing graphs that summarize data, provide different points of view and answer a question(s) about the data.
• Submission deadline: (EXTENDED TO APRIL 7) March 31, 2025
• Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
• Winning posters from the Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition

For more information about the competition and to register please visit: https://www.francis.edu/pa-statistics-poster-competition

01/22/2025

The PA Statistics Poster Competition is being hosted by the Saint Francis University Mathematics Department!

The statewide competition is open to students in grades K-12 to submit a statistics poster, which is a display containing graphs that summarize data, provide different points of view and answer a question(s) about the data.
• Submission deadline: (EXTENDED TO APRIL 7) March 31, 2025
• Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
• Winning posters from the Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition

For more information about the competition and to register please visit: https://www.francis.edu/pa-statistics-poster-competition

01/13/2025

Saint Francis University’s first satellite, SFU-1, is one step closer to space! The team of students and faculty recently completed the Mission Definition Review, advancing this groundbreaking CubeSat project designed to study solar flares and their impact on Earth’s ionosphere.

The following students and faculty members were working on the mission in Fall of 2024: Nathan Cammarata, Gavin Ross, Kevin Salmon, Jacob Jolly, Nate Larkin, Savannah Doran, Brady Albright, Thomas Grove, Dominic Gena, John Julin, Brennen Yingling, Evan Sheesley, Nathan Bowes, and Kilburn Russo; Drs. Jeff Mendenhall, Lanika Ruzhitskaya, Qin He, Joseph Karwoski, Tim Miller, Mr. Michael Sell.

Next milestone? The Preliminary Design Review in fall of 2025, with a launch planned for 2027!

Visit https://www.francis.edu/blog/sfu-1-team-rockets-past-key-milestone-satellite-mission to learn more about the mission.

07/02/2024

Gaming Odyssey camp for grades 7-9 from July 15-17, 2024, at Saint Francis University.

Attention future game designers and developers. Unleash your creativity and dive into the thrilling world of Game Design and Development!

Discover the secrets behind what makes our favorite games so captivating. From concept to creation, you'll delve into the magic that turns a simple idea into an immersive gaming experience.
Dive into the hands-on experience of crafting your very own original board game with your own personalized game tokens that you will design and 3-D print.

Immerse yourself in the world of digital game development using GDevelop. We'll guide you through the creation and development of your very own platformer video game, from stages to sprites.
July 15-17, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Use promo code 'save15' to take $15.00 off registration by July 6!
Register Today: https://events.francis.edu/event/gaming_odyssey_3-day_camp

06/26/2024

Attention, future game designers and developers in grades 7-9! This summer, get ready to unleash your creativity and dive into the thrilling world of Game Design and Development.
Discover the secrets behind what makes our favorite games so captivating. From concept to creation, you'll delve into the magic that turns a simple idea into an immersive gaming experience.
Dive into the hands-on experience of crafting your very own original board game with your own personalized game tokens that you will design and 3-D print.
Immerse yourself in the world of digital game development using GDevelop. We'll guide you through the creation and development of your very own platformer video game, from stages to sprites.

July 15-17, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Use promo code 'save15' to take $15.00 off registration by July 6!
Register Today: https://events.francis.edu/event/gaming_odyssey_3-day_camp

05/20/2024

Investigate the habitats of Lake Saint Francis (on SFU's Loretto, PA campus) in this summer camp for students entering grades 7-9. Using microscopes we will look at the smallest creatures in Lake Saint Francis then focus on larger creatures lurking in the darkness. Campers will measure water quality, depth, organism population, water clarity, and much more. This camp will be outside a lot-rain or shine.

June 13-14, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Use promo code 'save5' to take $5.00 off registration by May 28!

Register Today: https://events.francis.edu/event/lake_saint_francis_investigation_2-day_camp

04/08/2024

Many thanks to Saint Francis University Science Outreach Center for their support of eclipse viewing in Hollidaysburg!

03/28/2024

THE 2024 PENNSYLVANIA STATISTICS POSTER COMPETITION

Saint Francis University Mathematics Department is hosting the PA Statistics Poster Competition! The state-wide competition is open to students in grades K-12 to submit a statistics poster, which is a display containing graphs that summarize data, provide different points of view and answer a question(s) about the data.

• Submission deadline extended to: April 10, 2024
• Cash prizes and certificates are awarded for first, second, third and fourth place in each grade category
• Winning posters from Pennsylvania Competition are submitted to the American Statistical Association Data Visualization Poster judging competition

For more information about the competition and to register please visit:

 A statistics poster is a display containing two or more related graphics that summarize a set of data, look at the data from different points of view, and answer specific questions about the data. The competition is open to all K-12 students in Pennsylvania in the four grade level categories: K-3,...