Saginaw Valley State University

Alec Ward has a gift for solving math problems, and he wants to share that talent with others. "No question, he has been one of our best students ever," said Amy Hlavacek, associate professor of mathematics. "He's already great at teaching others math." And so it only makes sense to Hlavacek that her pupil from Almont would pursue a career empowering others to become strong math students.

There were more than 500 students from Saginaw Valley State University whose determination and commitment to academic excellence earned them a spot on the winter 2017 semester President's List.

In her circle of friends, Madison Laskowski admits she is the one most likely to trip over her own two feet, but she has proven she knows how to put her best foot forward when it comes to making legal arguments. "I'm definitely the goofball of the group," the Auburn native said, "but I'm ambitious."

Driven to solve complex problems, Sarah Albanawi knows her choices defy some preconceptions. The May 2017 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University began her push against convention the day she decided to move across the planet to pursue a bachelor's degree. And the native of Saudi Arabia continued to defy convention when she decided to pursue that degree in electrical engineering, a choice of study rarely pursued by women.

Sloan Klaski looks to the future with excitement and a smile on his face as he describes his goals in the years to come. Many Saginaw Valley State University graduates share his positive outlook; few have faced as many obstacles. A standout football player at small Harbor Beach High School in Michigan's Thumb, Klaski was featured on the front page of The Detroit Free Press sports section in November 2012, but not for making plays on the gridiron. "Klaski leads from the sidelines," the headline read, a reference to how he supported his teammates through an injury that denied him nearly all of his senior season.

In the wake of the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, Jarrod Eaton felt the world shake beneath his feet. Literally and figuratively. Literally, the Saginaw Valley State University student was on the ground in the Asian nation - helping those affected by an initial earthquake that registered a whopping 7.9 on the Richter scale - when an aftershock that registered 6.7 rattled his world.

The disc golf team at Saginaw Valley State University won the inaugural Collegiate Cup Sunday, June 11 at Flip City Disc Golf Course in Shelby, Michigan.

Saginaw Valley State University recently recognized a number of student as outstanding graduates for the 2016-17 academic year.

Isabelle Pacitto came to SVSU with a passion for helping others and leaves inspired to make it her life's work, thanks to engaging with a campus community filled with servant leaders. A social work major from Hartland, Pacitto expected the usual stress and long hours of being a college student, but she was surprised at how "right" SVSU felt for her, and how it not only fueled her passion but also paired it with professional purpose.

Saginaw Valley State University's Office of Student Life recently presented its awards to outstanding registered student organizations and individuals for the 2016-17 academic year.

Data analyzed by a Saginaw Valley State University professor shows that the average time it takes police to respond to serious crimes in the Saginaw region is significantly less than the national average.

Recent Saginaw Valley State University graduate Tory Thompson has received a national honor. The American Association of Teachers of French selected him to receive a 2017 Outstanding Senior in French Award.

The Saginaw Valley State University Cardinal Formula Race team sped its way to another impressive performance, posting the top score among exclusively undergraduate programs for the third consecutive year at the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers Collegiate Design Series May 10-13 at Michigan International Speedway. SVSU placed 45th overall among the 120 colleges and universities from across the world who competed. The Cardinals finished ahead of schools such as Michigan Tech (No. 51), Penn State (No.63) and Purdue (No. 67).

The hard-working, motivated members of the Saginaw Valley State University Cardinal Formula Racing team are hoping for a top 10 finish this year at the at the Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) Collegiate Design Series on May 10-13 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan

Saginaw Valley State University welcomed new members into its chapter of Sigma Delta Pi, the Spanish Honorary Society.

Fifteen students from Saginaw Valley State University's Honors Program delivered their thesis presentations Friday, April 7, inside Gilbertson Hall on SVSU's campus. The topics during the honors symposium ranged from disabled characters in Victorian fairy tales to veterinarian practices in the United States and France to the culture of fraud in the United States. The SVSU Honors Program is a competitive program that selects 80 incoming freshmen students per year. It allows students to pursue their major and minor degree work while providing enriched academic experiences in honors courses, seminars, research projects and social activities. The thesis presentation, during which students discuss and defend their findings to an audience of peers and university faculty and staff, is the culmination of their time in the program.

The College of Business and Management at Saginaw Valley State University honored and inducted 14 students to Beta Gamma Sigma, the honor society serving business programs accredited by AACSB International.

The Saginaw Valley State University Concert Band will perform in concert Wednesday, April 12 at 7:30 p.m. in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre for Performing Arts. This event is free and open to the public.

Ten Saginaw Valley State University Writing Center tutors were among a group of undergraduates selected to present their research at the East Central Writing Center Association 2017 Conference held at Southwestern Michigan College on the weekend of March 24-25.

A collaboration between Saginaw Valley State University and the Public Libraries of Saginaw will help individuals better understand and preserve their family histories through writing.

In total, 19 students were involved in the Saginaw Valley State University Robotics Club in 2016-17.

Saginaw Valley State University's Cardinal Singers and Concert Choir performed in concert "Mozart and More" Saturday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. in the Rhea Miller Recital Hall.

Saginaw Valley State University's Flute Choir performed in concert Thursday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. in SVSU's Founders Hall.

The Saginaw Valley State University forensics team captured multiple awards at the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League State Forensics Tournament on March 18 at Eastern Michigan University.

The Saginaw Valley State University Theatre Department will stage its production of the Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman musical "Assassins," beginning on Wednesday, April 5 in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre of Performing Arts.

Saginaw Valley State University student Rebecca "Becks" Meredith has been selected by the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region to receive an Emerging Leader award for her enthusiastic service on campus and in the community.

A Saginaw Valley State University student's performance helped propel the institution's forensics team to a second-place finish at the Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League Novice States Tournament Feb. 18 at Northwood University.

The Saginaw Valley State University Theatre Department will stage its production of Paul Downs Colaizzo's "Really Really" Wednesday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 26 in SVSU's Malcolm Field Theatre of Performing Arts.

There were more than 500 students from Saginaw Valley State University whose determination and commitment to academic excellence earned them a spot on the fall 2016 semester President's List.

More than 2,000 students from Saginaw Valley State University earned a spot on the fall 2016 semester Deans' List.