Success Stories
Discover how Â鶹ÊÓƵ students, alumni, and faculty turn education into action. Explore success stories of leadership, service, and innovation that reflect our Franciscan mission. Ready to see where your story begins? Explore how you can join a community that leads with purpose.
Search for success stories at Alvernia
History major, an Air Force veteran, relishes in-person connections
Most adult students prefer the flexibility of online courses, which allow them to tailor learning to their schedules.Michael Barnwell ’26 sought the opposite, seeking the interaction he thrived on during 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.“I wanted th...
Transfer student follows mother's footsteps to find community and a full-time job
The journey of transfer student Lilibet Perez '26 to Alvernia wasn’t exactly traditional. She originally thought she wanted to be an elementary school teacher, only to realize a year-and-a-half into her college journey that her heart wasn’t in it....
Biology major turns early college struggles into research success
PHOTO: Isaac Peterson - back row, second from left - conducted field research in the Amazon Rainforest during the summer of 2025 with faculty from Â鶹ÊÓƵ and Georgetown University. For Isaac Peterson '27, Â鶹ÊÓƵ beca...
Member of inaugural engineering class leaves legacy for female STEM students
For Faith Bentz, Berks County pride runs deep. Bentz was born and raised in the county by parents who met and graduated from Alvernia. She has always kept the institution as a top college choice. The year Bentz started at Alvernia coincided w...