Siena College is a Franciscan and Catholic liberal arts college located in Loudonville, N.Y. The student population is about 3,000 undergraduats. Siena's School of Science received a National Science Foundation grant worth more than $2 million for a collaborative research project in Antarctica known as PENGUIn (Polar Experiment Network for Geospace Upper-atmosphere Investigations). Siena College Board members, School of Business faculty and students rang the NASDAQ opening bell on Feb. 2 and students toured an investment firm. Over the past three years, Siena's Student Investment Club has outperformed the S&P500 by more than 20 percent. Siena had a 20% increase in applications for admission this year. Paul Ricciardi, assistant professor of creative arts, was awarded a Kennedy Center National Teaching Artist grant, which will support his research in voice training for theatre. Every year during spring break, many Siena students participate in a service trip. This year, student groups travelled to the St. Francis House in Boston, the St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia and to four Habitat for Humanity sites in North and South Carolina. These fun, week-long trips are often life changing experiences. Student-run Charity Week helped raise $21,000 for Hannah's Hope Fund, which is seeking a cure for Giant Axonal Neuropathy, a rare genetic disorder that debilitates one's ability to walk, use one's hands, speak, swallow and is terminal. Cadet Justin'love Smith '10, a member of the men's basketball team, is an Army Scholarship winner, Iraq War Veteran and recipient of the Army's Post-9/11 GI Bill/Yellow Ribbon Program. 76% of students receive their degree within 5 years There are 22 Franciscan friars living in the friary on Siena's campus, as well as a friar in each residence hall. The friars bring the Siena community together by instilling values of diversity, optimism, repsect and service, which help to enrich positive interpersonal relationships. Also, on the basketball side of things: President Obama picked Siena to beat Purdue in his NCAA Tournament bracket. Siena basketball star Kenny Hasbrouck '09 just signed with the Miami Heat on Tuesday.
