Founders' Day
Seton Hill University's Founders' Day is held annually to honor and celebrate the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill, who, under the leadership of Mother Aloysia Lowe, came to Greensburg in 1882 to establish a new community, new ministries and new schools that would eventually lead to the founding of a four-year college for women in 1918. More than 100 years later, Seton Hill has grown into a co-educational university that continues to educate students in the legacy of the Sisters of Charity.
Founders' Day is held each year in March on or around the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, who is the patron Saint of the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill.
Founders' Day 2026
The theme of Founders' Day 2026 is "Honoring our Founders, Embracing Our Future: Fusing Faith and Reason for the Common Good."
The day's events will focus on the intersection of faith and reason and how the fusion of the two can have a lasting impact on humanity.
Founders' Day 2026 will feature a celebration of Sister Florence Marie Scott, a Sister of Charity, Seton Hill alumnus and professor whose scientific research of marine invertebrates was situated at the intersection of biology, embryology, and zoology.
The speaker for the Mary Schmidt Lecture will be Patricia O'Donoghue, a scholar and teacher with broad clinical and research experience who is President Emerita of Mount Mary College (now University) in Milwaukee. She served as President of Mount Mary from 1997 to 2006. She was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Nursing at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 1997 and served at Carlow University in Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1995, where she was Provost and Executive Vice President among other roles. O'Donoghue, who holds a doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, currently serves on Seton Hill University's Board of Trustees.
Join us on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 for Founders' Day. A full schedule of the day's events will be posted soon.
The Opening Prayer for Founders' Day 2026 will feature a celebration of Sister Florence Marie Scott, a Sister of Charity, Seton Hill alumnus and professor whose scientific research of marine invertebrates was situated at the intersection of biology, embryology, and zoology. Sister completed the research for her doctorate at the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole, Massachusetts. At the time, Woods Hole was the largest marine biological lab in the world. In the ensuing years, Sister Florence Marie became a member of the Corporation of the Marine Biological Lab and a member of the Board of Trustees. For many years, Sister conducted scientific research at the lab, even bringing biology students from Seton Hill to assist her and do research of their own.
Join us in Cecilian Hall for a dramatic presentation about the life and work of Sister Florence Marie. Seton Hill Provost Sister Susan Yochum, SC, Ph.D., will offer a talk about other Sisters of Charity who have contributed to scientific discovery.
Choose from one of three afternoon activities:
Service project and dialogue with the Sisters of Charity at Caritas Christi
Students will work with the Sisters of Charity to pack first-aid kits for Feeding the Spirit and engage in a dialogue with the Sisters about the intersection of faith and reason in our own callings to contribute to the common good.
Photo Scavenger Hunt sponosored by the Orientation Leaders
Founders' Pilgrammage (Weather Permitting)
The Founders' Pilgrimage is a walking tour that begins at the original entrance to St. Mary's Hall and weaves its way across nine different stops on campus before ending at the grave of Mother Aloysia Lowe. At each stop, Darren Achtzehn, Director of Sustainability and Outreach, will offer a brief history about Seton Hill, a volunteer will offer a Scripture reading, and Tony Krzmarzick, Director of Campus Ministry, will lead us in a brief prayer.
The speaker for the Mary Schmidt Lecture will be Patricia O'Donoghue, a scholar and teacher with broad clinical and research experience who is President Emerita of Mount Mary College (now University) in Milwaukee. She served as President of Mount Mary from 1997 to 2006. She was Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Nursing at LaRoche College in Pittsburgh from 1995 to 1997 and served at Carlow University in Pittsburgh from 1979 to 1995, where she was Provost and Executive Vice President among other roles. O'Donoghue, who holds a doctoral degree in nursing from the University of Pittsburgh, currently serves on Seton Hill University's Board of Trustees.