A Different Stage

Opera Star Leah Crocetto Returns to Siena to Teach in Musical Theater Program

By Doug Goodnough—
Special to the Daily Telegram

Last year, Leah Crocetto returned to her alma mater to share her voice gifts with a captive audience during a 100^th anniversary benefit concert.

This year, she is returning to share her talents with Siena Heights University students. The internationally acclaimed soprano will teach voice lessons for SHU’s musical theater program during the 2020-21 academic year.

“Michael Yuen invited me to teach this year to help continue to grow the Theatre Siena program,” said Crocetto of SHU’s assistant professor of musical theater and dance. “I couldn’t be more excited to be teaching alongside one of my dearest friends! Michael and I have performed together many times, and I also happen to be his oldest daughter’s godmother, so this will be a joy. Michael called me on a whim in the winter and said he needed to hire another voice teacher because the program is growing so much, and asked if there would there be any way I’d consider taking the job. I thought about it for 5 minutes, and gave him a tentative ‘yes.’”

Saints Athletics Highlights—Summer 2020

Stancato Signs to Play Professionally for the Detroit City Football Club

Former Saints women’s soccer standout Julia Stancato signed a contract to play professionally for the Detroit City Football Club (DCFC) for the club’s inaugural season. Stancato scored a team-high five goals for the Saints in 2019, and was named a first team all-conference performer. She also was named to the United Soccer Coaches North All-Region second team and was a NAIA Scholar-Athlete.

Student-Athletes Excel in the Classroom (Again) and in the Community

A total of 686 SHU student-athletes finished with a combined 3.0 grade point average for the fall 2019 semester. Women’s soccer topped the list with a 3.64 team GPA. Dance was second (347), women’ volleyball third (3.4), softball fourth (3.33), and women’s bowling fifth (3.68). The top men’s team was cross country, who finished with a 3.19 GPA.

Summer 2020 Campus News

Legacy Room A Permanent Fixture on Adrian Campus

The new Legacy Room made its debut during Homecoming Weekend 2019. Located in the former Farver Lab in the Library, it will serve as the permanent historical display for the University highlighting past and present people, places and events. The Legacy Room is open daily from 9-5. To see more pictures of the Legacy Room, visit our gallery here.

Sissen, Schumacher-Schmidt Present at Conference

On Sept. 28, 2019, SHU faculty members Melissa Sissen and Dana Schumacher-Schmidt gave a presentation titled “Engagement Through Ethnography: What Students Learn When They Write About the Library” at the 2019 Corridors: Great Lakes Rhetoric and Writing Conference.