Jelana Boldizar: Finding Herself Through Service and Storytelling

An Unexpected Beginning

Jelana Boldizar reluctantly took Spanish during her freshman year of high school. She did not expect it to shape the course of her life.

"I was so against taking Spanish in high school, but after the first few weeks, I realized that it was easy for me," she said.

Jelana took four years of Spanish and two years of German in high school. Spanish quickly transformed from a subject in which she was skilled into a passion that fueled her desire for connection and service. When exploring college options, the choice to attend SFU became clear.

A Familiar Place

Jelana knows SFU all too well. She is from Gallitzin, PA, just a ten-minute drive from campus. Throughout her life, she has participated in University events and competitions. Her father, sister, and several other family members are proud SFU alumni. Jelana began her SFU journey as a Spanish major. She soon realized that something was missing.

"I wasn't even considering anything related to business," she said. "I thought I would pair Spanish with Education or Political Science."

A Change in Direction

Fate had other plans. Jelana took Dr. Randy Frye's Marketing 101 class during her freshman year. He encouraged her to explore the Communications major.

"I had a wonderful meeting with Dr. Farabaugh and Dr. Rhodes," she said. "That same day, I got the paperwork to declare the communications major."

Finding Her Voice

In September of 2025, she began writing articles for the Troubadour, the University's student newspaper. She currently serves as the newspaper's editor-in-chief. Jelana writes pieces about campus and community occurrences. She has also shared personal stories in the Troubadour.

Leadership and Involvement

She is the president of the Spanish Club. The club hosts cooking, dancing, and movie nights. She is always working to increase campus and community involvement.

Jelana also serves as the vice president of Respect Life, the University's pro-life club. She was recently elected as the club's president for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Faith and Formation

For Jelana, SFU provides more than classes and clubs. It is the perfect place to grow in the Catholic faith. She is a member of the Alta Via program, which was a driving factor in her decision to attend the University.

At SFU, Jelana has deepened her faith through the Spanish language. During her freshman year, the University welcomed two friars from Mexico, Brother Juan and Brother Omar. They taught her the Catholic Mass, Stations of the Cross, and several other prayers in Spanish.

Serving Others

She is deeply inspired by serving others. For the past two years, she has volunteered as a translator at Mission of Mercy, an annual charity medical clinic in Pittsburgh, PA.

"Mission of Mercy provides free dental, vision, and hearing care for anyone who needs it," she said. "There is a significant need for translators, especially Spanish translators."

For Jelana, using Spanish to learn about others is uniquely special. Through Mission of Mercy, she has connected with people from several Latin American countries.

"I've had parents tell me about how dangerous and difficult it was to leave their countries with their children," she said. "I've talked to people who walked here from South America."

Every year, this event gives Jelana something new to reflect on. Her Catholic faith drives her to use her Spanish skills to serve others in a special way.

Expanding Her World

She is excited to put this knowledge to use during her Spanish study abroad. She is unsure of when she will travel, but she would like to go to Argentina for a semester.

Jelana has already traveled abroad through the University. In February and March of 2026, she went on the annual spring break trip to London, UK.

"It wasn't my first international trip, but it was my first trip to Europe," she said. "I immediately knew that I could live and work there one day."

Jelana was amazed by life in the city. In addition to London, she took a day trip to Paris, France.

"I don't speak French, but because it's similar to Spanish, I could kind of read the signs throughout the city," she said.

When Everything Clicks

SFU has given Jelana the opportunity to discover her passion for storytelling and deepen her love for the Spanish language through faith and service.

"This feels like a good fit for me," she said. "Everything clicked."

The Power of "And"

At Saint Francis University, we encourage our students to embrace the power of "and." Every new skill, talent, and challenge they explore here under guidance builds a foundation for something greater. It's through blending passions, disciplines, and experiences that they become someone they are uniquely called to be.

Find your "and" at Saint Francis University:

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