The Bell, Spring/Summer 2019

Thiel College

75 College Avenue

Greenville, Pennsylvania 16125

800-248-4435 • www.thiel.edu

CHAIR, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

John Hudson

PRESIDENT

Susan Traverso, Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS & DEAN OF THE COLLEGE

Liz Frombgen, Ph.D.

VICE PRESIDENT FOR COLLEGE

ADVANCEMENT

Roberta Leonard

VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT LIFE

Michael McKinney ’02

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Richard Orr

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

Amy Schafer

VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT

MANAGEMENT

Ashley Josay Zullo

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Bob Schmoll

The Bell

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Richard Orr

EDITOR

Dominick DiRienzo

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

David Buck, Ph.D.

Dick Davis

Sophia Kostoff ’21

CLASS NOTES

David Hummel ’83

PHOTOGRAPHY

George Cupec ’20

Jason Kapusta

Nate Leary

Ed Mailliard

DESIGN

rex burruss design

PRINTER

Knepper Press, Pittsburgh

Caleb McCracken

Ed Topoleski ’02

Michael McElroy

Allen Morrill

Ed Topoleski ’02

The Bell is published in the spring and fall by the Office of Communications and Marketing, Thiel College, Greenville, PA 16125. Publication inquiries should be sent to aforementioned address, in care of the Editor-in-Chief.

For Class Notes and address changes, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at alumni@thiel.edu.

Thiel College is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies college affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Mark Nordenberg, J.D. ’70, H’97 (left) introduced his friend William Strickland Jr. H’19 to the audience during the College’s 145th Commencement Exercises on May 5.

Dear Alumni and Friends,

In my many conversations about Thiel, on and off campus,  I am inspired by the theme of community. Students gain a  sense of belonging at Thiel. They form deep connections  with others, and they gain the confi dence to become who  they dream they can be. Vibrant and diverse, Thiel is  welcoming and inclusive of students from a wide range  of backgrounds, including many fi rst-generation and  international students. Thiel is recognized for its powerful  community ethos—and for its profound effect on students,  faculty, staff and alumni. Thiel’s infl uence on its regional  community is also recognized and is of growing importance.

On the following pages you will fi nd stories illustrating that  ideal. It takes more than buildings and residence halls to  build a community. The communities at Thiel College are  built around common ideas, academic pursuits, excellence,  programs, shared principles, our achievements and our  connection to service.

As we share this spirit of community, the ripple effects  spread outward. Thiel is forging new partnerships and  collaborations with key employers and service providers  around the region.

It is gratifying to see our students transition from our  campus community to our 15,000-plus member alumni  network. The connection with Thiel begins during the fi rst  tour of campus as a high school student, blossoms during  the fi rst walk up Brother Martin’s Walk and continues  growing with each return to campus or recollection of  the College.

Alumni and friends are welcome on campus anytime, but I  look forward to seeing you even more at Homecoming (Oct.  11–13). This year’s theme is “Let the Good Times Roar!”

Susan Traverso, Ph.D. 20th President of Thiel College

On the Cover

The images are selections from  the many different communities  on campus that make up the  larger, inclusive and welcoming  Thiel College community. Students,  alumni, faculty and staff members  and friends of the College all  contribute in unique ways to make  each person on campus feel like  they “belong” at Thiel College.  Belong is the fi rst part of Thiel  College’s brand identity “ Belong,  Connect, Become.”

Corrections and Clarifications

Cia Cianci ’91 was featured in the Fall/Winter 2018 edition of The Bell. To clarify a few items, she did not want or intend to become a  pediatric nurse, and her U.S. Navy career was 20 years. Also, she  was never an ICU nurse while serving in the Navy. She was a  department head in Groton, Conn. The wrong state was listed for  Groton. Cianci, a retired Lt. Commander, is a nurse at The Citadel,  The Military College of the South Carolina. The original story  incorrectly identifi ed The Citadel’s full name.

Editorial note: The editorial staff of The Bell strives for accuracy,  but regrettably mistakes happen. If you fi nd errors, please contact pr@thiel.edu regarding the error. Provide contact information so we can  verify the need for a correction and confi rm the accurate information.

Read new stories from the Thiel Community online

Letters to the editor Thiel College welcomes feedback regarding The Bell. Letters  must contain a contact number (not for publication, but to  allow for verifi cation of the sender). Letters can be mailed to  Thiel College Office of Communications and Marketing, 75 College Ave., Greenville, PA 16125; or emailed to pr@thiel.edu Letters accepted for publication may be edited for length  and clarity.

I have had the opportunity to witness all members of this community work together with a common goal. I am extremely excited and honored to be joining the Thiel College Class of 2019. There’s a bright future and great things in store for Thiel! I can’t wait to see where the road trip takes us together.

John Frangakis H’19 Board of Trustees member

faculty news

Psychology Professor wins conference award for classroom and quiz research

Assistant Professor of Psychology Kristel M. Gallagher, Ph.D. , was recognized for her classroom-based research.

Gallagher’s research—one of over 100 presentations made at the 41st Annual National Institute for the Teaching of Psychology—was awarded the Frank Costin Memorial Award for Excellence for the research judged by the Institute faculty as best promoting quality teaching methods.

Gallagher’s presentation, “Using ‘Make & Take Quizzes’ to Win the Triple Crown of Teaching – A Simple Strategy to Encourage Spaced Practice, Retrieval Practice, and Elaboration,” reported on the success of an innovative inclass quizzing strategy she developed and began testing in the fall of 2016 at Thiel.

Associate Professor of Physics chosen for conference on student engagement with vocation

Assiociate Professor of Physics Eugene Torigoe, Ph.D. , has been selected to participate in the 2019 NetVUE summer conference, “Broadening the Scope of Vocational Exploration.”

The Council of Independent Colleges through its Network for Vocation in Undergraduate Education sponsors the conference from June 17–21 at the Techny Towers Conference and Retreat Center in Northfield, Ill.

Corita Kent display of restored prints, opening talk showcases student-faculty collaboration

A series of restored silkscreen productions from the College’s private collection from pop artist and activist Corita Kent were displayed in February and March.

The exhibition was the culmination of a 10-week project by two Thiel College professors and a student. Professor of Art and Curator of Art Sean McConnor, Assistant Professor of History Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D. , and student Isabella Bungo ’19 restored damaged paintings and frames and conducted historical research about Kent’s life and professional endeavors. During the summer of 2018, the group restored and conducted historical research on Kent’s classroom artwork and pedagogy.

Kyle Woody named executive director of the James Pedas Communication Center

Busy spring for David Miller ’61 includes surprise birthday party and campus-wide presentation

Professor

of

Economics

and Business

Administration

and

Norman P. Mortensen Chair of Economics David Miller ’61 celebrated a pair of significant events this spring.

In March, the campus community gathered to surprise Miller in the Rotunda Bistro for his 80th birthday. In April, Miller was the keynote speaker for the second annual “What Matters to Me and Why” dinner and lecture for the campus.

Miller began teaching at Thiel College on Sept. 1, 1963. He is the longest-tenured professor in the College’s 153-year history.

Kyle Woody is the new executive director of Thiel College’s James Pedas Communication Center and the James Pedas Endowed Chair of Communication and Assistant Professor of Communication.

He began March 4. Woody will guide the Department of Media, Communication and Public Relations. Woody will also be responsible for programming at the Pedas Center, the Pedas Fellows student program and facilities that include state-of-the-art radio and television studios as well as a 24-hour computer lab loaded with Adobe Creative Suite software.

Jessie Hull, David Miller ’61, Ruth Miller and Ruthanne Beighley, J.D. ’73 at Miller’s birthday party.

Student musicians perform at prestigious Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band event

Two student-musicians in the Tomcat Marching Pride participated in the prestigious 72nd Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Band Concert from March 8–10 at Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Cassie Gray ’20, of Leechburg, Pa., is a conservation biology major and a 2016 graduate of Leechburg (Pa.) Area High School. She participates in concert band and the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride. Jacob Orczeck ’22, of Roaring Spring, Pa., is an information systems and media/journalism double major and a 2018 graduate of Central (Pa.) High School. He participates in the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride, concert band, and jazz ensemble.

Gray plays the flute, and Orczeck plays the tuba. This was Gray’s second time participating in this festival and the first time for Orczeck. The festival concluded with a concert led by guest conductor Major Michelle Rakers, a retired member of the United States Marine Corps.

Alpha Chi, Thiel College’s top academic honorary society, inducts new students

The Alpha Chi national honor society inducted 11 new members at a ceremony in January. Angela Campbell ’19, Matthew Crawford ’20 , Elizabeth Grasso ’19, Mariel Hanely ’19, Nancy Hritz ’19, Brittany Jackson ’19, Kristyn Kinner ’19, Grant Milne ’19, Olivia Stone ’20 , (Eunice) Xin Ning Tan ’19 and Justin Walter ’19 were inducted to the College’s top honorary society.

Alpha Chi National College Honor Society is an American collegiate honor society recognizing achievements in scholarship. The honor society has about 300 chapters throughout the United States.

Five Thiel College students nominated for national college broadcasting awards

Five Thiel College media students were nominated for Intercollegiate Broadcasting System awards. They attended this year’s Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s 79th Annual Conference held at New York City’s Hotel Pennsylvania on March 1–3.

For the fifth consecutive year, Thiel College’s radio station, WXTC, was nominated for Golden Mic Awards. WXTC was recognized in the comedy and news and sports categories. Thiel’s nominees were Bailey Smith ’20, Talia Jackson ’21 and Kira Snyder ’19 (comedy) for Friday Night Gurus; Jackson and Danielle Wiseman ’20 (news) for WXTC’s News at 6 and Shane Young ’19 for College Radio Sports Director of the Year.

Orczeck family helps Thiel chapter of Lambda Sigma make history for the national organization

Thiel College’s chapter of Lambda Sigma became the first in the 42-year history of the national sophomore honorary society to induct five members from the same family with the induction of Jacob Orczeck ’22 .

Also inducted during their time at Thiel were his father, Dr. Shawn ’87; his sisters, Katherine ’18 and Jessica ’19 ; and his mother, Laura (Werner) ’88 .

Strickland: I am

For Manchester Bidwell Corporation founder and Executive  Chairman William Strickland Jr. H’19, Thiel College’s 145th  Commencement Exercises closed a chapter for him.

Sunday, May 5 answered a question he had thought about  for a long time, “Why Thiel?”

In the late 1960s, Strickland applied to and was accepted at two  institutions: The University of Pittsburgh and Thiel College. He  chose Pitt. But he had always been curious about what it was  that whispered to him that Thiel College was the right place.

“There was a spirit that attracted me to this school, and I  don’t know where it came from,” Strickland said.

He said that with his trip to Thiel to deliver the  Commencement address and to be awarded an honary  Doctor of Humanities degree, fi nally he was able to grasp  the essence of that spirit. Strickland said President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., told him the story of the College’s founding  and of Rev. William Passavant’s philanthropy.

“(To) Dr. Traverso’s credit and the Board of Trustees, Rev.  Passavant is alive and well and his spirit is in this room,”  Strickland told the 141 graduates. “So for me to be honored in

the spirit of this man is extraordinary, and I am very grateful.  In fact, I am in love with this school. I was then, and I am now.”

Strickland was introduced by his friend University of  Pittsburgh Chancellor Emeritus and Thiel College Trustee  Emeritus Mark Nordenberg, J.D.’70, H’97

Strickland told the audience about his life experiences  which include founding the Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild  in 1968 to fi ght the socio-economic challenges facing his  predominantly African-American neighbors, surviving a  double lung transplant and meeting the Dalai Lama.

Strickland’s efforts have led to free arts programming for  high- and middle-school students and free vocational training  to adults in Pittsburgh. Similar centers have been formed  around the country and in Israel, including one in Sharon, Pa.

Also during the exercises, Kristyn Kinner ’19 and Jake Morgan ’19 presented the senior class gift of a dedicated  conversation and gathering space in the Academic Center  and Elizabeth Grasso ’19 delivered the senior speech. T.J. Fisher ’19,  Erika Hiwiller ’19,  Brittany Jackson ’19 and  Evan Youker ’19 were the valedictorians for the Class of  2019. Terri Eddy ’19 was the salutatorian.

Chair of the Board of Trustees John Hudson, Trustee emeritus Mark Nordenberg, J.D. ’70, H’97, William Strickland H’19 and President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., celebrate Strickland’s honorary degree during the College’s 145th Commencement Exercises on May 5.

Watch Grasso’s senior speech http://bit.ly/tccommencement2019video

Members of the Class of 2019 march past the new gateway sign at the bottom of Amelia Earhart Drive. The new gateway includes brick entrance ways on both sides of Amelia Earhart Drive and a new sign along Route 18 near the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. A gift from the Frangakis Family Charitable Foundation Trust supported the new gateway project. The Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the trust for its support of the project with a Phoenix Award of Beautification.

Track complex and facilities  celebrate new names

The Commencement 2019 festivities started with a  celebration and naming ceremony for the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex, featuring  the Coach Jack Leipheimer ’74 Field, and the Col. Charles  “Bud” Manes ’58 Track on Saturday, May 4.

Jack Leipheimer ’74, Dr. Barry Stamm ’70, Carol (Yeager) Stamm ’71 and Colonel Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 celebrated the naming of The Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex, The Coach Jack Leipheimer ’74 Field and The Col. Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 Track on May 4.

Members of the Thiel College community celebrated  with a gathering and a brief announcement at the  complex. President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., gave  congratulatory comments in honor of the Stamms,  Leipheimer, and Manes.

“It is a joy to celebrate these individuals and the impact  that they have had on our community,” Vice President for  College Advancement Roberta Leonard said.

This graduation ceremony is one summit of many that we will experience in our lives. Tomcats, I ask you, what will you make of your nine lives?

Elizabeth Grasso ’19 Criminal Justice Studies and Sociology major from Meadville, Pa.

Jessica Vormelker ’19 became the first student to be awarded the Ryan Gloyer ’04 scholarship. She was given the a special stole to wear at Commencement by Ryan’s father, Richard, and stepmother, Michelle Rossi. Gloyer was a decorated combat veteran who was killed in action in Afghanistan in November 2016. She was given the stole at a special ceremony before the Baccalaureate service. Interim campus pastor Brian Riddle ’07 is at the left.

students who wore African-American graduation stoles donated by Antonio Quarterman, Ed.D.

Garret England ’18 made sure that Madison Fullmer ’19 will never forget her graduation day. Garrett proposed to Madison on the lawn in front of the William A.

Confetti falls around Camren Neal ’19 during the post-graduation celebration in front of the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.

Passavant Memorial Center. She said, “Yes.”

Rromano Mitchell ’19 and Brianna Gibbs ’19 were among the

’08

Jake Morgan ’19 and Kristyn Kinner ’19 presented the senior class gift. The class has set aside funds to create a “conversation space” in the Academic Center.

T.J. Fisher ’19, Erika Hiwiller ’19, Brittany Jackson ’19 and Evan Youker ’19 were the valedictorians for the Class of 2019. Terri Eddy ’19 was the salutatorian. Read more online in the Thiel College Newsroom at http://bit.ly/ tctophonors2019.

Legacies celebrate their family connections

For more images from Commencement 2019 go to http://bit.ly/tccommencement2019photos

Ryan Ball ’19 and his mother, Danielle (Senko) Ball ’86.

Cam Cianci III ’19 and from (L-R) his father, Cam Cianci II ’83, his mother, Chris Cianci ’96, and his aunt, Cia Cianci ’91.

Tom Fisher ’87 and his son, T.J. Fisher ’19

Vincent Mion ’19 and his brother Andrew Thomas ’16. The two were also Phi Theta Phi fraternity brothers.

Jessica Orczeck ’19 and (from L-R) her sister, Katherine ’18, her mother, Laura (Werner) ’88, her father, Dr. Shawn ’87 and her brother, Jacob ’22

Brantson Peese ’23, who will begin at Thiel College in the fall, and his brother, Blake Peese ’19

Ruth Walkup ’84 and her daughter Brianna Walkup ’19 Brianna’s brother, Kevin Walkup ’14, also graduated from Thiel College but was not in attendance.

COMMUNITY

Carmen Triskett, center, poses with the Thiel College cheer squad during a recent women’s basketball game. Carmen’s sister, Abby ’22, is a first-year player with the Tomcats. Carmen has Down syndrome and is an enthusiastic supporter of her sister. The Tomcat cheerleaders invited Carmen to cheer with the team throughout the game.

Below (L-R) Aleni Louden ’19 and her son, Kelton, cross the stage during Academic Honors Convocation. Curtis Johnson ’21 and Eligah Flynn ’21 send off the women’s basketball team. New football coach Mike Winslow ’04, Board of Associates member Jeff Wallace and John Hauser ’71 share a moment during the Founders’ Day celebration.

Whether it’s through programs, activities, shared places, ideals, common interests or the shared connection to the College, Thiel creates community.

Affiliation promises wellness benefits for region

Thiel College and Sharon Regional Medical Center—part of Steward Health Care—are establishing an affiliation that will strengthen and augment the health, education and wellness services both institutions offer in Greenville and the region. This affiliation advances missions and strategies for each of the institutions. The proposed agreement will allow

Patty Alfredo began serving as the campus nurse in midApril, through an arrangement with Sharon Regional Medical Center.

Thiel College to provide access to professional training opportunities and education services to students pursuing degrees in health and science, as well as professional health and wellness services to its students and the community. Sharon Regional Medical Center expands on its ability to provide community-based health care services to the campus community and area residents. Sharon Regional would also benefit from a direct source of qualified interns and graduating professionals from Thiel.

Sharon Regional Medical Center began to provide campus health care services in mid-April. Sharon Regional has also President Susan Traverso, Ph.D.

Through the agreement between Sharon Regional Medical Center and Thiel College, the College will be the host site for health and wellness activities put on by Sharon Regional.

Throughout May doctors, nurses and other medical experts hosted informational sessions on campus for the community on stroke awareness, joint pain and heart health. Planned topics include men’s health, CPR month and Alzheimer’s and brain month.

teamed with the College to use its track and field complex for its Healthy Steps program which encourages exercise and brings health care experts into the community to discuss health care and fitness. Plans call for a clinic in August that would be open to students, staff and the general public to provide walk-in health care diagnostic and treatment services.

Thiel College employees joined together with members of the greater Greenville community to kick off Sharon Regional Health Center’s Healthy Steps program at the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex on April 3.

This is a wonderful opportunity to enlarge health and wellness for students, employees and the Greenville community.

“ ”

Thiel and Sharon Regional to host upcoming health talks

Veterans database and other campus initiatives strengthen military community

By David Buck, Ph.D.

The shared bond of military service creates a community that unites men and women like few others. Admiration and gratitude for the contributions the Thiel College military community has made and continues to make have led to a number of different projects on campus.

Thiel College has a long history of students and alumni serving in the military. In spring 2017, Professor of History David Buck, Ph.D., and College Archivist John Hauser ’71 developed a plan to use the Thiel College archives to develop a list of veterans with connections to the College. The project began as part of the History Department’s Introduction to Historical Methods class in fall 2017 and resulted in the identification of 120 Thiel community members who served in the military.

During the 2018-2019 academic year, the list continued to grow and now stands at more than 725 alumni, students (both former and current), and employees (former and current) who served in the armed forces. Over the next few years, this project will continue in an effort to locate all Thiel College community veterans.

During World War II, Dean H. G. Gebert wrote letters to alumni and students who served. Over the course of the war,

Thiel community members gather during the Veterans Day ceremony to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the sun dial near Roth Hall. The sun dial was erected to pay homage to Thiel College military members who perished during World War I.

he received letters from these service personnel. While the actual letters are not in the archives, the Historical Methods students created a database of the more than 670 envelopes that were saved. They are currently starting an analysis of what can be learned about who served and where they served during the war.

In conjunction with the veteran’s database project, other campus events and endeavors ensure the campus community honors and recognizes the contributions of Thiel College’s members of the armed forces.

• The track at the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field Complex was named for retired Air Force Colonel Charles “Bud” Manes ’58. Manes played both football and basketball for the Tomcats from 1955 to 1958 and was named the College’s Student-Athlete of the Year as a senior. Manes took over as the head basketball coach in 1960, serving in that capacity until 1975. He also coached Thiel’s track & field teams from 1959-1989.

• Audiovisual technology specialist Mike Mason was named the veteran’s affairs liaison on campus.

• A Veteran’s Day ceremony was held in November to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the sun dial outside Roth Hall, which was dedicated to Thiel College

students who perished during World War I.

• A veteran’s lounge was created on the second floor of the Langenheim Memorial Library

• Kappa Sigma fraternity hosts a week-long event each spring in support of the Military Heroes Campaign, which is the organization’s philanthropy. The group also raises funds with its See-Saw-A-Thon each fall.

U.S. Army veteran and Director of Public Safety Dennis Bish was recognized by the Society Sons of the American Revolution with the organization’s Law Enforcement Medal and certificate. Bish, a U.S. Army helicopter pilot, graduated from a municipal officer training course hosted at Thiel College.

Call for Action

If you are a veteran or know a Thiel alumnus or alumna who served, please contact Buck at 724-589-2248 or by email at dbuck@thiel.edu. We would like to thank you in advance for your service and help with this project.

Gratitude

an

supporting the sacrifices we have made in our personal lives to get the mission done.

Professor of History David Buck, Ph.D., recognizes the efforts of Historical Methods students Gavin Colligan ’19, Julia Langietti ’2, Joseph Mott ’20, Makenna Sanders ’21, Landon Westover ’21 and Zachary Young ’20 for their work on the project during the spring 2019 semester.

As military members, we don’t ask for anything in return for our service to our country, so it always feels good when the communities we live in take

active role in

Josh Shaffer ’12

Students, faculty and staff tour the veterans study lounge that was created on the second floor of the Langenheim Memorial Library last fall.

Thiel alumni community highlighted by certified success stories

By Caleb McCracken

At the foundation of the Thiel College community is an  academic experience rooted in the liberal arts and supported  by experienced faculty and staff who work hard to ensure  each student is prepared to enter the workforce.

Accounting students at Thiel are a great example of the kind  of training and preparation graduates leave with following  Commencement. For the past fi ve years, every accounting  graduate has been employed or in graduate school within six  months of graduation.

The success recent grads Alyssa Babcock ’17, Tiffany Rohm ’17 and Kelly Thompson ’17 achieved when undertaking the  Uniform Certifi ed Public Accountant Examination is a further  testament to the preparedness of Thiel accounting majors.

For those aspiring to become a CPA, preparing for and  passing the CPA exam is cause for many sleepless nights.  The exam consists of four sections, each of which takes four  hours to complete. After successfully completing the fi rst  section, a candidate has only 18 months to complete the  remaining three. According to the American Institute of

CPAs, the pass rate for any given section of the exam is  typically around 50 percent.

“It is quite an achievement to complete the exam within a  year of graduation as these three ladies have,” said Professor  and David M. Miller Endowed Chair of Accounting Gary Witosky ’79. “The national average is 6.5 attempts to pass  all four parts so doing it in four as Tiffany and Alyssa did— only about 20 percent of candidates accomplish this—or fi ve  in Kelly’s case is truly outstanding.”

Preparation for the CPA exam begins long before graduation,  and students receive coursework carefully designed to  provide the knowledge and skills they need to pass.

“I know it is cliché,” Thompson said, “but students should  make sure they are paying close attention during class  and listening to lectures! When studying for (the exam) I  reviewed the same topics that were covered during Auditing,  Intermediate Accounting and Advanced Accounting classes.”

Thiel also offers a course in Governmental & Non-profit  Accounting as well as a CPA review course specifically  designed to help students prepare for the exam.

“Because Thiel’s accounting classes are challenging, they  helped me further develop problem solving skills which  greatly helped with the exams,” Rohm said. “There was very  little, if anything, covered on the exams that I didn’t have  some knowledge of from my classes. This made studying  easier—not that studying or the exams are easy by any  means—but having that background going into studying  made the process smoother.”

Accounting students and all Thiel grads also benefi t from the  ability to put their knowledge to the test in a work setting.  All Thiel students are required to complete an internship or  practicum requirement before graduation. The combination  of hands-on experience and rigorous academic studies yields  positive outcomes after Commencement.

This kind of success is consistent across Thiel’s other  academic programs as well. 95 percent of Thiel students  have a job or enroll in graduate school within six months of  graduation, and 100 percent of education, neuroscience and  religious studies majors are also employed in their fi eld or in  graduate school within six months.

“The Thiel community fosters this kind of achievement  by connecting students with resources and networking  opportunities available through the faculty and staff, as well  as the more than 15,000-member alumni network,” Vice  President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Liz Frombgen, Ph.D. said. “With this foundation, students are  well equipped to make their mark in their workplaces.”

The professors are a huge reason why anyone comes to Thiel. They always do what they can to get you internships and to develop your resume.

Terri Eddy ’19

New academic initiatives setting up a community of scholars prepared for post-graduate endeavors

By Dick Davis

New academic programs, headlined by the new Environmental Safety Management major, that combine the efforts of Board of Trustees member Mark Marmo ’93, Chair of Environmental Science Anna Reinsel, Ph.D. ’06 and program director David Shafer, are bringing together Thiel faculty, staff members and students.

“I really enjoy working with other faculty on various programs that ultimately benefit our students,” Shafer said. “Gary Witosky (Professor of Business, Administration and Accounting and Department Chair) recently asked me to speak about insurance to his business class. We are crossing boundaries, which hasn’t always happened at other places I’ve worked. It is great working and communicating with everybody.

“The big picture for students is very significant. We are broadening their knowledge range from traditional liberal arts to make them even more prepared for the employment market.”

The Environmental Safety Management program combines elements from its distinguished Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting, which has been singled out as a department of distinction by Colleges of Distinction the last two years, and its Department of Environmental Science. Thiel’s program is the only one in Pennsylvania that uses environmental science as its core element.

Shafer has been active in the field of environmental safety for 40 years as a consultant, government contractor, college educator and employer. As a certified environmental, safety and health trainer, he has led safety-training sessions and programs across the U.S.

Other new programs include a health systems program that will train students to be leaders in healthcare. The program is an interdisciplinary collaboration of the College’s departments of Biology, Neuroscience and Psychology. The program gives students a well-rounded preparation for a career in a health-related field or graduate-level training in health services management, physician assistant or occupational, speech language pathology, or physical therapy degrees.

Other academic initiatives bringing the community together include a new criminal justice speaker series, which is

being supported by alumnus Robert Crutchfield, Ph.D. ’71, and the opportunity to host Callie Crossley, a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Academy Award-nominated documentary director and television commentator, in March for five days on campus. Author and nationally recognized sociologist Ruth Peterson, Ph.D., was on campus in February for Thiel’s speaker series.

In April, students presented their research during the first Scholarship and Arts Symposium. The daylong event included poster and oral presentations across campus.

“[The symposium was] a great experience,” political science major Alonzo Brown ’19 said, while presenting his poster research on how trust affects political participation. “This research wasn’t easy, so being able to talk about it…to answer questions about it, it makes it feel like this is important stuff we are doing.”

Woodrow Wilson Fellow Callie Crossley visitied Thiel in March. Her week-long stay included visits to classrooms, meetings with faculty and staff and a conversation with students during Common Hour.

Inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. dinner celebrates diverse campus communities

Thiel College gathered to celebrate the community around diversity with its inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Awards event in January. The event’s theme was “The Celebration of Mindfulness, Love and Kindness.” Students, faculty and staff members, alumni and community members were eligible for the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. Thiel College Community Service Awards.

In addition to honoring members of the Thiel College community, author, ordained minister, educator and motivational speaker Dr. T. Leon Williams was the keynote presenter. Williams stayed on campus and led a chapel service on the day following the awards.

Brianna Gibbs ’19 was the Student Community Service Award winner. Ronnell Hunt ’15 was the Community Service Award winner, and Pastor Jayne Thompson was the Faculty/Staff Community Service Award winner.

The Organization of Black Collegians hosted a week of events in February to commemorate Black History Month, which included the 19th annual Soul Food Feast and appearance by spoken word artist from Youngstown, Ohio, Doreen Devine Block

Diversity was also an important class issue. President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., taught the African-American Civil Rights Movement Through Film class.

Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion Anthony Jones and students Tarraneh French ’20, Tyrique Coston ’20, Terri Eddy ’19, Trevon Wilmer ’21, Amelia Mutinelli ’20, Timothy Jackson ’19 and resident director Lorne Strausbaugh were presenters at the inaugural Martin Luther King Jr. dinner awards.

‘He puts the Tom in Tomcat!’ Baseball team supports Sun

By Sophia Kostoff ’21

Senior recognition is always a special moment for graduating seniors and their families. For one Tomcat Marching Pride member and loyal athletic supporter, senior recognition became a moment the Thiel community gave back. On Nov. 3, 2018, the Thiel Tomcats baseball team surprised Tom Sun ’19 , an international student from China, by standing with him on the football field for his band senior recognition. Knowing that he wouldn’t have any relatives at the game, captains Nick Fowkes ’19, Alex Lam ’19, Andrew Giesey ’20 and Matt Hultquist ’19 approached their coach with the idea of escorting Sun onto the field. The entire team came out to support Sun, their long-time friend and biggest fan.

“He was very excited,” baseball player Daniel Patrice ’19 said. “He was definitely glad to have us walking with him.”

The idea to walk with Sun began with a dinner conversation. One night while eating with baseball players Patrice, Giesey, Joe Mott ’20 and Tanner Teconchuk ’19, Sun mentioned his senior recognition and said that he would not have anyone to stand on the field with him. It was at this point that the players decided that they would join him. Everyone on the baseball team who was on campus at the time came out to show their support.

“It was nice to see his smile,” Giesey said. “We gave him something to smile about.”

Before their supportive actions that night, the team had a very close relationship with Sun. They ate lunch together every day, and Sun attended every one of their games. Many team members said the relationship they have with Sun has been like that for years.

“I enjoyed it,” Sun said. “They [the baseball team and others] have taught me how to learn well at Thiel College and in the marching band.”

Sun first came to Greenville seven years ago through an exchange program. He attended Greenville High School

with many other Thiel students, including Jacob Morgan ’19, who Sun calls his closest friend on campus next to the guys on the baseball team. Since coming to Thiel in September of 2016, Sun said that his education has improved, and he has a lot of support from various faculty members who have helped him to learn study skills. As far as his presence at athletic functions on campus, Sun said that he attends every sporting event on campus to support Thiel and cheer on the teams to show that he cares about them and he feels that the teams appreciate his loyal support. Looking ahead, Sun said he will miss the friendships he has made the most.

Tom Sun ’19 and Clarrisa Arbuckle ’11 during the sendoff rally for the women’s basketball team in early March. Read more about the women’s team on pages 22-23.

The baseball team said that what they did for Sun was their way of giving back. Sun has been a long-time supporter of all Thiel College athletics and has consistently attended every sporting event to cheer on the athletes.

“Tom is a very inspiring and enthusiastic young man. Our players and coaches greatly appreciate his support and attendance to all our home games,” men’s basketball

coach Tim Loomis said. “We all recognize his absence whenever he is unable to attend because his voice is always above the normal fan.”

The baseball team members said that their action for Sun that day went beyond those who stood with him.

“Tom supports us [all Thiel College athletics] and when we had the opportunity to take Tom out onto the field, it was the whole Thiel community supporting him,” Teconchuk

Tom Sun ’19 smiles while he is surrounded by the baseball team during the senior recognition for members of the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride. The team stood with Sun during the recognition because Sun’s family could not join him for the event.

For as long as I have known Tom Sun, he has always been one of those people who always carries an awesome energy everywhere that he goes. Tom has a school pride that does not go unnoticed. His love for Thiel and his interactions on campus are the epitome of what it means to be an engaged community member.

Jake Morgan ’19

By Ed Topoleski ’02

Danyelle Lucido ’19, Alivia Sidley ’19 and Jess Vormelker ’19 couldn’t have asked for much of a better ending to  their careers. The underdog Tomcats, who danced all the  way to the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship  Tournament semifi nals, fell eight points shy of playing for a  league title.

The Tomcats also had signature back-to-back conference  wins over Washington & Jefferson  (73-64) and Bethany (77-69) in  February. But the Tomcats lost  their last four regular season  games and backed in the PAC  Championship Tournament as  the eighth and final seed.

The Tomcats saved their best for  the conference tournament. They  started the tournament on fi re  in Bethany, W.Va., by outscoring  the fifth-seeded Bison 37-20 in  the first half en route to a 6855 first-round win on Monday,  Feb. 18. First-year guard  Rachel Breckenridge ’22  sparked the  Tomcats with a game-high 22 points,  18 of which came from beyond the  arc. Vormelker scored 19 points while fi rst-year Destiny Johnson ’22 recorded a game-best 10 rebounds.

Led by the three seniors with key contributions from a  talented group of fi rst-year players, the Tomcats showed  fl ashes of great potential during the regular season. Thiel  won the Betty Abgott Invitational Championship in  November with wins over Cazenovia and Alfred.

The win propelled the Tomcats into the tournament  quarterfinals on Feb. 20, where they faced the fourthseeded Chatham Cougars, coached by Thiel alumnus  Dave Saur ’11 Thiel led Chatham 34-29 at halftime and  built a 14-point lead after opening the third quarter on a 13-4  run. The Cougars cut the lead down to three points twice  late in the fourth quarter, but Vormelker made a pair of free  throws with two seconds remaining to secure the win for

Destiny Johnson ’22 was named conference Freshman of the Year

The women’s basketball team is sent off by the campus community before their semifinal loss to eventual Presidents’ Athletic Conference champion St. Vincent.

the Tomcats, 75-70. Sidley, Lucido, Johnson and Vormelker  each scored more than 10 points in the win. Johnson also  corralled a game-best 15 rebounds.

With the win, the Tomcats became the fi rst eighth-seed in  PAC history to reach the tournament semifi nals. It was also  Thiel’s fi rst semifi nal appearance since 2009.

“Going on our playoff run was one word—special,” said  Vormelker. “We were the fi rst No. 8 seed to make it to the  semifi nals ever. To know that we made history by going on  that run while having the support of our entire community  was special. I feel very blessed to have been a part of such  a memorable run.”

Vormelker and Johnson were honored prior to the Tomcats’  semifinal game on Feb. 22 against the top-seeded Saint  Vincent Bearcats as the PAC Player of the Year and  Freshman of the Year, respectively.

In the semifi nal, Thiel and Saint Vincent were tied 36-36 at  halftime. Unfortunately, the Bearcats edged the Tomcats in  the second half 40-33 and eventually went on to defeat the  Washington & Jefferson Presidents to win their fi rst PAC  title. Sidley led Thiel with a game-high 25 points against  Saint Vincent.

Honors poured in for Vormelker after the season. She was  named a fi nalist for the Jostens Trophy for the second time  in her career on March 1. The  Jostens Trophy is a prestigious  national award that considers  basketball ability, academic  prowess and community service.  Vormelker was a D3hoops.com  Great Lakes All-Region Second  Team selection on March 11. It  was her second career D3hoops. com All-Region nod after receiving  Third Team recognition following  her junior season.

Vormelker culminated her career  on March 16 when she was honored  by D3hoops.com as a member  of its 2019 All-America Team.

Jess Vormelker ’19 was named conference Player of the Year

An honorable mention selection,  Vormelker was the fi rst player in Thiel history to be named  to a D3hoops.com All-America Team.

“Being named an All-American was a dream come true,  and I feel so blessed,” Vormelker said. “Coming in as a  freshman I had two goals. The ultimate goal was to help  turn the program around. The other goal was to be named  an All-American.”

Alivia Sidley ’19 scored a team-high 25 points in the Tomcats’ semifinal loss to St. Vincent.

Thiel coaching tree has Mercer County roots

By Ed Topoleski ’02

Mike Winslow ’04 went back to  his roots to design his fi rst staff as  head football coach at Thiel College.  Since taking over the program in late  December, Winslow has hired eight  assistants, fi ve of which are well known  in the local community.

A native of Hermitage, Pa., Winslow is  an alumnus of Reynolds High School  and Thiel College. He was an assistant  at Thiel under head coach  Jack Leipheimer ’74. Winslow spent the last  11 seasons as the offensive coordinator  at Albright College. The Lions compiled  a record of 78-44 over the last 11 years,  made nine postseason appearances,  won two conference championships  and twice qualifi ed for the NCAA  Division III playoffs.

Thiel football dominated regional  media coverage in early March when  Winslow hired  Jarrett Samuels as  the team’s associate head coach and  defensive line coach, as well as Matt Schneider, who will coach the offensive  line.

Samuels served two stints as the  head football coach of the Farrell High  School Steelers, from 2007-2010 and  2012-2018. He arrived at Thiel after  reaching the pinnacle of his high school  coaching career after his Steelers won  the PIAA Class 1A title by dismantling  Lackawanna Trail, 55-20, in the  championship game in December. The  Steelers went 116-32 under Samuels.

They were the state runner-up in 2015,  won seven district championships and  made seven state fi nal four trips.

Opening Day 2019!

Schneider’s father, Dan ’73, was captain  of Thiel’s 1972 PAC championship  team and was inducted into the Thiel  College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2006.  Schneider’s mother, Sheila ’73, is also  a Thiel graduate.

“Matt brings an incredible amount of  passion to coaching this great game,”  Winslow said, “as well as a strong  connection to Thiel.”

Farrell fi nished the 2018 season with  a perfect 15-0 record, the fi rst team  in Mercer County history, covering all  sports, to fi nish a season with a perfect  record and win a state title.

“Jarrett has an incredible track record  of success in developing studentathletes on and off the fi eld,” Winslow  said. “He is passionate about helping  our student-athletes reach their full  potential, and he will be a great asset  in securing local recruits.”

Samuels graduated from Farrell High  School in 1990. He went on to play  football at Westminster College (Pa.),  where he earned a degree in sociology  in 1994.

Schneider served in a variety of  assistant roles, most recently as  assistant head coach, with the Sharon  Tigers for the last 20 years. He earned  four varsity letters and started every  game during his collegiate career at  Bethany College (W.Va.).

The football program made local  headlines again in late April after it  was announced that former Farrell  High School assistants Rob Trudo and  Stan Kennedy, as well as Leipheimer  were joining the staff.

Trudo, who will coach Thiel’s defensive  line, spent the last three seasons as  Farrell’s run game coordinator and  offensive line coach.

Trudo received a bachelor’s degree  and a master’s degree from Syracuse  University. He earned four letters as  an offensive lineman at Syracuse.

“As a team captain who was dedicated  to academic excellence at Syracuse  University, Rob brings energy and  passion to coaching,” Winslow said.

Kennedy will coach Thiel’s running  backs. He previously served as running  backs coach at Thiel and Farrell High  School in the early 2000s. A graduate  of Slippery Rock University, he is  Slippery Rock’s all-time career leader in  rushing touchdowns (52), total points  scored (318) and touchdowns scored

Thiel opens the 2019 Season at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7 against Alfred at Alumni Stadium.

Mercer County Community

(53). He ranks second in program history  in career rushing yards (3,932).

“As a state champion in high school  and record-holder in college, Coach  Kennedy is going to bring an edge  to developing our running backs,”  Winslow said.

Leipheimer, who will serve as defensive  assistant, needs no introduction. He  was the head coach of the Tomcats  for eight seasons (2001-2008).

The Tomcats won 36 games during  Leipheimer’s tenure as head coach.  Under Leipheimer, the Tomcats went  10-0 in the regular season in 2005,  won the PAC title and went 1-1 in the  NCAA Division III playoffs.

“I was really touched when Mike  reached out and asked if I would be  willing to get involved, to think a former  player and assistant coach of mine  felt highly enough of me that I still had  something to contribute to the football

Thiel College Community

program—it was humbling, exhilarating  and kind of scary,” Leipheimer said. “I  felt comfortable being able to teach the  fundamentals and techniques of the  game, but wasn’t sure if schematically  I could still be relevant. However, after  being involved for the past few months,  I feel like everything is going really well.”

Leipheimer became Thiel’s director of  athletics in November of 2008, a role  he maintained until his retirement in  January of 2016.

Leipheimer, who continues to maintain  a position at Thiel College as special  assistant for alumni stewardship  and athletic fundraising, was also  instrumental in the creation of the  College’s new track & field complex,  which is offi cially named the Dr. Barry ’70 and Carol ’71 Stamm Track & Field  Complex, Coach Jack Leipheimer ’74 Field and Col. Charles “Bud” Manes ’58 Track.

College Football Community

“Mike has put together a solid staff of  quality coaches.” Leipheimer said. “I am  confi dent that Thiel football is headed  in the right direction, and I am excited  to be a small part of it.”

Winslow’s Football Connections Bring in Other Coaches

In addition to the five local coaches, Mike Winslow ’04 has also hired Ryan Kuntz as the team’s defensive coordinator, Jim Cessna as tight ends coach and Andrew Geisler, who will coach the defensive backs. Kuntz arrived at Thiel after spending the last twoseasons as an assistant coach at Albright while Cessna was a four-year offensive lineman for the Lions. Geisler played football at Saint Vincent College. He spent the 2018 season working as an intern with NCAA Division I Cornell University’s defense and special teams.

Jarrett Samuels

Stan Kennedy

Rob Trudo Matt Schneider

Jack Leipheimer ’74

Jim Cessna

Andrew Geisler

Ryan Kuntz

Mike Winslow ’04

The Sigma Bottle Club was formed at Thiel College during Homecoming 1991 on  Oct. 26. Each original member paid $5 for a lifetime membership.

The membership fees were pooled and given to Jerry Zaleski ’57, who recently  passed away. He volunteered to buy a good bottle of wine to become the  reward of the tontine (an annuity or prize to be claimed by the fi nal surviving  member of a group). On Nov. 3, 1992, he purchased a bottle of Calvados Cider  Brandy in Paris, France. Sam Alexander ’58 is watching over the bottle today.

On Wednesday, June 27, 2018, the Sigma Bottle Club gathered for lunch at the  home of Zaleski. He and his wife, Carol, served lunch and were a gracious host  and hostess. Ten members attended with six driving from Greenville and four  from the Pittsburgh area. The meeting was important to the group because of the  limited time the group has left together. Borrowing an old football axiom, “We are  all in the fourth quarter, and there are only two minutes left on the clock.”

The group’s rules state, “the bottle of Calvados Brandy should not be looked upon  as a prize won through competition, but rather as a reward for all the friendship   and good fellowship through the years.”

1960s

Gary Fincke, Ph.D. ’67 had his two  latest books both receive national  awards. “The Darkness Call,” a  collection of personal essays, won  the Robert C. Jones Prize for Short  Prose (Pleiades Press, 2018), and “The  Infi nity Room” won the Wheelbarrow  Books Prize for Established Poets  (Michigan State University, 2019).  He has just completed co-editing  the international anthology “Best  Microfi ction 2019.”

1970s

Cynthia J. (Shafer) Levering ’72 completed a three-year term on the  U.S. Department of Labor’s Advisory  Council on Employee Welfare and  Pension Benefi t Plans, known as the  ERISA Advisory Council, in 2018. At  their fi nal meeting on Nov. 16, Levering  was presented with a certifi cate of  appreciation from Secretary of Labor  Alexander Acosta.

William Buchanan ’79 celebrated 30  years with the Pitt Men’s Study at the  University of Pittsburgh in August  2018 where he serves as the clinic and  volunteer coordinator. The Pitt Men’s  Study is part of the National Institutes  of Health-funded Multicenter AIDS  Cohort Study. He is the lead author on  an article published in the December  2018 edition of the journal AIDS

Pictured front row (L-R): Ed Erwin ’56, Chick Dansak ’57, Frank Stratiff ’61, Ralph Wagner ’60; second row: Dick Mamajek ’58, Bob Stone ’59, Sam Alexander ’58, Joe Scafuri ’56, Alex Vuchak ’55, Jerry Zaleski ’57.

The Bottle Club gathers to celebrate its members

remembering Jerry Rabinowitz, M.D.,  one of the victims of the Tree of Life  Synagogue attack in Pittsburgh in  October 2018. Buchanan is also in  his 32nd season with the Pittsburgh  Opera where he has performed in 115  productions of 54 different operas,  most recently the 2018 production  of “Madama Butterfl y” in which he  was cast in the role of the registrar in  addition to his duties in the chorus.

Marilyn (Douglass) Crockett ’79 has  retired and lives with her husband,  Dave , in Carson City, N.V.

1980s

Susan J. McFeaters, Ph.D. ’84 was  promoted to  Associate Professor  at Western New  Mexico University  School of Social  Work. She teaches  completely online  for the Masters  of Social Work Program. She spends  her summer months with family in  Rockville, Md. and Ocean City, N.J.  She lives in Silver City, N.M.

Shawn Pompelia ’86 has been in the  banking industry since graduating.  After Thiel, he attended The Ohio  School of Banking at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and graduated  in 1995. He is the private client  relationship manager for The Farmers  National Bank. He also serves on  the Trumbull Memorial Health  Foundation, is commissioner of the  Howland Park Board, and president  of the non-profi t Eagle Goaltenders.  He and his wife,  Lisa , have two  children, Alyssa and Gianna , and  reside in Warren, Ohio.

1990s

Ken Newman ’96 was named  Assistant Superintendent for  Curriculum of Penncrest School  District beginning in January 2019.  He is excited to bring his family back  home to western Pa. from the Pocono  Mountains region of the state.

2000s

Thomas M. Newpher, Ph.D. ’00 returned to campus on Friday, March  15 to present on Learning at Synapses  and in the Classroom for a group  of students, faculty and staff. He is  Assistant Professor of the Practice  of Psychology and Neuroscience in  the Department of Psychology and  Neuroscience at Duke University.  He and his wife, Shelley, reside in  Hillsborough, N.C. with their children.

Meghan M. Speer ’02 was recently  promoted to CEO of Marketing  Support Network. She and her  business partner took ownership of  the company in August and announced  the news publicly in November. The  company employs more than 65  people in their Pittsburgh offi ce and  provides communication, customer  support and marketing services. Speer  has been with the company since  2014, most recently as vice president  before taking ownership. She lives  on the North Shore in Pittsburgh and  volunteers with many organizations in  the city.

Sonja Monique Heard ’03 is a tracking  coordinator at Primary Health Network  and is serving on the Sharon City  School Board.

Stephen J. McHenry ’05 accepted  a position as an environmental  scientist—radioactive waste  acceptance specialist. In his new role,  he will support the Nevada National  Security Site for the U.S. Department  of Energy.

Justin L. Ehrman ’08 is a senior  accountant with Lifetime Financial  Growth, LLC. He received his CPA  license in Pa. on Nov. 27, 2018. Ehrman  and his family live in Pittsburgh.

Beverley Kozuch ’17 has been  accepted at Philadelphia College of  Osteopathic Medicine and will begin  medical school in the fall of 2019. Since  graduating from Thiel, she has been  serving as both a laboratory specialist  and lab manager of the Culyba Lab at  the University of Pittsburgh’s Division  of Infectious Diseases.

Doris Lucile Zimmerman, an adjunct  professor at Thiel College from 20062014, was elected as a Fellow of  the American Chemical Society in  2018. She encourages everyone,  especially women, to pursue careers in  chemistry. She resides in Warren, Ohio.

The Thiel Fund File

The Rev.

Home: Formerly North East, Pa. but they recently relocated to Monterey, Calif. to be near family.

Profession: Kenneth is a retired ordained Lutheran Pastor of Word and Sacrament of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has served various parishes in northwestern Pa. for more than 51 years. During this time, he has served as the chairman of the Hunger Committee of the Northwestern Pa. Synod for 17 years.

Susan is a retired certified Spanish teacher and taught in a number of school districts in western Pa. She also taught English as a second language to Spanish migrant workers in Girard and North East, Pa. She has also been active as a lay preacher in the Northwestern Pa. Synod.

Why they give: “We believe we should support Thiel for the fine professors who prepared us for our professions and life. Giving financially is a real and important way of saying ‘Thank you, Thiel, for all that you have done for us! We love you.‘”

A short profile of the people who donate to The Thiel Fund, the College’s largest source of unrestricted funds

marriages

births

To Damen Taylor ’95 his first grandchild—a granddaughter, Ariya Faith, on Sept. 18, 2018. Taylor is the president of the Thiel College Alumni Association Board of Directors and the director of finance and human resources for the Three

Rivers Adoption Council.

Emily J. (Petrak) Russell ’14 married Kirk Russell ’14 on Oct. 20, 2018 in Hendersonville, N.C. at Jeter Mountain Farm with friends and family. The bride is employed as a clinical pharmacist with Family Pharmacy. The couple resides in Aiken, S.C.

Amy C. (Mathis) Weyant ’05 married Steve Weyant on Sept. 1, 2018. She is the director of program management at Level Agency. The couple resides in White Oak, Pa.

Jill (Spino) Finch ’12 married Adam Finch on June 30, 2018. Megg Andrews ’13 and Alison (Mastalski) Clutter ’10 were among the bridesmaids.

Corrina L. (Cox) Prutzman ’14 married Kyle Prutzman on July 14, 2018. The couple resides in Jamestown, Pa.

J. Kenneth Laber ’61 and Susan T. Laber ’63

,

The Thiel Fund File

Damon

Home: Mineral Ridge, Ohio

Profession: Superintendent Weathersfield Local Schools in Mineral Ridge, Ohio since 2009.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, international business and Spanish, Thiel College, 1992; Juris Doctor, University of Toledo, 1994; Master of Arts, education administration, 2003, Ashland University.

Thiel Activities: Dohar was radio analyst for Thiel football games in 2002 and 2003 and volunteered during the 2005 playoff season. He served as president and social chairman of Student Government Association and was a member of Phi Theta Phi. Additionally, he was a member of the Phi Theta Phi alumni board.

Why I give: “Thiel is a great part of my life. My years at (Thiel) set me up for success in my professional and personal life. I was blessed to attend this great college and meet the great people of Thiel! Thiel granted me life-long friends and even family. My wife, Nicki , and I along with our kids, DeAngelo and Delaney, have visited and will always be part of Thiel College.

To Thomas Newpher, Ph.D. ’00 and his wife, Shelley, a daughter, Emma Jane, on Sept. 30, 2018.

To Justin L. Ehrman ’08 and his wife, Jane , a daughter, Lucy Louise Ehrman , on March 14, 2019.

To Heather J. (White) Keppler ’11 and her husband, Bret , a daughter, Nora, on May 26, 2018. She joins her big brother, Bentley

To Gwen Marker ’16 a daughter, Lacey Ann Callender, on March 2, 2019.

D. Adam Diem ’05 sent a picture of alumni gathering in Heidelberg, Germany. Diem and his wife, Carrie, were joined by Major Robert Mitchell ’04 and Eric Hauser ’05 and Erin (Rogers) Hauser ’03. Pictured left to right are Mitchell

Diem with his daughter Rowan, and Erin and Eric Hauser

Marilyn (Douglass) Crockett ’79 shared a photo of herself and her Thiel College classmate Rob Baskin ’79 while they visited in Salt Lake City.

Jennifer (Minett) Zackasee ’05 shared a picture of her son, Wahlker Zackasee at Homecoming 2018.

J. Dohar ’92

Marmo recognized by Pittsburgh Business Times

Thiel College Board of Trustees member Mark Marmo ’93 was named one of the Pittsburgh Business Times 2019 Fox Rothschild Outstanding CEOs and Top Executives award winners.

Marmo was one of 15 regional executives recognized. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Zelienople, Pa.-based Deep Well Services, which specializes in well work in the oil and gas industry.

Since assuming his current position, Marmo has increased revenue more than tenfold, from $7.5 million in 2012 to $76.1 million last year. This year, the company is on track to reach $120 million. Under his leadership, Deep Well Services has recently completed the longest lateral well in onshore U.S. history.

Marmo joined the Thiel College Board of Trustees in 2017.

Alumni invited to join students on European tours

Two Thiel College trips to Europe are planned for May 2020. One trip will tour several sites in Italy. The other trip has stops in Bruges, London and Paris.

For more information on the Italy trip, which will include stops in Rome, Pisa and Venice, contact Nancy Antonino, Ph.D., at nantonino@thiel.edu.

For more information about the Bruges, London, Paris trip, contact Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D., at snowinski@thiel.edu.

Pat (Daugherty) Hauser ’63 shared a photo of a mini 55-year reunion of the Class of 1963. Pictured are first row: Cynthia (Hinners) Altschuler ’63 , Gretchen (Young) Gibbs ’63 , Pat (Daugherty) Hauser ’63 , Mary Jo (Enlow) Andrews ’63 , George Owens ’63; second row:

Professor of Business Administration and Accounting and Department Chair of the Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting Gary Witosky ’79 had lunch with three former students. Nick Travaglianti ’11 has started a new job in human resources at Jonathon Rose Companies; Alyssa Chine ’13 is a capital asset analyst at Dominion Gas in Cleveland; Joel Bussard ’09 works at NRP Group in operations. Pictured are Travaglianti, Bussard and Chine

Caitlin (McKenna) Ulf ’04 shared a mini-reunion of some Alpha Xi Delta sisters this fall at Thiel College. Pictured are Sarah (Dellinger) Story ’04, Sarah (Bulger) Boiano ’04, Heather (Cook) Persic ’03, Melissa (Keener) Janoski ’05, Caitlin (McKenna) Ulf ’04, Katie (North) Caldwell ’04 and Jessica (Ferretti) Muir ’04

1963 Reunion

Bill Hauser ’63 , John Urich ’63 and Sam Falck ’63

A REMEMBRANCE OF ALUMNI AND FRIENDS OF THE COLLEGE WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED.

Albert A. Augustine

Stewart E. Bair ’74

James M. Banic ’57

Carol (Harbold) Barnett ’50

Barbara Bistransin

Rae Marie (Gribble) Brooks ’53

Jamel Brown

Joan S. (Davis) Buratti ’67

Cleo Callahan

Gloria R. Cianci

Nicholas Cianci

Gordon L. Collins

Robert E. Cooper ’49

Anthony B. Crognale ’51

Matthew Detelich ’51

Thomas J. Detelich ’59

Flora W. Doster ’74

Richard Doster

Marilyn (Eberhart) Dull ’63

Frank T. Errichetto ’76

Sarah Eutsey

Marie P. (Getzin) Evans ’56

Ann Evans

Robert Ferry

Gregory E. Flinchbaugh ’79

Judson R. Flint

Edwina M. (Hem) Gesler

William Goodpastor

Sara Joan (Wherry) Gorney ’50

Madalyn Gregory

Jerry Grimm

Michael Halliday

David A. Herrick ’83

Mary R. (Reimold) Houghton ’35

Dorothy J. Haines Hughes ’72

Phyllis Huntley

Naoma Hutton

Jeremy Lee Jewell ’06

Carol L. Jones

Walter D. Kahler

Michael J. Kennedy ’76

David W. King ’70

A. Frederick Kroen

Edith Langietti

Katherine Jean Magee

Jane L. Martin ’80

Dean E. Mates ’59

James D. McKay

Richard W. Moore ’57

Sean P. Morgan ’05

Nancy Noir

Gladys Nye

John R. Phillips

Dorothy Rankin

John Rauschenberger ’62

Horace Reichard ’46

Nancy Ridgeway

Gertrude Rococi

Rita Rosen

Linda J. (Graves) Schlick ’69

Charles John Schweikert ’51

Douglas M. Shimrak ’74

Alice J. (Kapalin) Shiner ’60

Joseph D. Simko

Joyce Ann Smith ’54

Jack E. Stoyer

Dennis J. Swartz

David A. Thomas ’70

Linda M. Truax

Henry P. Wasilchak ’77

Charles R. Wertz

Howard J. Weyers ’56, H’11

J. Robert Williams ’46

Jerome A. Zaleski ’57

Raymond F. Zickar ’52

Victor W. Zuraw ’54

Trustee and athletic Hall of Fame member

Weyers passes away

Howard Weyers ’56, H’11 passed away in November at 84. He was a member of the Thiel College Board of Trustees and a Trustee emeritus. Weyers was an important figure in Thiel College athletics and made significant and lasting contributions to the institution as a student, alumnus and trustee. He was awarded an honorary degree in 2011.

Maggie Zuraw writes that her husband, Victor William Zuraw ’54 , always credited Thiel College with opening up his world, and he had many pleasant memories from his four years at Thiel.

Greek letter organizations create small communities that benefit the larger community

By John Hauser ’71

There are many communities within the broader Thiel  College community. Students create their own communities  within residence halls, as a class—think of first-year  orientation and the ‘community-building events’ that we  experienced—as majors, and in clubs and organizations.

The Greek-letter organizations are an excellent example of  the community that is created when like-minded students  band together to create a social environment supported by  its members. The fi rst attempt at having such a group was in  1873, when a group of men tried to start a Phi Gamma Delta  chapter at Thiel, thinking it would be a good fi t since both  President Henry Warren Roth and his brother, Luther, had  been members in their undergraduate chapters. Surprisingly,  both men condemned the attempt and the faculty banned  Greek-letter groups from the campus until 1908, when a  local fraternity, Alpha Delta Mu, was organized (in 1939,  it became Lambda Chi Alpha). The fi rst national fraternity  chapter at Thiel was established in 1915 by Delta Sigma  Phi. The women shortly followed suit by establishing Sigma  Theta Phi (now Chi Omega) in 1916.

These three Greek groups, along with the 10 others which  were established, and in some cases disbanded, since 1911,  have been social in nature. However, they soon realized that,  as a group, they could accomplish things that they could not  do as individuals. From raising money to raising awareness  to volunteering, the “Greeks” at Thiel have been active in  promoting many different causes.

If you’ve been to Homecoming any year in the past two  decades, you’ve seen the “See-Saw-A-Thon” that Kappa  Sigma conducts to raise money for their Military Heroes  campaign, which supports charities for veterans and  their families. Their Military Heroes week also promotes  awareness of the sacrifi ces of our military and salutes our  alumni, campus and community veterans (Read more about  veteran activities on campus, Page 14).

Students gathered in the James Pedas Communication Center and discussed how and why their organization’s philanthropies are important to them personally and how that connects them to the larger community. bit.ly/tcgreeksgiveback

The campus’ only local fraternity, Phi Theta Phi, has raised  more than $1.6 million for Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh  Free-Care Fund since they started walking to Pittsburgh in  1968, collecting money along the way. This year, Phi Theta  Phi collected $54,234—the most the organization has ever  raised with a single walk.

Sigma Kappa has focused on issues dealing with Alzheimer’s  and also participates in the Adopt-A-Highway program,  while Chi Omega supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropy is Autism Speaks and Zeta Tau  Alpha’s “Thinks Pink” campaign raises awareness and funds  for breast cancer research.

Sigma Phi Epsilon, as part of its Balanced Man Program,  encourages its members to contribute to the greater good.  The Thiel chapter holds an annual “Walk a Mile in Her  Shoes” collection, with the brothers wearing high heels  and collecting money along College Avenue to support the  local AWARE chapter for its shelter for victims of domestic  violence. Delta Sigma Phi, which held a Toys for Tots  campaign for many years in the weeks before Christmas,  shifted its focus to the American Red Cross, after the  tragedy of Hurricane Katrina.

Collectively, the Greeks also work together on projects that  benefi t the Thiel and Greenville communities. From blood  drives and campus clean-ups to the Spring into Action  annual event held just before fi nals week, the Greeks are  actively involved in the life of the Thiel campus.

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Save the date 2019 Events

Founders’ Day

Feb. 7

Honors Convocation

Feb. 8

Con Spirito Concert: Dorian Wind Quintet

March 21

Commencement 2019

May 5

HOMECOMING2019

Oc t. 11-13