Campus News
Winter Weekend
Wow! What an incredible, monumental weekend we had here at Thiel College on Feb. 10, 11 and 12. Winter Weekend was all that we hoped for and more!
The weekend began with the Board of Trustees approving the College’s new Strategic Plan, Thiel 2016, on Friday. The strategic plan is built on four pillars: 1) a commitment to academic excellence and relevance, 2) a commitment to a culture of caring and confidence, 3) a commitment to enhanced facilities and infrastructure and 4) a commitment to superior delivery of programs and services. For more information on the strategic plan, visit the strategic plan section of our site.
Unfortunately, the snow came just a day too late, but this didn’t freeze spirits on campus! Friday night, the students enjoyed a bonfire and hot tubs on campus and faculty, staff and board members kicked off the weekend with a social gathering in the Rissell-Schreyer Dome.
Saturday was also full of activities for students, alumni, faculty, staff and board members! The Board of Trustees, Board of Associates and the Alumni Board were on campus for individual meetings as well as an all-board meeting during which President VanAken discussed the College’s strategic plan. Special guests on campus included members of the Dietrich Foundation and family: Anne Dietrich Diemer, Michael Diemer, Ed Grefenstette and Rick Johnson. In the afternoon, Thiel hosted Bethany College for both the men’s and women’s basketball matchups. Also, an alumni reception was held in the gymnasium for all visiting friends and alumni who were in town for the fun-filled weekend.
A cocktail reception immediately followed the basketball games in the Bistro area of the Howard Miller Student Center. You could feel the electricity in the air as everyone patiently waited for the announcement of the initial use of William S. Dietrich II’s historic $25-million fund for Thiel College — the Kenneth and Marianna Brown Dietrich Honors Program. This honors program, which bears the names of Bill Dietrich’s parents who were both Thiel alumni, will enroll its’ first students in the next academic year and will expand Thiel’s current honors program, including more activities and offerings. Watch the archived announcement below!
Following the gift announcement, a sit-down dinner was held in the HMSC with a filled-to-capacity crowd! Alumni, friends, staff and faculty, board members and our guests of honor from the Dietrich Foundation and family enjoyed great food, drink and conversation. The night didn’t end there though. Following dinner, everyone enjoyed the Black & White Ball. Students joined in and everyone gathered in the shimmery black and white ballroom (also known as the Lutheran Heritage Room) to dance the night away!
Sunday morning worship service at the David Johnson Memorial Chapel concluded the fabulous weekend. If you were unable to attend this year’s festivities, please mark your calendar for next year’s Winter Weekend to be held in February!
View a photo gallery of the weekend’s events on Thiel’s Flickr
New! Two Named Students of the Month
Seniors Amy Jane Matchett and Scott Hunkus were named student of the month for January 2012, as selected by faculty members by vote. The Students of the Month must be seniors with superior grade point averages. Matchett is an English and psychology major from Bulger, Pa. Hunkus is an actuarial studies and mathematics major from Kinsman, Ohio. Students of the Month are featured on the Thiel homepage, so check in each month to check out who’s being honored.
Art Exhibit “Seeing Abstractly” by Kevin McLatchy
The spring art exhibit, “Seeing Abstractly” by Kevin McLatchy opened Feb. 29 and runs through April 4. The Weyers-Sampson Art Gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9-11 a.m. and 2-3:30 p.m; Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m.; Friday, 9-11 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. The Gallery is closed March 10-18 for spring break.
Alumni News
In Memoriam
We pay tribute to the following Thiel alumni and friends who passed away during February:
Johnathan College ’04
V. Gwynne Fetsko ’63
David Gibbs
Wallace Sivis ’39
Richard M. Wilson
Spring Phonathon
The Annual Spring Phonathon will begin March 5 and run through April 12. Our fantastic group of 30 student callers will be reaching out to alumni and friends on weekday evenings. They look forward to talking to you, providing you with campus updates and, as always, swapping Thiel stories! Thank you in advance for supporting the Thiel Fund!
Keep in Touch!
Let us know if you have new contact information or exciting news in your life. Fill in the online update form here.
Athletics
Congratulations to the Thiel Tomcat Wrestling team! In one of the closest Presidents‘ Conference Wrestling Championship finishes, the team claimed the 2012 team championship, outscoring two-time reigning champion Waynesburg University. Coach Craig Thurber was named conference Coach of the Year. “Thiel is very proud of the wrestling team,” said Dr. Troy VanAken. “They are a great example of how academic achievement goes hand-in-hand with athletic success.”
Learn more about the wrestling team
Student-Athletes of the Week
Corey Brown, a senior wrestler and criminal justice studies major from Greenville, Pa. and Carley Cobb, a first-year lacrosse player from Highland, Md. were named student-athletes of the week.
More Recent News
Adams, Rozenblad and Harvey Earn Spots on All-PAC Men’s Basketball Teams
Barzak, Muffley Earn Spots on All-PAC Women’s Basketball Teams
Connect with Thiel Athletics
Follow Thiel College Athletics on Twitter and Facebook to get the most up-to-date information on your favorite Thiel athletic teams!
Westmoreland County Alumni Event
March 20 • 5:30-7:30 p.m.
J. Corks in Greensburg, Pa.
Thiel alumni and friends from the Greensburg, Pa., area are invited to mix with special guest President Troy VanAken and other members of the staff.
Con Spirito Chamber Music Concert Series: the American Brass Quintet
March 22 • 7:30 p.m.
David Johnson Memorial Chapel
This event is free and open to the public.
Chicago Area Alumni Event
March 30 • 6-8 p.m.
Wildfire Restaurant in Oak Brook, Ill.
Join President Troy VanAken for an evening of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Little Shop of Horrors
March 29-31
The curtain rises on the Thiel Players’ spring musical production in the William A. Robinson Theater. Show times are 8 p.m., with a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 31. There is no admission fee to the production, but reservations are required.
For reservations, call 724-589-2029 or e-mail reservations@thiel.edu. Please leave your name, phone number, number of tickets needed and which performance you’d like to attend.
Earth Week
April 10-13
A variety of activities and events are planned for Thiel’s annual celebration of the Earth.
Junior Visit Day
April 11
A campus preview day for high school juniors. Register at our Events page.
Tuesdays at Thiel
June 12 and July 10
A low-key summer visit day for prospective students. Register at our Events page.
Next Academic Year
August 27 - Fall semester begins
May 2013 - Education First College Study Tour to Germany and the Alps
Need to RSVP?
For more information or to RSVP to any events, contact Darlene McClintock, Director of Alumni Services, at dmcclintock@thiel.edu or (724) 589-2027.
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