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THIEL HEAD FOOTBALL
COACH RESIGNS
For immediate release December 28, 2000
GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College Head Football Coach and Athletics
Director David Armstrong has resigned from both positions effective Dec. 31.
Armstrong - who submitted a letter of resignation to the
college Wednesday, Dec. 27 - joined the Thiel coaching staff in 1996 as the college's 27th head football coach,
replacing former coach Charlie Giangrosso.
"Dave Armstrong did everything the college asked of him -
from building a stronger collegiate athletics program to serving as interim director of admissions," said Thiel
College President and CEO Dr. Lance A. Masters. "He served with loyalty and passion. We are sad to see him go,
but wish him well in all of his endeavors."
Armstrong's letter of resignation said, "I have achieved
many goals at Thiel, and now it is time for me to pursue other opportunities through which I can be successful
in all my goals. I have left Thiel better than I found it, but it is time for new leadership. I am grateful for
the opportunities I had to make wonderful friends for life, and to make a difference in the lives of students."
Under Armstrong's tenure as head coach, members of the Thiel
Football team traveled to Germany in 1999 to compete against Lansburg, a semi-professional team. The Tomcats defeated
the team 29-6. Armstrong's overall coaching record while at Thiel was 8-42.
The search for a new head football coach will begin immediately,
said Masters.
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THIEL HABITAT FOR
HUMANITY GROUP HEADS TO NORTH CAROLINA
For immediate release December 22, 2000
GREENVILLE, Pa. - A group of 12 Thiel College students will
depart for New Bern, N.C., on Jan. 6 as part of this year's Habitat for Humanity mission.
The students and five adults representing Thiel's chapter of Habitat for Humanity will spend a week framing a home.
If the New Bern area is experiencing inclement weather at that time, the group will do interior work on a couple
of different homes, said organizer Joan Heald.
New Bern, the second oldest town in the state of North Carolina, is based at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse
rivers.
Participating students include Kendall Alexis of Kane, Pa.; Jennifer Allen of Pittsburgh; Dawn Brut of Allison
Park, Pa.; Bobbi Erkens of Butler, Pa.; Jaclyn Hanny of Rochester, N.Y.; Don Helfer of Glen Burnie, Md.; Melanie
Henthorn of Norton, Ohio; Jan Hudak of Monessen, Pa.; Aimee Koprowski of Wattsburg, Pa.; Sarah Thompson of New
Kensington, Pa.; Andrew Thurston of Carlisle, Pa.; and Cheryl Williams of Greenville.
Accompanying adults are Heald; Dr. Bill Good, former Thiel professor and dean of the college; Dr. Robert Olson,
current vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college; Susan Breckenridge, coordinator of Thiel's
writing lab; and Dr. Joyce Cuff, professor of biology at Thiel.
The group will depart at 9 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 and will return Saturday, Jan. 13. Housing accommodations will
be provided by the First Baptist Church in New Bern.
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24 GRADUATE AT THIEL
COMMENCEMENT
Appointment to endowed chair announced, honorary degree awarded.
For immediate release December 18, 2000
Dr. Joyce Cuff,
Thiel College professor of biology, invoked a traditional Irish blessing Sunday when she told 24 graduating students
"'May the wind always be at your back."
Cuff was the keynote speaker at the college's winter commencement exercises in the William A. Passavant Memorial
Center and was appointed to the Paul M. Rike Chair in Life Sciences during the ceremony.
"Wind empowers you," Cuff told the graduating students. "And Thiel's education is like the wind
at your back. It's not going to be as difficult to get where you're going."
The graduates are better prepared for life after college with the "four winds of Thiel" -- inclusiveness,
service, education and community -- blowing at their backs, Cuff said.
The following students were awarded their bachelor of arts degrees:
- Misty L. Becker
of Clarks Mills, Pa., a communication and business communication major who graduated with magna cum laude and with
honors
- Sara C. Beers
of Bradford, Pa., a sociology major
- David J. Campbell
of Greenville, a business administration major who graduated with honors
- Rebecca A. Carr
of Pittsburgh, a political science major who graduated magna cum laude and with honors
- Brian P. Cervone
of Pittsburgh, a sociology major
- Rose A. Chomor
of Sharon, an accounting and business administration major who graduated cum laude and with honors
- Elizabeth E. J. Darling
of Warren, Pa., a speech and hearing science major
- LuAnne D. Dunham-Jurczenko,
a philosophy major
- Henry D. Franceschelli
of Struthers, Ohio, a business administration major
- David Gonder Jr.
of Hubbard, Ohio, a history major
- Melissa S. Gregory
of Warren, Ohio, an accounting and business administration major who graduated with honors
- Tracy L. Henderson
of Elrama, Pa., a business administration and business communication major
- Melanie J. Jovenall
of Sharon, a sociology major who graduated magna cum laude and with honors
- Erin M. Koll
of Pittsburgh, a history major who graduated summa cum laude and with honors
- Silje H. Malm
of East Palestine, Ohio, a communication major who graduated cum laude and with honors
- Traci A. Marriott
of Altoona, Pa., an English major who graduated summa cum laude and with honors. Marriott also received the dean's
key, which is awarded to students who made the dean's list all eight semesters at Thiel.
- Emily R. Marsh
of Butler, Pa., a business administration major
- Rachel L. Piktel
of Donora, Pa., an English major
- Kari K. Plotner
of Sharpsville, Pa., an accounting and business administration major who graduated summa cum laude. Plotner also
received the dean's key, which is awarded to students who made the dean's list all eight semesters at Thiel.
- Ella L. Gaston
Preston, a sociology major
- Yoshitaka Tachibana
of Tokyo, Japan, a management information systems major
- Anna A. Thompson,
an international business major
- Deborah L. Wright of
Montville, Ohio, a chemistry major who graduated summa cum laude and with honors. Wright also received the dean's
key, which is awarded to students who made the dean's list all eight semesters at Thiel.
- Aaron M. Ziek,
a political science major who graduated with honors
The Paul M. Rike Chair in Life Sciences was created last spring.
Dr. Paul M. Rike and his wife, Hazel, both of whom were in attendance at Sunday's ceremony -- donated $1 million
to Thiel last spring for the creation of the endowed chair. Rike, a retired cardiologist who practiced at Magee-Womens
Hospital for several years, received an honorary doctor of science degree from Thiel in 1970.
"We wanted to give something to Thiel College that would remain," Rike said last spring of his contribution,
adding that the endowed chair will enable Thiel to attract and retain exceptional professors in the field of biology,
thereby creating better scholarship opportunities for students.
"Dr. Cuff has demonstrated the kind of dedication and leadership in scholarship, teaching and service that
make her a natural for this landmark chair in life sciences," said Thiel College President and CEO Dr. Lance
A. Masters. "We were very fortunate that she was already a member of our distinguished faculty ... she is
precisely the kind of person we would have wanted to find."
Cuff, who joined the Thiel faculty as an assistant professor of biology in 1981, worked with a team of Thiel faculty
to develop an innovative new course and textbook, "The Sciences and Our Global Heritage." The nationally
recognized course introduces sophomore-level students to new ways of understanding global economics, environmental
and cultural challenges. In recognition of her leadership role with the Global Heritage project and her commitment
to student success, Cuff was presented with the 1993 Thiel College President's Award for Teaching Excellence.
In 1996 Cuff earned a Fulbright Award for Teaching and Research in Tanzania, East Africa. In addition to her teaching
responsibilities at the University of Dar es Salaam, Cuff collaborated with faculty and graduate students in the
department of botany and applied microbiology to evaluate local water quality in order to develop better assessment
techniques applicable to tropical climates.
Cuff also conducted an epidemiological study with Tanzanian hospitals and pharmacists to improve the treatment
of candidiasis -- a disease often underreported and not successfully treated in Third World countries.
Cuff assumed the rank of associate professor in 1985 and was promoted to full professor in 1991. She earned a bachelor
of arts degree in biology from Regis College in Weston, Mass., and her Ph.D. in radiation and biophysics from the
University of Rochester School of Medicine.
She served as chair of the college faculty from 1990-94 and is a current member of the faculty council and executive
committee, as well as several other campus committees. She is a member of the American Society of Microbiologists,
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Sigma Xi.
Cuff resides in Jamestown, Pa.
Following Cuff's appointment, an honorary doctorate degree was awarded to Irma Goertzen, president and chief executive
officer of Magee-Womens Hospital and Magee-Womens Research Institute of Pittsburgh.
Goertzen, an advocate of the advancement of women's health care, helped develop an innovative health care delivery
system at Magee's known as "Womancare" - a format which soon will be available in Mercer County.
A collaborative effort between Magee-Womens Hospital and UPMC Horizon, a new $4.5 million Womancare Center will
be constructed in the Hermitage Medical Park in Hermitage. The center, a 25,000-square foot facility, will provide
women of all ages with the convenience of having high-quality, comprehensive health care services at one location.
Goertzen also helped "globalize" the Womancare concept through Magee Womancare International (MWI), an
outreach program to the former Soviet Union. Working with Savior's Hospital for Peace and Charity in Russia, MWI
has established a Woman and Family Education Center, the Woman and Family Foundation, a Woman and Family Planning
Clinic and the Moscow WWC, a center that focuses on the screening and treatment of breast disease.
Goertzen, who is a member of the Thiel College Board of Trustees, earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing
and a master's degree in administration from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Goertzen also is a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Advisory Committee
of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and several other community boards.
She resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, Don. They have four adult children and 10 grandchildren.
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THIEL CHOIR PERFORMANCE
CAN BE HEARD ON WQED-FM
A Thiel Choir performance, which aired on WQED-FM two years ago, will be rebroadcast at 9 p.m. Christmas Eve on
the Pittsburgh radio station. Web users can also listen to the performance by visiting WQED's Web site at www.wqed.org/fm.
DR. JOYCE CUFF, WINTER
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER, APPOINTED TO ENDOWED CHAIR
For immediate release December 7, 2000
 GREENVILLE, Pa. - Dr. Joyce Cuff, professor of biology at Thiel College,
will be appointed to the Paul M. Rike Chair in Life Sciences at the college's 2000 Winter Commencement on Sunday,
Dec. 17.
Cuff, who joined the Thiel faculty as an assistant professor in biology in 1981, also will serve as commencement
speaker at the ceremony. Twenty-three students will be awarded their degrees.
Dr. Paul M. Rike and his wife, Hazel, donated $1 million to Thiel last spring for the creation of an endowed chair
in life sciences. Rike, a retired cardiologist who practiced at Magee-Womens Hospital for several years, received
an honorary doctor of science degree from Thiel in 1970.
"We wanted to give something to Thiel College that would remain," Rike said last spring of his contribution,
adding that the endowed chair will enable Thiel to attract and retain exceptional professors in the field of biology,
thereby creating better scholarship opportunities for students.
"Dr. Cuff has demonstrated the kind of dedication and leadership in scholarship, teaching and service that
make her a natural for this landmark chair in life sciences," Thiel College President and CEO Dr. Lance A.
Masters. "We were unusually very fortunate that she was already a member of our distinguished faculty, but
even if it had been necessary to do an outside search, she is precisely the kind of person we would have wanted
to find - a true gem."
Cuff worked with a team of Thiel faculty to develop an innovative new course and textbook, The Sciences and Our
Global Heritage. The nationally recognized course introduces sophomore-level students to new ways of understanding
global economics, environmental and cultural challenges. In recognition of her leadership role with the Global
Heritage project and her commitment to student success, Cuff was presented with the 1993 Thiel College President's
Award for Teaching Excellence.
In 1996 Cuff earned a Fulbright Award for Teaching and Research in Tanzania, East Africa. In addition to her teaching
responsibilities at the University of Dar es Salaam, Cuff collaborated with faculty and graduate students in the
department of botany and applied microbiology to evaluate local water quality in order to develop better assessment
techniques applicable to tropical climates.
Cuff also conducted an epidemiological study with Tanzanian hospitals and pharmacists to improve the treatment
of candidiasis - a disease often underreported and not successfully treated in Third World countries.
Cuff assumed the rank of associate professor in 1985 and was promoted to full professor in 1991. She earned a bachelor
of arts degree in biology from Regis College in Weston, Mass., and her Ph.D. in radiation and biophysics from the
University of Rochester School of Medicine.
She served as chair of the college faculty from 1990-94 and is a current member of the faculty council and executive
committee, as well as several other campus committees. She is a member of the American Society of Microbiologists,
the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and Sigma Xi.
Cuff resides in Jamestown, Pa.
Masters and Dr. Robert C. Olson, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, will announce Cuff's
appointment following the conferring of student degrees.
Twenty-three students are expected to receive degrees at the 11 a.m. ceremony. Cuff will present the commencement
address, "With the Wind at Your Back." Irma Goertzen, president and CEO of Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh
and a member of the Thiel College Board of Trustees, will be presented with an honorary degree.
The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. Baccalaureate exercises will be held
at 9 a.m. in Burgess Chapel.
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GOERTZEN TO
RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREE AT WINTER COMMENCEMENT
For immediate release December 5, 2000
 GREENVILLE, Pa. - Irma
Goertzen, president and chief executive officer of Magee-Womens Hospital and Magee-Womens Research Institute of
Pittsburgh, will be awarded an honorary degree during Thiel College's Winter Commencement ceremonies on Sunday,
Dec. 17.
Goertzen, an advocate of the advancement of women's health care, helped develop an innovative health care delivery
system at Magee's known as "Womancare" - a format which soon will be available in Mercer County.
"The woman is at the center of all we do," said Goertzen. "Magee's approach is to treat her with
dignity, empower her through education, and bring comprehensive, appropriate care in the community where the woman
lives."
A collaborative effort between Magee-Womens Hospital and UPMC Horizon, a new $4.5 million Womancare Center will
be constructed in the Hermitage Medical Park in Hermitage. The center, a 25,000-square foot facility, will provide
women of all ages with the convenience of having high-quality, comprehensive health care services at one location.
Goertzen also helped "globalize" the Womancare concept through Magee Womancare International (MWI), an
outreach program to the former Soviet Union. Working with Savior's Hospital for Peace and Charity in Russia, MWI
has established a Woman and Family Education Center, the Woman and Family Foundation, a Woman and Family Planning
Clinic and the Moscow WWC, a center that focuses on the screening and treatment of breast disease.
"Irma Goertzen has distinguished herself not only as the CEO of the world's largest and probably finest women's
care center in Pittsburgh Magee Womens Hospital and all of its regional centers, but also through her extraordinary
humanitarian effort to bring contemporary healthcare to women at more than two dozen clinics in the former Soviet
Union," said Thiel College President and CEO Dr. Lance A. Masters. "She is an ideal role model of what
a life of service to others is all about."
Prior to moving to Pittsburgh in 1984, Goertzen was the administrator of the University of Washington Hospital
and professor in the department of community health care systems in the school of nursing.
Goertzen, who is a member of the Thiel College Board of Trustees, earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing
and a master's degree in administration from the University of Washington in Seattle.
Goertzen also is a member of the Greater Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, the Advisory Committee
of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and several other community boards.
She resides in Pittsburgh with her husband, Don. They have four adult children and 10 grandchildren.
Twenty-three students are expected to receive degrees at winter commencement. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Sunday,
Dec. 17, and will be held at the William A. Passavant Memorial Center on the Thiel College campus.
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MARK THOMPSON NAMED
DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS
For immediate release December 1, 2000
 GREENVILLE,
Pa. - Mark Thompson, a 1984 graduate of Thiel College, has been named director of admissions at his alma mater.
Thompson, who joined the Thiel staff on Nov. 1, will oversee the student recruiting efforts of the admissions department.
The Rev. Lindsay Rhodenbaugh, who accepted a similar position at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn., formerly
held the position.
Thompson, who graduated magna cum laude from Thiel with a bachelor's degree in art, was employed for 11 years as
an admissions counselor at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster, Ohio. He also held
admissions positions at The Art Institute of Dallas and Bryant & Stratton College in Cleveland.
He is a member of the Ohio Association of College Admissions Counselors (OACAC) and is a freelance photographer.
Thompson is residing in Brookfield, Ohio.
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