CNN ANCHOR TELLS THIEL
GRADUATES TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW
For immediate release May 14,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - CNN anchor Carol Costello urged Thiel
College graduates to "look out the window" during the college's 129th spring commencement Saturday at
the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.
"Taken at face value the phrase 'Look out the Window' means you're missing the obvious. But, make the window
wider, more inclusive, then you've discovered the secret," Costello told the 140 graduating seniors.
The anchor for CNN's morning news program CNN Daybreak also reminded the graduates to "not accept things at
face value."
"A true view is almost never clear - because each of us sees the world in different ways. If we do not attempt
and succeed at envisioning the world as others do, we lose," Costello said.
Costello and Yoko Sakae - founder of the Sakae Institute for Study Abroad - both received honorary degrees during
the ceremony. Costello was presented with an honorary doctorate of public service degree, while Sakae received
an honorary doctorate of humanities degree.
Sakae echoed Costello's sentiment that we should spend time understanding the way others look at the world and
that will help us in, what she stated, should be everyone's "ultimate goal - world peace."
Thiel College conferred 140 degrees during the commencement ceremony. Four students earned both associate and bachelor
of arts degrees. The remaining 136 students were awarded bachelor of arts degrees.
Welcomes were given by Thiel College President and CEO Dr. Lance A. Masters and 2003 class president James Smetana
of Cleveland. Smetana presented Masters with the senior class gift -circular wooden benches that will surround
several trees on Thiel's campus.
In his senior address titled "The Strands of History," senior orator Nathan
Shrader of North Huntingdon, Pa., asked his fellow
graduates to join him in getting involved with the future instead of just watching history create itself.
Valedictorian honors were bestowed upon two students with perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Yaroslavna Zolotukhina,
an accounting and business administration major from Moscow, and Carrie
Williaman, a December 2002 graduate from Cochranton,
Pa., shared the top academic honors.
Melanie Friend,
an English major from Exchange, W. Va., earned salutatorian honors with a 3.97 grade point average.
Ruthanne Beighley, chair of the Thiel College Board of Trustees and a 1973 Thiel graduate, assisted Masters and
Dr. Robert Olson, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, in distributing diplomas.
Dr. Christopher Moinet, English professor, served as faculty marshal. The invocation and benediction were given
by the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Baglyos, Thiel College pastor.
Members of the Thiel Choir, led by Dr. Michael Bray, and Kathryn Gray, adjunct music professor and college organist,
provided special music throughout the ceremony.
Read Carol Costello's address to the students. Click
Here
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THIEL HONORS CAMPUS FAMILY FOR 345 YEARS OF LOYAL SERVICE
For immediate release April 28,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Thiel College honored 26 employees
for a combined 345 years of service at the college's annual recognition dinner on Friday, April 25.
Recognized for 35 years of service was Wayne Petrarca, professor emeritus of health and physical education.
Bonita R. Madura,
library, was recognized for 30 years of service and Dr. William
A. Robinson, faculty was honored for 25 years of service.
William Moore,
maintenance, and Mark Vennis, faculty, were honored for 20 years of service.
Recognized for 15 years of service were: William Allen, maintenance; Scott
Allen, financial aid; Susan
Breckenridge, academic resource center; Barbara Callen,
housekeeping; Susan Cowan, special needs; Tracy
DiGregorio, housekeeping; Patrick Hecking,
faculty; and Carol Jones,
academic resource center.
Those recognized for 10 years of service were: Robert
Bestwick, maintenance; Gayle
Erdice, college advancement; Jeffrey Taylor,
financial services and interim associate vice president; Loretta
Risavi, console operations; Stephanie Strecansky,
faculty and Robert Wells,
faculty.
Employees with five years of service were: Anita Black, career services; Ruth
Leone, faculty; Kristy
Maynard, business office; Victor Miskolitz,
information technology; Amy Petrucci-Effinite, academic resource center; Susan
Swartzbeck, human resources, Angela Virostick,
faculty.
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CNN ANCHOR AND SISA FOUNDER TO RECEIVE HONORARY DOCTORATES
For immediate release April 25,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Carol Costello, primary solo anchor
for CNN Daybreak, will receive an honorary doctor of public service degree from Thiel College at the 129th spring
commencement exercises at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, at the college's William A. Passavant Memorial Center.
Costello, who resides in Atlanta, Ga., will also serve as the keynote speaker for the event.
Costello - who attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio - joined CNN with 13 years of professional television
journalism experience. Costello's career has included anchoring and investigative reporting in Washington, DC,
Baltimore, Md., and Columbus Ohio.
In 1992 Costello earned an Emmy Award for her work on a prime time investigative special on crack and cocaine.
Costello earned a second Emmy nomination in 1993. Other journalism awards received by Costello include the Associated
Press' Best Newscast in Ohio and the UPI Award for Breaking News.
Thiel will also grant an honorary doctor of humanities degree to Yoko Sakae, founder of the Sakae Institute of
Study Abroad (SISA).
In 1972, Sakae established SISA after seeing a need for an organization that would provide counseling for Japanese
students who wished to study and receive a degree from an American educational institution.
Since SISA's founding, more than 5,000 Japanese students have graduated from American high schools, universities,
and graduate schools. More than 800 SISA students are currently enrolled in degree programs at American institutions,
including Thiel College.
In 1988 the Sakae Institute, USA was established in Boston and in 2000 the Sakae Institute of Study Abroad began
in Osaka, Japan.
Throughout her professional career Sakae has been the recipient of several awards including The Algernon Sydney
Sullivan Award from Mary Baldwin College in Virginia where she was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1993.
Sakae also received the Medal of Merit Award from Elmira College in New York.
Thiel expects to graduate 113 students at the commencement ceremony.
Baccalaureate services will be held at 10 a.m. at the Passavant Center. A commencement reception honoring graduates
and their families will be held on the Howard Miller Student Center terrace immediately following the commencement
ceremony.
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THIEL COLLEGE HOSTS DIASABILITY AWARENESS PROGRAM
For immediate release April 25,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - The Thiel College office of special
needs is sponsoring a disability awareness program from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 in the Lutheran Heritage
Room of the college's Howard Miller Student Center.
Dr. Robert McConnell, director of the office for students with disabilities, and Kathleen Strosser, a school psychologist
and the assistant director of the office for students with disabilities, both from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania,
will be the speakers. The program will focus on "Meeting the Spirit of Section 504 and the ADA."
This program is supported by a grant from the Joseph Long Fund, Northern Mercer County Foundation.
There is no entrance fee and the event is open to the public. For further information please contact Susan Cowan,
RN, MSN, coordinator of the office of special needs at 724-589-2063.
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CHI ETA SIGMA INDUCTS
17 STUDENTS
For immediate release April 19,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Seventeen Thiel students were recently
inducted into the Thiel College chapter of Chi Eta Sigma, the college's commerce honorary society which recognizes
scholastic excellence of students majoring in accounting, business administration or economics.
In order to become a member of Chi Eta Sigma, students must be at least a junior and have completed at least five
courses toward the major requirements at Thiel. Students must hold a grade point average of 3.4 in the major, 3.0
overall, and must be elected by majority vote of department faculty.
Inducted were the following students:
Jodie Burr, Letitia Bush, Meredith Chapin, Craig Chaussinand,
Erik Cornelius, Christopher Develli, Melissa Eagon, Aimee Koprowski, Tracy Koceski, Carolyn Kotlinski, Gregory
Liszka, Amy McVeigh, Leigh Mullett, Jaime Pierotti, Rikki Pierotti, Rhylie Rearick and Sara Wise
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THIEL CHOIR SPRING CONCERT IS FRIDAY, APRIL 25
For immediate release April 19,
2003
GREENVILLE, Pa. - The Thiel College Choir and singers
from the community
will perform at the college choir's annual spring concert at 8 p.m. Friday,
April 25, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Penn and Clinton streets,
Greenville.
The concert marks the ninth annual collaborative concert of The Thiel Choir
and Greenville area vocalists.
The program will feature master works across the periods of music history
for choir and pipe organ. Included are works by Bach, Mozart, Schubert,
Vaughan Williams and William Mathias.
The choir will be under the leadership of Dr. Michael R. Bray, director of
the Thiel Choir, and feature Kathryn Gray as organist. The Thiel College
Chamber Singers and the Thiel College Handbell Ringers will also perform at
the concert.
The program is free and open to the public.
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PSYCHOLOGY HONORARY INDUCTS 15 STUDENTS
For immediate release April 15,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Fifteen Thiel students were recently
inducted into the Thiel College chapter of Psi Chi, the national psychology honorary, at a ceremony held April
4 at the college.
In order to become a member of Psi Chi, a student must have completed at least three semesters of college, be registered
as a psychology major or minor, and have taken at least nine credits of psychology. Students who are elected to
Psi Chi must rank in the top 35 percent of their class in general scholarship. They must also demonstrate superior
scholarship in psychology, earning a minimum GPA in psychology courses of at least 3.0 and a minimum overall GPA
of 3.0. Furthermore, Psi Chi members must uphold high standards of personal behavior.
Inducted were the following students:
Johanna Blauser, Matthew Burkett, Kristina Cale, Melissa Clark, Tiffany Durney, Laura East, Anthony Giaramita,
Jan Hudak, Theresa Igersheim, Jennifer Johnson, Katherine Posey, Rebecca Ryan, Jessica Sees, Rebecca Stein, and
Emilie Theobald.
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LOCAL STUDENT NAMED ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AT THIEL
For immediate release April 7,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Michael A. Boiano of Indiana, Pa.,
was named the 2003 L. McClure Lanning Student Entrepreneur of the Year at Thiel College in Greenville, Pa.
The college's Haller Enterprise Institute presents the award annually to a successful student business owner who
best exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit and has successfully started his or her own business.
Boiano, a senior business administration major at Thiel, is a partner with the Indiana-based Campus Corner, an
online business selling Greek fraternity and sorority merchandise such as sweatshirts, hats, bags and jackets.
Campus Corner can be visited online at www.campuscorner.net.
At Thiel, Boiano is a member of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity and the Haller Enterprise Institute. He is a recipient
of the Haller Enterprise Scholarship and in 2001 he received the Haller Enterprise Business Plan Award. He has
been named to dean's list and is a varsity football letter winner.
A 1999 graduate of Indiana Area High School, Boiano is the son of Anthony and Connie Boiano of Indiana.
The award is named for L. McClure "Mac" Lanning, a member of the Thiel class of 1930, who had served
on the Haller Institute's advisory board from 1983 until his death in 2002.
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THIEL ANNOUNCES WINNER OF HEINZ SCHOLARSHIP
For immediate release April 4,
2003
 GREENVILLE,
PA - Thiel College junior Jan M. Hudak has been awarded the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Education Abroad for
2003.
Hudak will use the $5,000 award to study at Schiller International University in Heidelberg, Germany.
Hudak, a psychology major and a medical biology minor from West Elizabeth, Pa., has been studying the German language
at Thiel College for the past three semesters.
"Although my interest (in German) was casual at first, it has grown with each course taken and I am trying
to pursue a course of study in Germany to deepen my knowledge," said Hudak.
"For learning German, there is no substitute for being immersed in the culture and language that traveling
to Germany would provide," Hudak said. "(Germany) is diverse and has a history filled with great achievements
and horrific tragedy. Americans have learned painfully over the last few years that we are no longer an island
isolated from the rest of the world. I want to engage the cultures of the world."
The Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Education Abroad award is granted to a woman student for summer study and travel
abroad at the close of her junior year. It is intended to enrich the student's academic program, provide opportunity
to travel in a foreign country, and improve international understanding.
Hudak is a member of the Thiel Honors Program, the Center for Women's Leadership and the campus Habitat for Humanity
chapter. She has been named to the dean's list and is a member of the biology honorary Beta Beta Beta, the foreign
language honorary Alpha Mu Gamma, the English honorary Sigma Tau Delta, and the psychology honorary Psi Chi. Hudak,
who will graduate in May 2004, is a 2000 graduate of Monessen High School.
She is the daughter of Susan Hudak of Monessen, Pa., and Charles Hudak Jr. of Dravasburg, Pa.
The Vira I. Heinz Endowment is one of the Pittsburgh-based Heinz Endowments, which supports efforts to make southwestern
Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center of learning and educational excellence, and a home to diversity
and inclusion.
Committed to helping its region thrive as a whole community - economically, ecologically, educationally and culturally
- the foundation works within Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the nation to develop solutions to challenges that
are national and even international in scope. One of the largest and most innovative independent philanthropic
foundations in the country, the Heinz Endowments awarded over $55 million in grants in 2001.
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THIEL'S AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY CHAPTER RECOGNIZED
For immediate release April 3,
2003
GREENVILLE, Pa. - Thiel College's chapter of the American
Chemical Society (ACS) is one of 31 chapters selected for special recognition for activities conducted during the
2001-2002 academic year.
One of the society's most important responsibilities is the preprofessional development of students in the chemical
sciences. One way the society accomplishes this is by offering undergraduate chemistry and science majors a chance
to enroll in the ACS Student Affiliates (SA) program.
The SA program has a current enrollment of 7,500 students and offers members the support, privileges and benefits
of the largest scientific professional society in the world.
Thiel's chapter achieved outstanding status and was featured in Chemical & Engineering News, the society's
official national magazine, and in Chemistry, the student affiliates' magazine. Award-winning chapters were recognized
at the 225th ACS National Meeting on March 23 in New Orleans.
Chapter adviser Dr. Kathryn Frantz, associate professor of chemistry at Thiel, also received special commendation
for her role in the development of Thiel's ACS chapter.
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GIANNINI TO ATTEND IACBE CONFERENCE
For immediate release April 2,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Angelo Giannini, associate professor
of business administration and accounting at Thiel College, will attend the annual conference of the International
Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) on Thursday, April 10, in Baltimore.
The conference will center on the convergence of business education, responsible management, and ethics.
Conference material will be used to develop a new business/philosophy course, Business Ethics, at Thiel College.
This course, co-developed with Dr. Arthur White, chair of the college's philosophy department, will be offered
during the spring 2004 semester.
Thiel College is accredited by the IACBE, the premier accrediting body for teaching-oriented, four-year college
and university undergraduate business programs.
THIEL COLLEGE HOSTS SENIOR HIGH VISIT DAY
For immediate release April 1,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Thiel College will host a senior
high visit day titled "Building a Successful Career through Thiel College" from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April
25, in the Sawhill-Georgian Room of the college's Howard Miller Student Center.
James Tokar, former Reynolds High School guidance counselor, will be the keynote speaker. A panel discussion will
be lead by Joanne Schell, Thiel College's director of career services. The panel will be comprised of Thiel College
students, alumni and faculty.
State Rep. Rod Wilt (R-17), class of 1986, and Becky Baker Leary, class of 1985, will discuss how Thiel prepared
them for their careers. Leary is a sales representative with Pitney Bowes.
David Miller, chair of the college's business administration department, Dr. Frank Stratiff, chair of the college's
education department, and Dr. Joyce Cuff, assistant academic dean and biology professor will discuss career avenues
students can explore through their respective fields of study.
Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. For more information or to register call 1-800-248-4435 ext. 2345.
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THIEL, ART INSTITUTE OF PITTSBURGH TO OFFER BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION CULINARY PROGRAM
For immediate release April 1,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Thiel College and the Art Institute
of Pittsburgh signed a cooperative agreement for an educational partnership that will allow Thiel students to earn
a bachelor of arts degree in business administration with a certificate in culinary arts.
The Business Administration Culinary Program, which will be available to students in the fall 2003 semester, is
designed for those interested in the business management angle of the culinary, food service and hospitality industries.
Graduates of the 2-1-1 program - two full years enrolled in Thiel College's Business Administration Program, one
year at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, and concluding with the final year completing degree requirements at Thiel
- will earn a degree in business administration and certification in culinary arts.
"This program is tailored for the student who wants to run his or her own restaurant or food service business,"
said Angelo Giannini, associate professor of business administration at Thiel. "Thiel's end of the program
will teach students the essential fundamentals of running a business, while the Art Institute will provide students
with necessary courses in culinary."
Students enrolled in the program will be required to take business courses such as accounting, business law, marketing,
human resource management, payroll accounting and operations management. Culinary courses include culinary skills,
classical and international cuisine, American regional cuisine, baking and pastry, and food and beverage management.
For more information about the program, please contact Giannini at 724-589-2243 or call 1-800-24-THIEL and ask
for the college's office of admissions.
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