THIEL ANNOUNCES EARTH
WEEK EVENTS
For immediate release March 25,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - Thiel College's Global Institute will
sponsor the college's annual celebration of the Earth from April 7-11. "Befriending the Earth," the theme
for the college's Earth Week 2003 program, will feature a series of lectures open to the public, as well as activities
for Thiel students and local elementary students.
The events for the week include:
MONDAY, APRIL 7
 "When Smoke Ran Like Water,"
Public Lecture and Book Signing: 7 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center (HMSC). Co-sponsored
by the Thiel College Center for Women's Leadership.
Dr. Devra Lee Davis, world-renowned epidemiologist and researcher on the environmental causes of breast cancer
and chronic disease, will discuss her latest book, "When Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception
and the Battle Against Pollution." Her book examines how environmental toxins contribute to a broad spectrum
of human diseases, including breast cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and emphysema. A finalist for a 2002
National Book Award, the book also addresses the 1948 smog emergency in the western Pennsylvania town of Donora,
Pa. Newspapers reported that 21 people died - including much of Davis' family - over two days as a direct result
of the smog, and more than a third of the town's population became ill or were hospitalized.
Davis is visiting professor of public policy at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School and senior advisor to
the World Health Organization. Directly following her presentation, a book signing will be held in the Lutheran
Heritage Room. Her book will be available for purchase at the Thiel College Book Store. The event is free and open
to the public. A reception will follow.
TUESDAY, APRIL 8
Student Workshops:
Thiel students and faculty kick off the celebration of the Earth during a day of action-packed hands-on workshop
sessions for area elementary students in grades 4 through 6. More than 400 students from Greenville, St. Michael
School, Reynolds, Jamestown, Commodore Perry, St. Joseph School and Notre Dame School will participate.
Workshops will be presented by the Carnegie Science Center "Science on the Road" team, the Carnegie Museum
of Natural History Education Team, and members of the Thiel College biology honorary.
Highlights include:
Unisphere: Students
will learn about the night sky in a portable planetarium.
Seasons of the Seneca:
Students will find out how the Seneca tribe thrived using gifts of Mother Nature.
Environmental Island:
Earth's resources are used to create a dynamic new product, but a problem arises as the environmental impact is
brought to light. Students will work together to find a solution.
Earthballoon: A
whole new world will be discovered as students consider environmental concerns from inside a huge balloon.
African Mammals:
Students will take a closer look at the predator and prey relationship.
Insect World: Students
will learn about the interaction of humans with the insect world.
International Development:
"What Is It? How Does It Work?," 7 p.m., Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center (HMSC)
Thiel College alumna Barbara Friday of Trust of the Americas and World Bank will discuss international
development, who the major players are, international issues and how donor policies are translated into foreign
assistance programs and projects.
Friday, who earned a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish from Thiel in 1973, is an international development consultant
with an expertise in anti-corruption and civil society programs. With 20 years of experience working on donor funded
projects throughout Latin America, her clients include USAID, the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank
and the Organization of American States.
Most recently Friday assessed the phenomenon of corruption in Bolivia and recommended areas of potential USAID
support for the government's anti-corruption program. Following the devastation of Hurricane Mitch in Central America,
she assisted the Government of El Salvador prepare a Transparency Strategy as part of its requirements for donor
funding for disaster recovery. She has overseen civil society projects in Guatemala, El Salvador and South Africa
that aim to deepen the advocacy skills of groups historically excluded from the political process.
The lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9
Annual tree-planting ceremony,
noon, Brother Martin's Walk
Presentation of the Leadership
and Environmental Education Award, 6:45 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, HMSC.
This award is given to a local educator who has demonstrated a commitment to environmental education, conservation,
and/or biodiversity.
"Promises and Q&A,"
Film Screening and Question & Answer Segment, 7 p.m., Lutheran Heritage Room, HMSC
The highly-acclaimed and award-winning documentary "Promises" will be shown at 7 p.m., followed by a
question-and-answer segment with the film's producer and director Justine Shapiro.
"Promises," which earned an Emmy Award for Best Documentary and for Best Background Analysis, an Academy
Award nomination for Best Documentary, and numerous other awards, explores the Middle East conflict through the
eyes of seven Palestinian and Israeli children between the ages of 9 and 13.
Shapiro hosts and co-writes the PBS award-winning adventure travel series "Lonely Planet," which is broadcast
to a global audience of 35 million. An actress for 15 years in theater, film and television, traveling the world
with "Lonely Planet" inspired Shapiro to turn to non-fiction filmmaking. "Promises" is her
first feature-length film.
The event is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
The film will also be shown in the college's Bly Lecture Hall, Academic Center, on the following dates. Viewings
are free and open to the public.
Monday, April 7: 9 p.m.
Tuesday, April 8: 9 p.m.
Thursday, April 10: 9 p.m.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10
"Protecting the Oceans,"
Public Lecture, 7:30 p.m. Lutheran Heritage Room, HMSC
Paul Watson, a founding member of the Greenpeace Foundation, is also founder and current president of The Sea Shepherd
Conservation Society. He will discuss the contemporary challenges to protecting our oceans.
Watson, a master mariner, founded The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society in 1977 to fight against whale and seal
hunting. Between 1971 and 1977, Watson served as First Officer on all the Greenpeace voyages to protect whales.
In 1975, he led the Greenpeace expeditions to protect harp seals on the ice floes off Newfoundland.
In 1977 Watson founded the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, an organization dedicated to research, investigation
and enforcement of laws, treaties, resolutions and regulations established to protect marine wildlife worldwide.
In 1984 Watson founded Friends of the Wolf in an effort to end aerial wolf-hunting in British Columbia, the Yukon
and Alaska.
Watson's lecture is free and open to the public. A reception will follow.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11
"Rainforest Café,"
7:30 p.m. Rotunda Bistro, HMSC
Grab a cup of coffee and listen to the sounds of talented local musicians. The Coffeehouse will feature Thiel students,
faculty, and members of the Greenville community. Open to the public.
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THIEL COLLEGE BUSINESS PROGRAM EARNS ACCREDITATION
For immediate release March 25,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - The Thiel College business program
recently was awarded initial accreditation by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE).
IACBE, based in Overland, Kan., is the premier accrediting body for teaching-oriented, four-year college and university
undergraduate business programs.
"Receiving this accreditation is wonderful news and it just reinforces what we have always known - that we
offer a top-rate business program to our students," said Prof. David Miller, chair of the college's business
department.
"This accreditation gives our business students a competitive edge when applying to grad school and it also
gives Thiel equal or better footing with other schools in the area," said Angelo Giannini, associate professor
of business administration and accounting, who served as liaison to the IACBE and facilitated the accreditation
process.
Thiel College's business program offers bachelor's degrees in accounting, business administration, international
business and business communication programs, as well as an associate of arts degree in accounting.
IACBE was established in 1997 "to promote and support quality business management worldwide" through
"the measurement and assessment of effectiveness of business management education, the measurement and assessment
of learning outcomes, and the identification of changes and improvements that are needed as a result of the assessment
activity."
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THIEL TO
HOLD PRAYER FOR PEACE
For immediate release March 24,
2003
Members of the Thiel College community are invited
to gather in Burgess Chapel in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center from noon to 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, March
27, to participate in prayer for peace ceremony during the current global conflict.
Please contact Emily Meyer at ext. 3730 or the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Baglyos, campus pastor, at ext. 2130 with any questions.
THIEL CO-SPONSORS
LENTEN SERIES
For immediate release March 24,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - As part of the Lenten season,
Thiel College Campus Ministry, in conjunction with Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and St. Michael Roman Catholic
Church, both located in Greenville, is sponsoring "Lent 2003: Growing in Discipleship Through the Gospel of
Mark," a series of Lenten events.
Each event will begin at 5:45 p.m. with a light Lenten meal of soup, bread, fruit and a beverage. The presentations
will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by an evening prayer from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26,
St. Michael Roman Catholic Church, 85 N. High St.: The Most Rev. Donald Trautman, Catholic Bishop of Erie, will
present "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told: The Passion Narratives According to Mark and John."
Wednesday, April 2,
Thiel College's Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center: Dr. Allan Mosher, professor of music, Youngstown
State University, will present "A Dramatic Recitation of Mark's Passion."
Wednesday, April 9,
at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, corner of Penn Avenue and Clinton Street: The Rev. Ralph Jones, Bishop of Northwestern
Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, will present "Discipleship and the Cross
in the Gospel of Mark."
The public is invited. For more information, call 724-589-2130 or 724-588-8870.
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AUBRECHT
HIRED AS PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR AT THIEL COLLEGE
For immediate release March 18,
2003
 GREENVILLE, PA - Donald J. Aubrecht of McKees Rocks, Pa., has been
named director of public safety at Thiel College, effective Monday, March 17.
With over 20 years in law enforcement, he will be responsible for the management of campus safety and security
functions. He will oversee the provision of assistance for campus residents, visitors and outside agencies, as
well as supervise the college's foot, bicycle and motorized patrols of campus buildings and property. He also will
manage the investigation, reporting and interagency coordination of campus incidents.
"We feel very fortunate to have a man of Aubrecht's experience and knowledge lead our public safety department,"
said William J. Beil, interim associate vice president for business. "He has had a distinguished 25-year career
in law enforcement, and with a background in the college setting, Aubrecht understands the unique requirements
of overseeing a public safety department that serves an educational institution."
Since 1985, Aubrecht had been serving as a sergeant with La Roche College in Pittsburgh. He had also been chief
of police and security at Sto-Rox School District in Pittsburgh since 1993.
During his years in law enforcement, Aubrecht has been employed as police chief and borough manager for Evans City
(Pa.) and police chief for the Homestead, Wall, Burgettstown, and Mars boroughs in Pennsylvania. He also was assistant
director of safety and security at the Community College of Allegheny College (CCAC) and began his career as a
campus police officer at the University of Pittsburgh.
He has received numerous awards and commendations throughout his career and is a member of the National Association
of Chiefs of Police, American Federation of Police Officers, Pennsylvania Juvenile Officers Association, United
States Marshals and Peace Officers Association of America, Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Directors
Association, and the National School Security and Police Directors Association, among other organizations.
Aubrecht holds an associate's degree in criminology from CCAC. He has trained at various institutes throughout
his career including the University of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny County Police Academy, the United States Federal
Marshals Training Academy and Beaver County Community College.
He and his wife, Rafaela, have three children.
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THIEL COLLEGE
ANNOUNCES 9TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL FOOD FAIR
For immediate release March 14,
2003
GREENVILLE, PA - The Thiel College International
Student Organization (ISO) will host the 9th annual International Food Fair from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 23,
in the food court of the college's Howard Miller Student Center.
The countries represented with traditional cuisine will be Russia, Japan, Korea, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan,
Georgia, Sudan, and Puerto Rico.
There is an entrance fee and the event is open to the public.
For more information about the food fair, please contact Brad Skippon, coordinator of international students, at
724-589-2036.
BETA BETA BETA INDUCTIONS HELD FEB.
27TH
For immediate release March 11, 2003
The Thiel College Biology Department inducted 13 students into the Kappa Chapter of the national biological honorary
society Beta Beta Beta.
The newest full members are:
Julie Boddorf, Joshua Caldwell, Tucker Copenhaver,
Hillary Geiser, Caleb Goist, Robyn Hovey, Jan Hudak, and Elizabeth Peck.
New associate members are:
Katie Brashear, Stephani Day, Erika Foster, Kathryn
Ryder, and Hope Young.
Newly elected officers for 2003-2004 are: President; Krystal Gleese; Vice President Joshua Lister; Secretary Jan
Hudak; Treasurer Elizabeth Rial; Historian Tiffany Wilks; and SGA representative Amber Eisel.
The Kappa Chapter of Tri-Beta began in 1927 and remains one of the oldest organizations on campus. The purposes
of Tri-Beta are to promote scholarship in the biological sciences, to further the dissemination of biological knowledge,
and to encourage research.
To be eligible for full membership, students must have completed three biology classes with a biology GPA of 3.0.
For associate membership, students must have completed one biology class with a grade of B or better. A cumulative
GPA of 2.5 is required of all inductees.
The induction ceremony was held on Feb. 27th in the Sawhill-Georgian Room of the college's Howard Miller Student
Center.
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TRAVAGLINI
NAMED ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AT THIEL
For Immediate Release: March 11, 2003
 GREENVILLE, PA - Jennie A. Travaglini has been named assistant director
of public relations at Thiel College, effective immediately.
Travaglini, who has served as coordinator of the special events office at Thiel since 1999, will help oversee the
management of the public relations and printing operations at the college, assisting with media relations, graphic
design, writing and photography. She will continue to maintain the special events position until a replacement
is named.
"We are very excited to have Jennie join our team in public relations," said Betsy Hildebrand, Thiel's
director of public relations. "She has proven to be an asset to the Thiel campus in her position with special
events and her experience and professionalism definitely set her apart from other applicants."
A graduate of Greenville High School, Travaglini earned her bachelor of science degree in English writing from
Slippery Rock University where she also minored in communications.
Travaglini resides in Greenville.
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COUNTY COMMISSIONER
CANDIDATE FORUM SLATED FOR APRIL 15
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2003
GREENVILLE, PA -- The Center for Men's Leadership at Thiel
College will sponsor a candidate forum for those seeking election to the position of Mercer County Commissioner
in 2003.
The forum -- scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in the Lutheran Heritage Room of Thiel College's Howard
Miller Student Center -- is open to all candidates who file to run for Democratic or Republican party nominations.
The format will consist of an opening statement, closing statement, and a series of questions posed to each candidate,
with the number of question to be determined by the eventual number of candidates.
Members of the Mercer County media are invited to attend, and will soon be contacted by the Center for Men's Leadership
about possibly committing panelists to the event.
"We hope to use this event to spark a high turnout in this municipal election year, as well as foster a renewed
interest in local government and how their decisions affect everyone in the community," said Nathan Shrader,
president of the Thiel College Center for Men's Leadership.
Joining the Center for Men's Leadership in this endeavor will be Thiel College's student newspaper, The Thielensian,
along with WTGP 88.1 fm, the college radio station.
The forum is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Shrader at (724) 589-3847.
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