GREENVILLE, PA – The Office of Educational Outreach at Thiel College announced today that the college has received $128,000 in grants from the Marion G. Resch Foundation of Youngstown for the 2008-09 academic year. The Resch Foundation currently supports three programs at the college—the Resch Science Scholarship and the Resch EXCEL Early Intervention program as well as an Academic Persistence Scholarship Program.

“Thiel College is proud to not only continue this beneficial relationship with The Resch Foundation, but to have it grow each year,” says John Rindy, dean of educational outreach, and a resident of the Youngstown area. “We are honored to receive support from a foundation that is so community-minded, with a strong focus on building the intellectual resources within an area that has persevered through some difficult economic times.”

Thiel’s Resch Science Scholarship is awarded to students who meet scholarship requirements and enter a four-year degree program in biology, chemistry, environmental science, neuroscience, communication sciences and disorders, physics or one of the college’s affiliated pre-professional programs, such as pre-medicine or pre-pharmacy. Four of the seven scholarships each year are reserved for female students from the Mahoning Valley area.

Established in 2007, the EXCEL (Excellent Choices in Education and Lifestyles) Early Intervention Program is a partnership between Thiel and the Youngstown City Schools’ East High School. The program provides educational opportunities throughout the year to inner city youths who show academic promise and exemplary behavior; it includes a one-week summer program on Thiel’s campus each year.

The academic persistence scholarship is available to Mahoning Valley students who have persisted to their sophomore or later years at the college and have maintained a certain grade point average. These awards are reserved for students who demonstrate a certain level of financial need.

Over the last two years, Thiel has received more than $300,000 from The Resch Foundation to fund these worthwhile programs. Rindy also credits the Resch Foundation’s executive director, Brian Wolf, for his personal involvement in Thiel’s programs.

“Brian Wolf lives in the Valley and has worked as a teacher and principal in the Valley. He knows the area, he knows Thiel and he knows these students,” says Rindy. “The foundation and the Mahoning Valley have truly benefitted from Brian’s advocacy and concern for the growth and success of area students. He is an exemplary steward for Mrs. Resch’s legacy.”

The late Mrs. Resch was a strong advocate of the education of young people and The Resch Foundation, managed by Butler Wick Trust Company of Youngstown, honors her legacy by granting money in support of scholarships and early intervention programs for students in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio. 

Thiel College, located in Greenville, Pa., is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies college related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

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