THIEL COLLEGE ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAMS

Dec. 17, 2009

GREENVILLE, PA –Today, Thiel College announced that it will add a new Youth Ministry major, four athletic programs, a shooting club and a marching band program to its offerings for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The Youth Ministry major will prepare students for work as youth and family ministers in Christian congregations and other ministry settings, such as summer camps. The new major combines study in theology, the Bible, ministry theory and social science coursework with supervised field and mentoring experiences.

The marching band program will field its first band in fall 2010 with plans to significantly grow the organization in subsequent years into areas such as pep or concert bands. This program will enhance the Thiel music program and provide an opportunity for high school musicians to continue performing as they move into their college years. The Thiel Shooting Club is a team-oriented sport that will provide instruction in safe use, management and maintenance of firearms as well as competition opportunities to its members. Shooting facilities will be provided through an agreement with an area shooting club.

Thiel’s new sports will include men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s lacrosse. All four programs will compete at the NCAA Division III level and bring the Tomcats’ total number of athletic teams to 24.

“It’s a great day to be part of Thiel College,” said Dr. Troy VanAken, Thiel College president. “The enhancement and expansion of our athletic and extracurricular programs will position Thiel to attract and retain engaged students and scholar-athletes with the strong academic profile we strive for as an institution. Providing our current and future students with innovative new majors and co-curricular programs that will enhance their college experience is my top priority as Thiel’s president. You can expect to hear about more exciting developments at Thiel College in the future!”

In addition to its new program offerings, the College also plans to step up its commitment to existing programs and facilities.  Beginning in 2010, Thiel will add an additional full-time football coaching position and will add a seasonal air-supported athletics structure that will cover the entire playing surface at Alumni Stadium during the winter months, dramatically increasing the amount of space available to varsity athletic teams, intramural sports and athletic classes.

Men’s and women’s lacrosse will take to the field for the first time for the spring 2011 season.  Home contests will be played at Alumni Stadium, which will also accommodate preseason indoor practice space with the addition of the air-supported athletics structure, which will be inflated after the football team’s final game of the season and remain in place until the first lacrosse match.

Thiel will revive its men’s and women’s tennis programs after several seasons of inactivity. Both programs will compete and practice at the College’s on-campus tennis complex, which is slated for resurfacing in the near future.  The teams will compete in the Presidents’ Athletics Conference.

The College’s marching band will be unveiled at Thiel’s first football home game on Sept. 4, 2010.  The band, which will be overseen by the Music Department, is currently in the process of hiring a director.  Students interested in marching band or the new Youth Ministry major should contact Thiel admissions counselor Stephanie Hills for more information at 724-589-2111 or shills@thiel.edu.

The Shooting Club will form for the fall 2010 semester and will be lead by Jim Flammia of the college’s Information Technology Department, who is an NRA-certified pistol instructor. Interested students can contact Dean of Students Mike McKinney at 724-589-2600 or mmckinney@thiel.edu or Flammia at 724-589-2246 or jflammia@thiel.edu.

Director of Athletics Jack Leipheimer will launch a national search for the men’s and women’s lacrosse coaches and tennis coach immediately.  Individuals interested in joining any of the new programs should contact Leipheimer at 724-589-2212 or jleip@thiel.edu.

About Thiel College

Founded in 1866, Thiel College is a liberal arts, sciences and professional studies institution located in Greenville, Pa., that provides a great balance of academic challenge, personal and social involvement, and exceptional value to its 1,000 students. For more information about Thiel College, which is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, visit www.thiel.edu or call 800-24-THIEL.

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