THIEL COLLEGE RECEIVES GIFT FROM NEW PRESIDENT

March 13, 2009

From left: Annette, Gabriella, Trey and Troy VanAken.

GREENVILLE, Pa.— Thiel College announced today that Dr. Troy VanAken, the 19th president of the college, and his wife, Annette, have pledged $100,000 to the college over the next five years.

The announcement was made at a reception for VanAken and his family in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. According to VanAken and his wife, the gift will be directed toward three purposes: first and foremost, an endowment to provide student scholarships; second, an endowment to fund faculty and staff professional development activities; and third, the Thiel Annual Fund, which is the college’s single largest source of funding after student-generated revenues.

“I am so honored that I was chosen as the next leader of this great Lutheran college,” said VanAken. “Annette and I are very moved by the commitment that everyone at Thiel has for its mission and this gift is a way for us to show that we also are committed to the success of our students and the success of the institution as a whole.”

“It is highly uncommon for a president-elect to make such a charitable commitment, and it shows that the enthusiasm on campus for the continued forward movement of Thiel is more than matched by the VanAkens,” said David Grober, vice president for college advancement. “Troy and Annette’s pledge is extremely generous, appreciated and will make a real difference to the college.”

VanAken was chosen as the college’s president by the Board of Trustees on February 20 after an exhaustive nationwide search. He will take office in July 2009 after the current president, Dr. Robert C. Olson ’60, retires.

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 1,100 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.

–30–