THIEL COLLEGE TO HONOR FRANGAKIS FAMILY AT ANNUAL FOUNDERS' DAY CONVOCATION

Jan. 26, 2011

GREENVILLE, PA – On Feb. 3, Thiel College will recognize 10 faculty and staff members and the Frangakis Family Foundation at the college’s annual Founders’ Day convocation in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.

President Troy D. VanAken will present the Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award to the Frangakis family, who are founders and owners of Reynolds Services, Inc., as well as several other business ventures and a charitable trust. 

Founded in 1990 by F. John Frangakis, Reynolds Services is a family-owned and -operated company specializing in the processing of tin mill and flat rolled steel products. RSI has experienced enormous growth and changes since its inception 20 years ago, including the addition of processing and distribution facilities in Weirton, W. Va., and Baltimore, Md. The company’s success was recognized in 2001, when its efforts in international distribution received the Pennsylvania Governor's Export Excellence Award for Manufacturing. The Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce recognized the company’s innovative business practices by presenting Reynolds Services, Inc. with the 2010 Phoenix Award for Innovation. RSI and the Frangakis family maintain a strong belief in continuous improvement leading to a higher level of service and quality to its existing customers while seizing new business opportunities.

Some of those business opportunities include Cross IT Services & Solutions, LLC, a cross platform information technology computer consulting firm; Vulcan Engineering LLC, an electrical engineering firm specializing in machinery drive and control integration; and Reynolds Transfer LLC, a logistics and transportation company specializing in the hauling and international distribution of products.

Their business success has enabled the Frangakis family to give back to the communities that have helped them achieve so much. The Frangakis Family Charitable Trust was formed to promote and improve the communities within which the Frangakis businesses exist and operate. Benefactors of the trust’s charitable giving include the American Red Cross, the American Heart Association, the Presbyterian Church Disaster Relief Fund, Thiel College (part of which helped fund the new Theology & Youth Ministry major and Marching Band at the College) and Toys for Tots.

The family also gives extensively of their time. John R. Frangakis, chairman and CEO of Reynolds Services, serves on the Thiel College Board of Trustees and the Greenville-Reynolds Development Corp., among others; his wife, Teresa, serves as the editor of the monthly newsletter for the Presbyterian Church of West Middlesex; F. John Frangakis serves on numerous boards including the Oak Tree Country Club Advisory Board; and Joyce Frangakis is an active volunteer at the Greek Orthodox Church of Naples, Fla.

The Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to community members who demonstrate exemplary character, continuity of leadership, and long-term service to Greenville and its environs. The recipients must demonstrate a commitment to the common good above private interests.

The award is named after Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity made possible the founding of Thiel College in 1866. The Thiels dedicated themselves to the welfare of others. The German couple immigrated to western Pennsylvania in the 1840s, and as their work was blessed with success, they faithfully served family, community and church.

Receiving the prestigious Professor of the Year Award is Dr. David Buck, associate professor of history.

Since arriving on campus in 2005, Buck has been generous with his time and efforts in support of Thiel’s mission. He is involved in a number of committees on campus including the Community Building Initiative, Curriculum Study, Imagining Thiel and many others. He regularly takes students to regional history association meetings and teaches in Thiel’s Honors Program. Buck continues to research microloans in Central America (small loans to budding entrepreneurs in the developing world) for potential application in the Global Heritage course, for which he has served as coordinator. His interest in Central America led to his study at a Spanish language school in Nicaragua in July 2010 through a Rowley Endowment for Teaching Excellence and work on a summer study abroad pilot program for summer 2011. Buck was also recently awarded a New Directions Teaching Fellowship from The Learning Commons to assist in redesigning his first-year seminar. Despite the many demands on his time, including serving as faculty adviser to history majors and minors and his teaching load, he remains active in his field of scholarship, presenting at conferences and publishing.

A Grove City native, Buck holds a bachelor’s in American studies from the University of Dayton, a master’s in history from Slippery Rock University and a doctorate from West Virginia University. He and his wife, Laura, have two sons and one daughter and live in Sharon, Pa.

Other faculty members to earn recognition are:

• Lisa Walton, Esq., assistant professor of political science, of Hermitage, Pa., Distinguished Service Award.
• Dr. James Koshan, associate professor of history, of Hermitage, Pa., Distinguished Teacher Award.
• Dr. Robert A. Wells, professor of political science, of Pittsburgh, Distinguished Scholar Award.
• Kathleen Christiansen, adjunct professor of English, of Greenville, Pa., Distinguished Adjunct Award.

Five staff awards will be presented during the ceremony.  Receiving honors are:

• Suellen Beckdol, Mercer, Pa., gardener, Distinguished Innovator Award.
• Thomas J. Luciani, Greenville, Pa., mechanic/electrician, Distinguished Newcomer Award. 
• Tressa Snyder, Hadley, Pa., reference librarian, Distinguished Extra Effort Award.
• Barbara Blue, Greenville, Pa., director of student activities and orientation, Distinguished Outreach Award.
• Barbara Samson, Greenville, Pa., administrative assistant, The Learning Commons, Distinguished Service Staff Award.

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