Thiel announces academic scholarship to honor decorated military soldier killed in action

Posted November 08, 2017 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Richard Gloyer—father of U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Ryan Gloyer ’04, who was killed in action in November 2016 in Afghanistan—will attend Thiel College’s annual scholarship luncheon on Nov. 11 in recognition of the scholarship he is starting in his son’s name at the College.

Ryan Gloyer was a psychology and education double major who graduated from Thiel College with honors and won the College’s Young Alumni Award in 2007.

The annual scholarship luncheon pairs the recipients of endowed scholarships and those connected with the donors who launched the scholarship. Thiel College, a leading liberal arts college in northwest Pennsylvania, has more than 30 endowed academic merit scholarships. Nearly all students at Thiel receive financial aid. Nearly 10 percent of students receive aid from an endowed scholarship that they do not have to repay as part of their aid package. Endowed programs are one part of the college scholarship opportunities at Thiel College.

Senior education majors at Thiel College will be eligible for an award from the $60,000 Gloyer Scholarship starting with the 2018-2019 academic year.

“As a College community specifically and a nation in general, we are eternally indebted to the sacrifice the Gloyer family has made,” Vice President of College Advancement Roberta Leonard said. “We hold sacred the gift the family is giving Thiel College now so that Ryan Gloyer’s name and the spirit of his principles can endure. I knew Ryan and am proud to have called him friend. His actions and this scholarship will inspire others to learn more, achieve more and become more. As he was in life, Ryan Gloyer will forever be a leader."

Gloyer’s military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star with V device, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, the Ranger tab and the Special Forces tab. He served the Army as a member of the elite Special Forces Green Berets. This was his third deployment to Afghanistan. Gloyer also served a tour in Africa in Chad.