Thiel College student Nathan Flory to study at England’s Oxford University

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College announces that Nathan Flory ’17, of Export, Pa., will attend Oxford University in England through the Oxford Study Abroad Programme. Flory begins his six-week program May 24.

Flory is an English literature major and member of the Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute (DHI). His association with the DHI inspired Flory to seek out this opportunity, and support from The Dietrich Foundation is making his participation possible. He belongs to Thiel College’s highest academic honor society, Alpha Chi, has a 4.0 grade point average (GPA) and is active in many campus organizations. Flory is also a member of the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride band, Thiel Choir, the Greenville Junior Chamber of Commerce, the English honorary society and several other groups. He will finish a two-week tour of Ireland with the Thiel Choir three days before starting at Oxford.

The Oxford Study Abroad Programme (OSAP) is a private foundation that places students at affiliated colleges of Oxford University. Founded more than 900 years ago, Oxford is the oldest English-speaking university in the world. To earn a spot in the program, students must have a 3.7 GPA, two years of college or university education, and two letters of recommendation. Students must also submit a personal statement and a sample of their written work.

DHI Director Curtis Thompson, Ph.D., said Flory’s accomplishment has been a goal of the DHI since its start.

“We have been hoping to establish studying abroad at Oxford University as a component of what the DHI can make possible for our best students. It is so appropriate that our pioneer student in this program is Nathan Flory,” Thompson said. “Since he arrived with the first DHI class in the fall of 2013, Nathan has distinguished himself by his full investment in rigorous academic work and extracurricular activities. Thiel and the DHI made the Oxford opportunity possible; but to his credit, Nathan took the initiative over many months to prepare his Oxford application.”

While at Oxford, Flory will conduct research for his senior thesis at Thiel College. 

“I consider myself fortunate to be given this opportunity to study at Oxford,” Flory said. “Upon learning of the Oxford program, I sought out the application with some guidance from Dr. Thompson and ended up being selected. I am very thankful to him for helping make this possibility an actuality.”

OSAP students have privileges at four of the top-ranked colleges at Oxford University—New College, Christ Church, Magdalen College and Trinity College.

“As a liberal arts and pre-professional studies institution, Thiel College prides itself on adding exceptional value to the student experience,” Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Lynn Franken, Ph.D., said. “We are especially proud when student initiative and academic achievement lead to life-changing opportunities. Nathan Flory exemplifies ‘the Thiel Commitment’ at the highest level. This opportunity is the result of Nathan’s academic and service excellence, combined with dedicated mentoring from Thompson and English Department Chair Chris Moinet; as well as the generous support of the Dietrich Foundation.”

About the Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute

William “Bill” S. Dietrich II bequeathed $25 million to Thiel College in 2011 through The Dietrich Foundation. This gift is the largest in the College’s history. Part of that gift was used to establish The Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute in 2012. The DHI was named in honor of Dietrich’s parents, who were Thiel College alumni.