This new online version of the newsletter will help production become easier and faster while increasing its readability and attractiveness. It also will allow the newsletter to be viewed on smart phones as it will no longer be a PDF-based publication. Redesign of T-Notes will be an ongoing process and we’re looking for your feedback, send your thoughts and suggestions to tnotes@thiel.edu.
thiel happenings
Hall Publishes Book Review in The Sixteenth-Century Journal of Early Modern Studies
Dr. Mary Theresa Hall, Professor of English, published a book review on The Female Mystic: Great Women Thinkers of the Middle Ages, written by Andrea Janelle Dickens. The article appears in the fall 2011 issue of The Sixteenth-Century Journal: The Journal of Early Modern Studies (vol. xlii, no. 3). The Female Mystic provides a study of twelve medieval women whose personality, tenacity and spirituality, while unparalleled, revolutionized religious and literary traditions.
Its intertextuality and readable style make it appropriate for courses in literature and the humanities, spirituality, religion and women’s studies, and as a companion piece for biblical studies. Hall’s review discusses the twelve perspectives that Dickens provides of mysticism and women’s spirituality and the significant contributions of women thinkers to the universal mystical experience.
Hawaii Raffle Tickets on Sale Now!
A great stocking stuffer! Tickets are $20 each. Enter for a chance to win a seven-night stay at a five-diamond resort on Waikiki Beach and round-trip airfare for two! Tickets can be purchased from Jack Leipheimer or Patti Leipheimer in the Student Life Office.
Audio-Visual Support Past Due Loan Forgiveness
Do you have AV equipment that you have had in your possession long passed the due date? Did you find a piece of equipment in a strange place?
Return that equipment without worry or judgment. Take advantage of our Loan Forgiveness Days! Running from Friday, Dec. 9 through Friday, Dec. 16, feel free to drop off the equipment in the MIMC during our hours of operation. No questions asked. No names necessary.
student news
Strategic Management Class Presents to Greenville Chamber of Commerce
Students in Professor Angelo Giannini’s Strategic Management class presented their strategic plan to the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday, December 9. The dual purpose of the plan is to promote Greenville through the “Boom Town” initiative and the development of a new member packet for prospective businesses in the area.
The students worked with Roberta Leonard, Director of Corporate and Foundation Support at Thiel College; Fred Kiser, Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Orsinger, president of Orsinger Investment Group and James Rust, marketing director at The Record-Argus. The overall student manager was Zachary Woody. The “Boom Town” team leader was Nicholas Gargaro and his group included Austin Dalesio, Hyokyung Kim, Kalisha Johnson and James Teyssier. Michael Roberts was the team leader for the new member packet project and his group included Theresa Curtician, Daehee Han, John Madeline and Jian Long Zheng.
The purpose of the Strategic Management course is to enable students to understand the functions of strategic management for the twenty-first century as a basic ingredient for the continued survival of an organization. The class provides practical assistance to those entering the business world by studying how companies plan for the future.
The class worked with the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce throughout the 15 weeks of the fall semester gathering data, developing a new promotional brochure for the chamber and updates to their web site. The plan also evolved into developing new ventures with the city of Greenville and Thiel College to enable students to have easier access to downtown businesses.
Thiel Accounting Students Visit YSU
Twenty-two Thiel College accounting majors, accompanied by Professor Gary Witosky, travelled to Youngstown State University on December 9, to participate in the 15th Annual Accounting Student Practitioner Day. The day was filled with informative presentations and a chance to network with accounting professionals practicing in the areas of public accounting, forensic accounting, banking, government and industry. Accounting firms of all sizes were represented and available to chat with throughout the day. Session topics included: Opportunities in Regional and National Public Accounting, Opportunities in Banking and Financing, Forensic Accounting, Accounting Entrepreneurship, Communication/Networking Skills, Professional Exams, Internships and the opportunity to talk one-on-one with professionals in a series of speed networking sessions.
PAC Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Raise Over $2,500 for Special Olympics PA
The President’s Athletic Conference (PAC) Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) raised over $2,500 for the Pennsylvania Special Olympics, as 31 PAC SAAC members participated in the 2nd Annual Pittsburgh Polar Plunge in the Allegheny River outside Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Dec. 11. The group included conference student-athletes, coaches and SAAC advisers. With sunny skies and the water temperature around 40 degrees, the PAC SAAC group took the dip into the frigid Allegheny River at around 1 p.m. Thiel College representatives were Tomcat wrestlers Kraig Smith, Brett Smith and Patrick Morris.
This is the first time the PAC SAAC has participated in the Pittsburgh Polar Plunge. The new conference-wide initiative followed the announcement at the 2011 NCAA Convention of a new national partnership between the NCAA Division III national SAAC and the Special Olympics. As a result of the national program, the PAC SAAC decided to support a local conference-wide initiative to support the new national partnership.
The mission of Special Olympics PA is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. For more information about Special Olympics Pennsylvania, please visit http://www.specialolympicspa.org.
Founded in 1955, the President’s Athletic Conference continues its mission of promoting intercollegiate athletics and the pursuit of academic excellence. Consisting of 10 select private institutions in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Kentucky, the PAC remains a unique organization in this day of high pressure intercollegiate athletics. With academics at the center of each member’s philosophy, the PAC is built on the principle that an athletic program is a part of college life, but not an entity in itself. The PAC annually crowns champions in 19 sports (10 men, nine women).
Student-Athletes of the Week
Anthony Harvey, junior men’s basketball player and criminal justice studies from New Castle, Pa. averaged 8.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists for the Tomcats last week as they improved to 6-2 overall and 4-0 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) with wins at Westminster College (78-61) and at home against Saint Vincent College (86-69).
Harvey is currently third on the team in scoring (10.4 points/game), second in assists (2.9 assists/game) and leads the squad in steals, averaging 2.0 steals/game. He registered a career-high 17 points in Thiel’s 83-59 win at Waynesburg University on November 30.
Kelly Barzak, junior elementary education major from Warren, Ohio averaged 12.5 points on 55.0 percent shooting while also averaging 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks in helping the Tomcat women finish the week 1-1 in Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) action. She totaled seven points and five boards in Thiel’s 57-52 overtime win at Westminster College on December 7 and finished with 18 points and six rebounds in their 79-66 loss to visiting Saint Vincent College on December 10. Barzak is currently tied for ninth in the conference in scoring average (10.9 points/game), second in rebounding average (8.0 rebounds/game) and leads the league in blocks, averaging 2.5 blocks/game.
She has earned Dean’s List distinction on three occasions, is a three-time PAC Honor Roll selection and was named a Capital One Academic All-District selection for her performance as a member of the women’s volleyball squad this season. Just one of five PAC women’s volleyball student-athletes honored with Academic All-District status, Barzak has moved on for consideration of being selected an Academic All-American. She was an honorable mention all-PAC last season after garnering second team honors as a freshman.
special notes
HR Notes
Thiel welcomes:
Robert Priest, Public Safety
Contact Jennie Kather about donating to the United Way.
DocuCenter Holiday Hours
Closed December 23 - January 2
Will re-open January 3 at 8 a.m.
MIMC Finals Week/Holiday Hours
Dec. 12 – 15 — 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dec. 16 — 9 a.m. – noon
The MIMC will officially close for the semester at noon on Friday, Dec. 16 and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 9, 2012. All other use will be by appointment only.
Need help with Moodle...grades, etc?
Although the MIMC will not be open after Friday, you can e-mail or call for help through 11:59 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 19.
After Dec. 16, contact Leslie Graul at lgraul@thiel.edu or call 724-589-2853; 724-588-7686; text me at 724-456-3947.
Moodle Musing
Archiving old courses is a way to remove some of the clutter from your Moodle screen. As we add new course lists to Moodle, we will archive old ones. You will note that Spring 2012 courses now appear on Thiel’s Moodle pages. Courses from Fall 2010, Spring 2011 and Summer 2011 have been archived.
Faculty will see those links in greyed font, at the bottom of the course categories list. To access an archived course, faculty can select a category, such as Spring 2011, type part of the course code or name in the Search window, and click the Go button.
campus events
Farewell Reception for Greg Garber
Wednesday, Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m.
Weyers Lounge, HMSC
A Good Half Hour–Informal Worship for All
Bustin' Out the Joy! Singing the Season
Taking Your Carol Requests:
Garrett Baker – Amazing Student Accompanist
Thursday, Dec. 15 at 12:30 p.m.
Johnson Chapel
Thiel Campus Ministry: Welcoming One Another As Christ Welcomes Us (Romans 15:7)
Employee Christmas Luncheon
Friday, Dec. 16 at Noon
Lutheran Heritage Room
contact us
If you’re interested in submitting a story or event to T-Notes, e-mail tnotes@thiel.edu. Our next issue will be Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Deadline for submissions: Monday, Dec. 19