Thiel College will celebrate its 145th Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 2 p.m. in the Passavant Center. Baccalaureate will be held at 10 a.m. in the David Johnson Memorial Chapel.
9:45 a.m.
Call to Worship, Ringing of the College Bell
10 a.m.
Baccalaureate Service, David Johnson Memorial Chapel
11:15 a.m.
Class of 2019 Tree Dedication, Brother Martin's Walk
11:45 a.m.
Gala Luncheon, TC Cafe in the Howard Miller Student Center (HMSC)
Reservations required for graduates and guests.
12:30 p.m.
Graduate Robing, Rissell-Beeghly Gymnasia
Faculty Robing, Greenville Hall
Platform Party Robing and Photographs, Friends of Art Gallery in the HMSC
2 p.m.
Commencement Exercises, William A. Passavant Center
3:30 p.m.
Commencement Reception, HMSC terrace and lawn
Rain location: Lutheran Heritage Room in the HMSC
Bill Strickland is the founder and executive chairman of the Manchester Bidwell Corporation, a non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh that works with disadvantaged and at-risk youth through involvement with the arts, and also provides job training for adults. In 1968, Strickland established Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild to fight the socio-economic challenges facing his predominantly African-American neighbors. Today, MCG Youth & Arts provides free arts programming to more than 300 high- and middle-school students. Similar centers have been formed around the country and in Israel, including Hope Center for Arts and Technology in Sharon, Pa.
Strickland has been granted a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant and his strategy for creating economic and academic opportunity has been used as a Harvard Business School case study four times. University of Pittsburgh Chancellor Emeritus Mark Nordenberg, J.D. ’70, H’97 will introduce Strickland. Nordenberg is a trustee emeritus at Thiel College and is on Manchester Bidwell Corporation’s Board of Directors.