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Commencement 2019

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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.

Schedule of Events

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, Commencement Speaker

Bill Strickland headshot

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.

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Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125
1-800-248-4435