GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College kicks off a busy spring semester with two ceremonies designed to recognize students, faculty, staff and friends of the College with honors on Thursday, Feb. 1 and Friday, Feb. 2.
Founders’ Day—first celebrated in 1876—honors the memory of Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity was the genesis of Thiel College. At 11 a.m. Thursday, the Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award—given to an alumnus, alumna or community member who has made a significant impact on the College and the region—will be presented to Tom Roberts and Michael P. Walton of Hope Center for Arts and Technology. An important part of the annual ceremony will acknowledge Thiel faculty and staff for their contributions to the institution.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Thiel will celebrate Academic Honors Convocation. Previously observed during the fall, Honors Convocation was moved to spring to include the contributions of the College’s first-year students. Executive Director of the Butler Institute of American Art Louis A. Zona, Ph.D., is the keynote speaker for Convocation and will be awarded an honorary degree during the event.
“This week we are celebrating the outstanding accomplishments on our campus and in our community,” President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., said. “On Thursday, we will honor important members of our community for their significant contributions to Thiel and the region. And on Friday, we will recognize our best and brightest students at our annual Honors Convocation.”