Faculty and staff to be recognized, sesquicentennial to kick off at Founders’ Day

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College officials will recognize the contributions of 15 faculty and staff members as part of their annual Founders’ Day celebration at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.

President Troy D. VanAken, Ph.D., will celebrate the contributions of the faculty and staff members in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. Founders’ Day has been celebrated annually since 1876.

Founders’ Day is also serving as the official kickoff for the yearlong celebration of the College’s 150th anniversary.

Faculty members to be recognized:

• Distinguished Professor of the Year – Professor of Business Administration and Accounting and Department Chair Gary J. Witosky, C.P.A., C.G.M.A., M.Acc. ’79, of Chardon, Ohio
• Distinguished Adjunct Faculty – Adjunct Professor of Communication Susan Richards, M.A., of Greenville, Pa.
• Distinguished Scholar – Assistant Professor of Biology Delbert Abi Abdallah, Ph.D., of Greenville, Pa.
• Distinguished Service – Professor of Chemistry Kathryn K. Frantz, Ph.D., of Greenville, Pa.
• Distinguished Teacher – Lecturer of Mathematics Max E. Shellenbarger, M.A., of Jamestown, Pa.

Ten staff members will be recognized with special staff awards:

• Director of the Counseling Center Melanie R. Broadwater, M.A., L.P.C., N.C.C. ’98, of Transfer, Pa.
• Housekeeping Supervisor Kim Scobbie-Byler, of Jamestown, Pa.
• Controller Connie Jablonski, M.B.A., of Cochranton, Pa.
• Postal Office Coordinator Anita Lillie, of Greenville, Pa.
• Head Golf and Bowling Coach and Rissell-Schreyer Dome Coordinator Dan McMillen ’86, of Greenville, Pa.
• Media Production Engineer Michael McElroy, of Grove City, Pa.
• Director of the Disability Resource Center Tami Micsky, MSSA, LSW, CT, of Greenville, Pa.
• Campus Visit Coordinator Nancy Reiser, of Greenville, Pa.
• Vice President for Finance and Management Bob Schmoll, M.B.A., of Greenville, Pa.
• Computer Technician Eric Ulrich, of Girard, Ohio

The Pittsburgh-based charitable trust The Dietrich Foundation will be given the A. Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award as part of the ceremony. The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to individuals who demonstrate exemplary character, continuity of leadership, and long-term service to Greenville and the surrounding area. The recipients must demonstrate a commitment to the common good above private interests. The award is named after A. Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity made the founding of Thiel College possible in 1866.