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Mercer County health professional and Thiel staff to be recognized for Founders’ Day

Posted January 29, 2021   Print
Founders Day story

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- A state healthcare professional will join about 30 Thiel College employees as honorees for the College’s annual Founders’ Day event which will be marked with an online and virtual celebration on Thursday, Feb. 4.

Brenda Wallace is a community health nurse for the Mercer County office of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. She will receive the Barbara and Louis Thiel Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the department’s efforts specifically in the region and on the efforts of healthcare workers on the greater scale have done for the nation. This award is given annually to individuals who demonstrate exemplary character, continuity of leadership, and long-term service to Greenville and the surrounding community. The recipients must show a commitment to the common good above private interests. The award is named after Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity made possible the founding of Thiel College in 1866.

“I am very honored to be named Thiel College Founders’ Day Award Recipient, and I am appreciative of the recognition for my public health efforts during this current pandemic. Upon review of the list of previous recipients, I am truly humbled to be included among those who have received this prestigious award for their commitment and dedication to community service. I graciously accept this honor alongside my colleagues at the Department of Health, realizing it has been a team approach to confront the many difficult issues we as public health professionals have been facing this past year,” Wallace said. “During my 31 years as a community health nurse at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, I have had the opportunity to develop and foster relationships with employees and students at Thiel College—most importantly with the employees of Thiel’s Student Health Services. These relationships became invaluable during this pandemic and allowed for greater collaboration so that Thiel’s students and staff could receive the guidance and care they needed.”

In addition to the Barbara and Louis Thiel recognition, the Founders’ Day ceremony will highlight the contributions of Thiel College employees. Normally Founders’ Day awards are given to individual employees, but this year due to the extraordinary circumstances the College faced, the entire health services and housekeeping teams will be recognized along with three individual staff members.

Distinguished Service Award:

  • Housekeeping Department
  • Health Services
    • Patty Alfredo, of Sharpsville, Pa., campus nurse
    • Melanie Broadwater ’98, of Transfer, Pa., Director of the Counseling Center
    • Chris Cianci ’96, of Sharon, Pa., Director of Campus Health and Wellness Services
    • Jodie Witherite, of Hermitage, Pa., Counselor
  • Steven Krasinski, of New Castle, Pa., System Administrator
  • Diana Mazur, of West Middlesex, Pa., Assistant to the Vice President for Student Life, Housing Coordinator
  • Barbara Long-Cooper ’98, of Greenville, Pa., Administrative Assistant of Faculty Services

Five faculty members will be honored with awards.

  • Distinguished Professor: James Koshan, Ph.D., of Hermitage, Pa., Professor of History and Department Chair.
  • Distinguished Scholar: Kristel Gallagher, Ph.D., of Hermitage, Pa., Associate Professor of Psychology
  • Distinguished Teacher: Jeonghun Kim, Ph.D., of Cortland, Ohio, Professor of Mathematics
  • Distinguished Service: Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D., of Sharon, Pa., Associate Professor of History, Director of the Dietrich Honors Institute
  • Distinguished Adjunct: Kim Braden ’01, of Springboro, Pa., Adjunct Professor of Math and Computer Science

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