Penn-Northwest director and Thiel employees to be recognized for Founders’ Day 2023

Posted February 01, 2023 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Executive Director of Penn-Northwest Development Corporation Rod E. Wilt ’86 will join 10 Thiel College employees as honorees for the College’s annual Founders’ Day celebration at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.

Watch Thursday’s event.

Wilt, the Vice Chair of Thiel College’s Board of Trustees, will receive the Barbara and Louis Thiel Distinguished Service Award. 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. Penn-Northwest is a leading economic development agency in Mercer County, which aims to retain and expand existing businesses, while also attracting new businesses to the area.

In addition to the Barbara and Louis Thiel recognition, the Founders’ Day ceremony will highlight the contributions of Thiel College employees.

Five staff members will be honored with a Distinguished Staff Award:

Jennifer Gongaware, of Greenville, Pa., speech-language pathology program administrative assistant
Erin Bain, of Sharpsville, Pa., coordinator of the Accessibility Resource Center
Sonya Lapikas, of Sharon, Pa., Director of Admission
Morgan (Steiner) Bodnar ’16, MBA’21, of Greenville, Pa., Assistant Director of Admission, Graduate Counselor
Tyler North, of Sharpsville, Pa., women’s volleyball coach

Five faculty members will also be honored with awards.

Professor of the Year: Jared Hanneman, Ph.D., of Sharpsville, Pa., Associate Professor of Sociology, Department Chair, Communication and Leadership Program Director
Distinguished Scholar of the Year: Jared Johnson, Ph.D., of Greenville, Pa., Associate Professor of English, Department Chair
Distinguished Service Faculty of the Year: Christopher Stanisky, Ph.D., of Sharon, Pa., Professor of Chemistry, Department Chair
Distinguished Adjunct Faculty of the Year: Julie Harris, of Meadville, Pa., Adjunct Professor of Education
Distinguished Teacher of the Year: Mary O’Donnell, Ph.D., of Youngstown, Ohio, Assistant Professor of Biology