Recent developments in Amelia Earhart search resonate with Thiel College’s history and community

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- As researchers announced a new expedition to locate the long-missing plane of Amelia Earhart H’32 on the 88th anniversary of her disappearance, the developments have renewed interest and pride at Thiel College, where the iconic aviator holds a unique place in institutional history.

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New satellite and sonar images released by search groups suggest that Earhart’s plane may have been located on the remote Pacific island of Nikumaroro in Kiribati. Richard Pettigrew, executive director of the nonprofit Archaeological Legacy Institute, said a satellite photo appears to show the aircraft’s remains in a lagoon nearly 1,000 miles from Fiji. Deep Sea Vision, a South Carolina-based search team, also released sonar images that may point to the aircraft’s final resting place.

The search has captivated the public for decades, but it carries particular significance at Thiel College, where Earhart was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree on Dec. 11, 1932. The award followed a year of national recognition for Earhart, including the National Geographic Society’s gold medal—presented by President Herbert Hoover—and the Distinguished Flying Cross awarded by the U.S. Congress.

Earhart had personal ties to the College. Her father, Edwin Earhart, graduated from Thiel in 1886, and his sister, Kate Earhart, also attended the College and was present for the honorary degree ceremony.

In his book The Search for Amelia Earhart, author Fred Goerner wrote, “The most satisfying recognition, however, came from her father’s alma mater, Thiel College of Greenville, Pennsylvania, in the form of an honorary Doctor of Science degree.”

Before her disappearance in 1937, Earhart visited Thiel College and expressed her affection for the campus and its mission during her keynote address. Inspired by her advocacy for women’s rights and education, Thiel students formed a women’s group in her honor that met with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and raised approximately $48,000 in 1940—more than $800,000 today—to promote opportunities for women on campus. The influence of that group continues in current student organizations supporting women’s leadership and causes.

Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., a historian and author, has written about women’s rights and social welfare in the early 20th century, including Denison House in Boston, where Earhart worked before her aviation career.

“Amelia Earhart’s values and legacy remain deeply connected to the Thiel community,” Traverso said. “Her story continues to inspire our students, especially those striving for equity, service, and bold achievements.”

Related Link

• The Thiel College-Amelia Earhart connection

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