GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Violet Seaman, of Hartville, Ohio, was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Thiel College, becoming the most recent recipient of five such scholarships the College will award for the 2026–27 academic year. The scholarship is valued at $158,080.
The scholarship was presented during a ceremony held Jan. 23, 2026.
“I just don’t believe it,” Seaman said. “Shocked, surprised, elated and excited for the future.”
Seaman’s mother, Jamie Cole, said the scholarship opens a future full of possibilities because Seaman no longer has the weight of future debt weighing on her decisions.
“We debated whether or not college was the right decision,” she said. “This means a world of opportunities for her dreams.”
A standout student at Lake High School, Seaman plans to major in nursing at Thiel College. She has a 4.2 GPA and was a member of the National Honor Society. Her academic achievements included earning three academic letters and two orchestra letters, and she had been playing piano for 13 years.
Seaman was also a highly accomplished student-athlete. She earned three varsity letters in volleyball and she competed in high school basketball during the 2024 season and was a four-year member of the high school softball program.
“Violet exemplified the type of student we seek to support through this scholarship—someone who combines academic excellence, discipline and leadership both in and out of the classroom,” said Sonya Lapikas, director of admission at Thiel College. “Her dedication to nursing and her strong record of achievement reflected Thiel’s mission, and we were pleased to recognize her accomplishments.”
The full-tuition scholarship program is designed to recognize exceptional students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and a commitment to service. Seaman was one of five students selected to receive the award for the 2026–27 academic year.
“At Thiel, we believe a great education should be affordable,” Lapikas said. “Through generous merit aid and scholarships, we work to ensure students can pursue their goals without financial barriers.”
Seaman is the granddaughter of Julie Soduck and Jim Cole.
Conneaut (Linesville, Pa.) High School senior Abigail Beightol was awarded the first scholarship on Jan. 15. On Jan. 16, South Side (Hookstown, Pa.) High School senior Paxton Short and Shaler (Pittsburgh, Pa.) High School senior Matthew Britenbaugh were awarded scholarships.
Students and families interested in learning more about other scholarship opportunities at Thiel College should contact the Thiel College Office of Admission at 724-589-2345 or admissions@thiel.edu.
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