Thiel College celebrates scholarly work of more than 100 students at annual symposium

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College hosted its annual Scholarship and Arts Symposium on Thursday, April 24, 2025, showcasing the academic, creative, and research accomplishments of students across a wide range of disciplines.

• See images from the day.
• Watch a musical performance from the day.

The event featured a diverse collection of more than 120 multimedia presentations, performances, digital posters, and senior thesis projects from students in the Dietrich Honors Institute and academic programs across campus. One-hundred-thirteen undergraduates and Master of Science in physician assistant studies students were among the those who shared their research or performed throughout the day. Participants presented on timely and relevant topics including artificial intelligence and its societal impact, emerging healthcare issues, developments in sports science, and advancements in medical research.

The day included performances by the Thiel College Choir, The Thiel Players and Brass Quintet, setting the tone for an engaging afternoon of scholarly activity. Assistant Professor of History Jay Donis, Ph.D. delivered the keynote address, “Why Research When AI Does It for Me?” His presentation examined the evolving relationship between traditional research methods and artificial intelligence, prompting thoughtful discussion among students, faculty, and guests.

The symposium concluded with the presentation of the Library Research and Writing Awards.

• Muncie Canon ’26 received the Library Research Award for her work, “The Moral of the Story: How the Plays Everyman and Dr. Faustus Portray Catholicism.”
• Becca Landis ’25 and Sha’Nia Stiers-Royal ’25 were awarded the Evelyn C. Baer Writing Award for their collaborative paper, “How Does the Mere-Exposure Effect Influence Likeability in Online Dating Profiles?”
• Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25 received the “Beyond the Page” Award for her piece, “Our Drive for Learning.”

Originating in 2014 as a college-wide research symposium, the event has since evolved into a campus-wide celebration of student scholarship and artistic expression. No classes are held during the day, allowing the entire Thiel community to engage with and support student work. Each year, the symposium features a keynote presentation from a faculty member, highlighting the research and scholarship conducted beyond the classroom.

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