GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Michael Mason, Thiel College’s Assistant Director of IT Operations and Veterans Liaison, was recently featured in two regional publications for his leadership in supporting veterans and military-connected students.
Mason, a 21-year U.S. Army veteran, appeared in the Youngstown, Ohio Business Journal Daily in an article examining how area colleges serve veteran students, and in the Greenville Record-Argus for organizing the annual Veterans Tribute Workout at Thiel College.
In the Business Journal feature, Mason outlined Thiel’s comprehensive approach to veteran support, noting that the College provides a dedicated admissions counselor for veterans and dependents, a $1,000 annual scholarship for full-time veteran students, and access to an on-campus Veterans Affairs counselor from Butler, Pa.
“It’s my job to make sure that everyone is being taken care of, that they’re getting everything they need to be successful,” Mason said. “It’s not always educational-based support. Sometimes it’s about helping with transportation or personal challenges so that veterans can stay focused on their goals.”
The Record-Argus article spotlighted Mason’s organization of Thiel’s Veterans Tribute Workout, a military-style endurance event held in the Paul Bush ’66 Memorial Fitness Center. The workout honors Greenville native and Thiel alumnus Paul Bush ’66, who was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968. This year’s event, which coincided with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Marine Corps, featured a modified “Murph” workout of pull-ups, push-ups, squats, and a two-mile run.
Before the workout began, participants viewed archival footage from the 2000 dedication of the fitness center, including remarks about Bush’s dedication to physical conditioning and his commitment to joining the Marines. “That’s what we’re here for,” Mason told participants. “This is not a competition — it’s a measure of personal commitment and sacrifice.”
Among the participants was Thiel College Lecturer of English Sean Oros ’15, advisor to the Kappa Sigma fraternity, which partners with Mason on the annual event. “Mike’s a great guy,” Oros said. “He shows up for the students all year—this is our chance to show up for him.”
In addition to these recent local features, Mason’s advocacy for veterans has been highlighted in previous media, including an Erie News Now segment and a short film produced with Warrior Canine Connection about “Paul II,” a service dog named in honor of Bush.
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