GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The sad passing of a notable alumnus and a popular student were balanced against the academic acheivement and accomplishment of Thiel College's faculty, staff and students for the College's Top 10 stories in the Thiel College Newsroom based on their number of views, media attention, and social media impact this past year.
The Thiel College community mourned the loss of student-athlete and campus leader Toby Atwood ’26, who died July 20 after collapsing during the Presque Isle Half Marathon. A rising senior from Kittanning, Pa., Atwood was a business administration and accounting double major, a 4.0 student, and a recipient of one of the College’s full-tuition scholarships. She served as co-captain of the women’s tennis team, president of Thiel’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and president of the Presidents’ Athletic Conference SAAC. Campus memorial services and counseling resources were made available, and more than 250 participants gathered for the inaugural Toby Atwood Memorial 5K, raising approximately $11,000 toward a scholarship established in her memory. Plans are underway to make the event an annual tradition.
Thiel College recognized academic excellence with the release of the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 Dean’s Lists, honoring students who achieved a minimum 3.4 grade point average while enrolled full time. A total of 390 students were named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List, with 358 students earning recognition in Spring 2025. The announcements highlighted sustained academic achievement across all class levels and reflected the College’s continued emphasis on student success, rigor, and scholarly engagement.
Thiel College’s National Student Speech Language Hearing Association chapter earned Gold Chapter Honors for the third consecutive year, the organization’s highest level of national recognition. Announced May 13, the honor placed Thiel among 105 chapters nationwide and in Puerto Rico recognized for excellence in member engagement, advocacy, service, and fundraising. During the 2024–25 academic year, the chapter raised funds for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, purchased an assistive listening system to enhance campus accessibility, and participated in legislative advocacy at the Pennsylvania State Capitol. The recognition underscored the strength of Thiel’s communication sciences and disorders program and its emphasis on professional development and community impact.
Thiel College awarded an honorary degree to education scholar Tom Guskey ’72 H’25 during its annual Academic Honors Convocation, a tradition dating to 1928 that celebrates student academic achievement. Guskey, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Kentucky and internationally recognized authority on assessment and grading, also participated in the College’s inaugural Education Summit. The Convocation recognized Dean’s List students, recipients of named scholarships, and members of Alpha Chi and the Dietrich Honors Institute. Guskey and other education leaders are scheduled to return to campus for the next Education Summit on Feb. 10, 2026.
Thiel College connections were prominently represented in the Greenville High School Distinguished Hall of Fame Class of 2025, with inductees Fred Kiser ’66, Roberta Leonard, Barry ’75 and Linda (Dean) Oman ’74, along with the late David Baughman. The recognition highlighted the lasting impact of Thiel alumni and leaders on education, athletics, and public service within the Greenville community and beyond.
Commodore Perry High School senior Kennedy Cropp ’29 was awarded a full-tuition academic scholarship to Thiel College during a surprise presentation at her school, joined by fellow recipient Max Dombrowski ’29. Cropp, of Clarks Mills, Pa., was selected from a competitive field of candidates following faculty interviews and scholarship competitions held in late 2024. An accomplished student-athlete and community volunteer, Cropp has been involved in multiple varsity sports, music ensembles, student organizations, and service initiatives. Each year, Thiel awards five full-tuition scholarships to high-achieving students nationwide.
Thiel College was named Mercer County’s top higher education institution in the Sharon Herald’s 2025 Best of the Best contest, which recognizes outstanding regional organizations through community voting. The honor reflected strong support from alumni, students, and area residents and highlighted the College’s growing academic programs, student-centered approach, and community engagement. Winners were featured in a special Sharon Herald publication celebrating regional excellence.
Thiel College appointed Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D., as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College, effective Jan. 1, 2025. A member of the President’s Cabinet, Nowinski oversees academic programs and faculty. She joined Thiel in 2015 and rose through the faculty ranks to full professor in 2024, most recently serving as chair of the Dietrich Honors Institute. Nowinski has played a key role in academic governance and strategic planning, including the development of Thiel 2026: Launching Leaders, and brings extensive experience in curriculum development, faculty leadership, and student engagement.
The Rev. Kurt Kuserow ’85 H’25, retiring bishop of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, was announced as commencement speaker for the Class of 2025. Thiel College conferred degrees upon 174 graduates during the May 10 ceremony, including 12 MBA recipients, and awarded honorary degrees to Kuserow and alumna G. Leah Dever ’74. The ceremony also recognized faculty emerita status recipients and marked the first time in recent history that Commencement was held on a Saturday.
Thiel College awarded degrees to members of the Class of 2025 while also hosting a campus funeral service honoring retired Air Force Col. Charles H. “Bud” Manes ’58, a longtime coach, athletics administrator, and founder of the Thiel Athletic Hall of Fame. Manes, who served the College for nearly four decades, was remembered for his leadership in athletics, military service during the Korean War, and lasting contributions to student-athlete development. His legacy was further recognized through the naming of Manes Track in 2019.
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