GREENVILLE, Pa.—Academic achievements, alumni accomplishments and the community coming together at Thiel College during 2024 were among the Top 10 news stories in the Thiel College Newsroom based on their number of views, media attention, and social media impact.
10. Thiel College physician assistant studies students celebrate white coat ceremony
Thirty-six students in Thiel College’s third cohort of Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies received their white coats as part of the program’s White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, April 6 in Bly Hall of the Academic Center on campus.
9. Thiel Homecoming celebration includes mascot birthday, honorary degree, alumni awards
Thiel College geared up for an exciting Homecoming weekend. The annual celebration of school spirit, tradition, and community brought together alumni, students, faculty, and staff for a weekend of fun, friendship, and recognition of outstanding Thiel graduates.
With nearly 1,000 people on campus and activities starting on Thursday, Sept. 26 and carrying through to Sunday, Sept. 28, it was impossible to be everywhere at once.
One of the key highlights of the weekend was the awarding of an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree to distinguished alumnus and Professor Emeritus of Business Administration and Accounting Gary Witosky ’79. Witosky’s professional experience includes more than 20 years in public accounting and private industry. In 2002, Witosky joined Thiel College—at the invitation of his former professor and mentor, David M. Miller ’61 H’20—as an adjunct professor. He subsequently served as the College’s interim vice president of finance in 2004, and as the senior vice president of Thiel in 2007-2009. He returned to the faculty in 2009 and eventually became the Chair of the Arthur McGonigal Department of Business Administration and Accounting in 2015. Witosky was appointed Thiel’s first David M. Miller Endowed Chair of Accounting in 2016 and has served as Executive Director of the Haller Enterprise Institute. In 2009, Witosky received the Service to Thiel Award from the Thiel Alumni Association and was recognized as the Professor of the Year by the College in 2016. Witosky has had a remarkable career in finance, philanthropy, and leadership. He is recognized for his outstanding contributions to both his profession and his community and his alma mater.
In addition to Witosky’s honorary degree, several other exceptional alumni were honored with prestigious awards during Homecoming. The award winners include:
The Class of 1974 also celebrated its 50th reunion and presented the College with the largest class gift in the history of the College with a donation of $184,105 for education scholarships.
8. Thiel College education majors finishing program with student-teaching assignments
Nineteen members of the Thiel College Class of 2024 finished their degrees with student-teaching assignments at six local Mercer County school districts.
7. Thiel outpaces national enrollment trends with ongoing student growth, census data shows
Thiel College has experienced another year of positive enrollment trends, with Fall 2024 census statistics showing significant growth in student numbers.
The total student population has grown by 12.7% since 2021.
According to the latest figures, the number of new undergraduate students has increased by 9.9% from Fall 2023 to Fall 2024, where the average was just 1.9% in the first half of 2024.
6. Thiel College wrestling coach recognized for role as first endowed coach in school history
Craig Thurber was officially recognized as the Rod E. Wilt ’86 Head Coach for Thiel College Wrestling at Thiel College’s Academic Honors Convocation. The other endowed positions recognized at Honors Convocation were Dr. James Pedas ’50 H’89 Chair of Communication Mary Theresa Hall, Ph.D.; the Norman P. Mortensen H’81 Chair of Economics Steven Kandray; Kenneth ’31 and Marianna Brown ’32 Dietrich Honors Institute Chair Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D.; and David M. Miller ’61 H’20 Endowed Chair of Accounting Melissa Oakes ’03.
5. Area professionals, alumni and educators recogized during Mentor of the Year event
Thiel College hosted its third annual Mentor of the Year event on Friday, April 26. Six individuals were recognized as 2024 Mentor of the Year Professional honorees:
Six educators were recognized as 2024 Education Mentors of the Year:
4. Thiel College welcomes seven new faculty members across multiple disciplines
Seven accomplished faculty members, representing a diverse range of expertise in their respective fields, joined the faculty at Thiel College: Daniel Dankovich, D.C.; Emily Erb, Ph.D.; Gregory Hellier, D.O.; Mary Honard, MPAS, PA-C; Omar Malik, M.D.; Eric Matthews, Ph.D.; and Cassandra Shearer, CCC-SLP.
3. Community comes together to support students and families in times of tragedy
The Thiel College community is deeply saddened as first-year students Donel Wheeler II ’27, of East Stroudsburg, Pa., and Te’nya Mckinley ’27, of Youngstown, Ohio, were killed during the past year.
2. Public hearing at Thiel College on rural Pa. population change features Trustee, President
Thiel College President Susan Traverso, Ph.D. and Chair of the Board of Trustees and Executive Director of the Penn-Northwest Development Corporation Rod E. Wilt ’86 spoke on January 31 during a public hearing at Thiel College on population changes in Pennsylvania’s rural regions.
1. Thiel College announces Dean’s List of Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
Thiel College announced this past December that 402 students were on the Dean’s List for the Fall 2023 semester, and in May, the College announced that 383 students were named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2024 semester.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.
