GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College announces Laci Dezern ’25, of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Aidan Ochs ’26, of Rostraver Township, Pa., as its Student of the Month honorees for December.
The Student of the Month honor is awarded to seniors. It is among the most prestigious student awards at Thiel College with only six students earning the honor each semester.
Dezern is a psychology and philosophy double major. She attended Deer Lakes High School and graduated in 2021.
She intends to attend graduate school for clinical psychology and hopes to counsel young children with trauma-based issues after graduation.
Dezern is on the executive board of Women Inspiring the Next Generation, which has worked with AWARE, a Mercer County domestic violence shelter. She co-authored the presentation “Sex, Gender, and the Ways a Minority Lives.” The presentation examines how the LGBTQ+ community feels about their safety and acceptance on Thiel’s campus, as well as other college campuses. She also delivered this presentation at an Athletic Board of Directors meeting this past autumn and at the Northeastern Regional Honors Conference.
“I have met some of the greatest people here. Whether they be friends or staff members, everyone was beyond kind and supportive,” Dezern said. “I completed two majors and three minors in three-and-a-half years, taking 18 credits almost every semester. It was incredibly difficult, but I could not have done it without my friends and the Psychology and English departments. There are too many people to name, but each has given me something influential that I will keep with me forever. Thank you is far too trivial of a word, but there is nothing else I can say but, ‘Thank you, all of you.’”
She is the daughter of Denise and Gary Dezern, of Tarentum, Pa.
Ochs graduated from Belle Vernon High School in 2022 and is an environmental safety management major. He intends to pursue his safety management interests with a large construction contractor or engineering corporation.
Ochs is a member of the Thiel baseball team and serves as the junior baseball class representative. He is also a member of Lambda Sigma, the sophomore honorary society that promotes leadership, scholarship, camaraderie, and service.
He is a member of the Office of Admission’s student ambassadors group Thiel Team and enjoys participating in volunteer work with his teammates.
He is the son of Aaron and Kristy Ochs, of Rostraver Township, Pa.
Ochs said he chose Thiel to play baseball and join an innovative major.
“(Thiel) not only provided the chance to play baseball; (it also presented) the opportunity to study under a unique safety management program and faculty.”
He is grateful to both Department Chair Anna Reinsel, Ph.D. ’06 and Assistant Professor of Environmental Safety Management Hope Dropp for being “instrumental in shaping and guiding my experience.”
“I am happy to be a part of a new and growing major at Thiel,” Ochs said.
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.