GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College seniors Tyla Belton ’21 and Emily Groves ’21 were named the first students of the month for the spring 2021 semester recently.
The Student of the Month is awarded to seniors. It is among the most prestigious student awards at Thiel College, with only about six students each semester earning the honor.
Belton organized the first Take Back the Night Event on Thiel College’s campus during her internship with AWARE of Mercer County. Her post-graduation plans are to continue working for a non-profit and in the advocacy field. Belton is studying and interning in the nation’s capital as part of the Lutheran Colleges Washington Semester program. The political science major, legal studies, and women and gender studies minor from Altoona, Pa. is taking classes through the exchange and interning at the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. The 2017 graduate of Altoona Area High School is interning with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. RAINN created and operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline in partnership with more than 1,000 local sexual assault service providers across the country and operates the DoD Safe Helpline for the Department of Defense. RAINN also carries out programs to prevent sexual violence, help survivors, and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
She is the daughter of Tania and Tyler DeLeo, of Altoona, Pa.
“I am very thankful for all of the opportunities Thiel has granted me. I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of the staff/faculty and my friends,” Belton said.
Groves, a 2017 West Middlesex High School graduate, is a business administration management, business information systems and computer science triple major. Her future plans are to be an operations campus analyst at BNY Mellon in Pittsburgh. She an officer for several clubs and organizations. She is president and a founding member of the Technology Club, president of the Outdoor Recreation Club, vice president of Kappa Mu Epsilon mathematics honorary society and treasurer for the national honor society, Alpha Chi. She is a member of the national commerce honorary society, Chi Eta Sigma; the Dietrich Honors Institute; the national sophomore honor society, Chi Eta Sigma; senior service honorary, Les Lauriers; and the Thiel Student Support Network. She has worked as an Information Technology student worker, a Learning Technologies intern and a peer tutor.
She is the daughter of Janet Groves, of Greenville, Pa.
“Going to Thiel has transformed me in ways unimaginable to me just four years ago. I have gained truly invaluable experiences here that have led to amazing opportunities,” Groves said. “I am forever grateful to the special individuals who make Thiel what it is and have more than supported me throughout my time here.”
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.