GREENVILLE, Pa.—Thiel College will celebrate the academic achievements of the Class of 2023 during its 149th Commencement exercises, which will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 7, in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.
Professor of Business Administration and Accounting and David M. Miller Endowed Chair of Accounting Gary Witosky ’79 will deliver the keynote address. Witosky earned his bachelor’s degree from Thiel College in 1979 and holds a Master of Accountancy from Stetson University. In addition, he is a certified public accountant and chartered global management accountant and has more than 20 years of professional experience in public accounting and private industry. In 2002, Witosky joined Thiel College as an adjunct professor in the Department of Business Administration and Accounting and eventually became the department chair 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 since 2020.
Additionally, Former Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees John Hudson will be awarded an honorary degree during the Commencement ceremony. Hudson is the Founder and President of The Hudson Companies, which has been an industry leader in real estate development, investment, and general construction since its founding in 1977. Hudson has been highly involved at Thiel, serving not only as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, but also as the Chair of the Facilities, Physical Plant, and Information Technology Committee, and as a member of the Student Enrollment Committee. Hudson was the winner of the Haller Enterprise Institute Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006 and received the Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award in 2012.
A Baccalaureate worship service will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, in the David Johnson Memorial Chapel. The Commencement ceremony, itself, will be livestreamed and will also be available for online viewing afterward.
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.