GREENVILLE, Pa.—More than 250 family members, friends, and runners gathered on campus Sunday morning for the inaugural Toby Atwood Memorial 5K, a heartfelt tribute to the late Thiel College student-athlete whose leadership and spirit continue to inspire the campus community.
The event, organized by Zeta Tau Alpha, the sorority Atwood led as president, drew an impressive turnout of students, alumni, faculty, and community members. Participants came together to celebrate Toby’s life, raise scholarship funds in her name, and show support for the Atwood family.
The Greenville, Pa. Record-Argus covered the event and featured it on the front page of its Monday edition.
Atwood, of Kittanning, Pa., passed away unexpectedly from a cardiac-related incident on July 20 while running a half-marathon at Presque Isle State Park. A standout student and athlete, Toby was a 4.0 scholar, co-captain of the women’s tennis team, and President of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committees for Thiel and the Presidents’ Athletic Conference. She was also the recipient of Thiel’s Tomcat Award, which recognizes excellence in academics, athletics, and leadership.
Toby’s parents, Brandi and Joe, and her brothers, Jaret and Ogden, traveled from Kittanning to take part in the race. “The tennis team, the sorority, as well as the entire Thiel community, have been amazing and incredible to our family,” Brandi told the Record-Argus. “The only person we’d get out of bed at the crack of dawn for would be her.”
The event raised approximately $11,000 before expenses, with proceeds supporting a scholarship in Toby’s memory. Participants could choose between a 5K run and a one-mile walk, and the day also featured a basket raffle with proceeds also going towards the scholarship fund.
Thiel alumna Ava Kidder ’24 was the first female to cross the finish line, completing the 5K with a time of 21:23. Kidder, who attended both Armstrong High School and Thiel College with Toby, said she returned to campus to honor her friend and former teammate. “I think she would love it and for everyone to have fun most of all,” she told the Record-Argus.
The event was coordinated by Zeta Tau Alpha members Cydney Wierzbowski ’27 and Danica Escalante ’28, who worked closely with Thiel staff to organize the race in just two months. “She was a very close friend; I will always remember her,” Escalante said. “I saw her as someone to look up to, a leader.”
Wierzbowski added that she hopes this well be the start of a lasting tradition. “I think the most important thing is to keep her memory going, and this is a great way to do it.”
Plans are already underway to make the Toby Atwood Memorial 5K an annual event, ensuring her kindness, leadership, and drive continue to inspire Thiel students for years to come.
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.