GREENVILLE, Pa.—This year’s annual Thiel College Academic Honors Convocation will award a notable alumnus with an honorary degree and celebrate the academic achievements of students at 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 21 in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center.
Kaitlyn Schmidt ’25, a senior mathematics major who is also seeking a secondary education certificate, will deliver the student address during the event. Since 1928, the Thiel College community has celebrated the Academic Honors Convocation to recognize the academic achievements of Thiel students. First-year, sophomore, junior, and senior students who earned Dean’s List honors will be awarded certificates to mark their successes. Students who have received named and endowed scholarships will also be formally recognized, along with members of Alpha Chi, the National College Honor Scholarship Society, and the Dietrich Honors Institute.
Thomas R. Guskey, Ph.D. ’72 is a Professor Emeritus in the College of Education at the University of Kentucky. He has served as Department Chair, Head of the Educational Psychology Area Committee, and President of the Faculty Council. Over his career, Guskey has held Visiting Professorships at 10 universities in the United States, as well as Visiting Scholars at universities in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. He also attended Thiel College and graduated in 1972.
Guskey began his career as a middle school teacher and later earned his doctorate in educational measurement and evaluation at the University of Chicago. He has authored or edited 30 books and more than 300 professional papers and articles, focusing on educational assessment and classroom effectiveness. His work has earned him numerous accolades, including being named a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association and receiving the Distinguished Contributions to the Field Award from Learning Forward. He continues to contribute to the field through initiatives like developing evaluation models for the Compassionate Coaches Program and engaging school leaders in grading reforms.
Additionally, Guskey and other prominent educators will be presenting at Thiel College’s Education Summit on Feb. 20 at 9:30 a.m. An event open to all working professionals and high school students interested in teaching as a career.
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.