Thiel Happenings

Thiel College Office of Admission highlights Beck for monthly team member honors

The Thiel College Office of Admission has recognized Alexa Beck ’26 as its Thiel Team Member of the Month for February.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Green, Wolffe named Thiel College Student of the Month honorees for March

Thiel College announces Jacara Green ’25, of Farrell, Pa., and Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25, of Greenville, Pa., as its Student of the Month honorees for March.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College sets new Match Day record with 676 Donors and more than $215,000 raised

Thiel College’s annual Match Day event continued its record-setting momentum with reaching a new milestone with 676 donors contributing $215,649 to support the institution. This year’s theme, “Match to the Future,” inspired the College’s community to break last year’s record of 670 donors and reaffirm its commitment to student success.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Memorial garden planned for space near chapel

The planned Memorial Garden is a heartfelt tribute, generously donated by Daniel Spence in honor of his beloved mother. Spence and his family share a multigenerational connection to Thiel College and the community. He hopes to create a functional and serene outdoor gathering place that celebrates the beauty of the region and reflects cherished Lutheran traditions. More than just a place of reflection, it is a space for appreciation, connection, and tranquility, ensuring that all who visit can find peace and inspiration in its surroundings.

Midterm donut and fry pie sale to benefit equestrians

The equestrian team is scheduled to have donuts and fry pies on campus to sell on March 6, starting around 9 a.m.

Donuts are $2, and fry pies are $3.

Team members will be at the Post Office entrance from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Additionally, smoked country meat sticks will be on sale, two for $3.

• Place an order.

• Complete the nominee form.

For more information, contact Melissa Michael.

Student News

Student housing reminder for spring break

An email was sent to students regarding upcoming housing arrangements for spring break.

Campus housing will close at 7 p.m. Friday, March 7 and will re-open at noon Sunday, March 16.

Students who need to stay on campus during break, should please complete the online form before March 7.

• Campus Housing Request Form Spring Break

Applicants who are not approved will be charged $50 per night for staying on campus. Approved applicants are not charged for staying on campus.

Haller entreprenuer scholarship application available

• Apply online.

Counselman shares professional journey

Joslyne Counselman ’14 was the featured speaker at the February 26 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Counselman is a financial advisor for Thrivent in Pittsburgh.

“Joslyne Counselman visited our senior seminar this past Wednesday to share her personal and professional journey with the class. She graduated from Thiel College in 2014 with degrees in both actuarial science and mathematics, though her dream has always been to become a choral director. During her time at Thiel, she was highly involved in campus life, participating in a sorority, choir, and tutoring mathematics.” Josie Gadsby ’26

“She opened her presentation with a welcoming invite and told us that this would be a candid, vulnerable conversation. She began by sharing about herself. She and her husband both work in the financial world. She shared fun facts about them including their love for running. In fact, they have run in 21 states, and their wedding was running-themed!” Ava Kavulla ’25

“She shared with us that her major going into Thiel was actuary studies, but after being told she has ‘too much personality,’ she made the switch to a financial advisor. She shared that her dream job was in choral studies because she had a passion for music and art, but she was not risky enough to jump into that quite yet.” Natalie Pape ’26

“Today, she is an entrepreneur, and through the assistance and guidance of Thrivent, she now runs her own financial office. She discussed how she struggled at first to lift her career up, but through both preparation and opportunity – luck – she now works with over 1,200 household clients and leads a team of financial professionals.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“Joslyne Counselman has been named to Pittsburgh Magazine’s prestigious ‘40 Under 40’ list for 2024. She also went from being a sole practitioner to being the leader of financial professionals and is a key part of Thrivent’s advisory team.” Jordan Castona ’25

“Her time at Thiel was marked by both challenges and unique experiences, including an internship in New Zealand focused on music. However, her college years were also deeply impacted by personal tragedy. She lost her father during her first semester when he took his own life. Her father owned an auto truck service business, and his passing profoundly influenced her perspective on life and career.” Vincent Laribee ’25

“Throughout her presentation, Joslyne outlined her story, beginning with her time at Thiel and the difficulties she experienced in her first semester. She explained the financial stresses and difficulties her father faced, which led him to commit suicide. While this was an awful thing to experience at such an influential point in her life, Joslyne persevered. Instead of letting this tragedy derail her life, she converted it into a fuel that motivated her to help others the way her father needed helped.” Ethan Tabaka ’26

“She chose a career in financial advising, so that she could help families be prepared in case of unexpected events. Since her own family was not financially prepared for the loss of her father, she found purpose in helping other families make smart financial decisions.” Kelly Oros ’26

“Joslyne also discussed the personal challenges and losses she has overcome, illustrating the role of resilience and financial security in navigating life’s uncertainties. She emphasized how setbacks can serve as opportunities for growth, reinforcing the importance of financial planning in achieving stability and long-term success.” Sam Denu ’26

“According to her, the process of understanding and guiding her clients, managing her work, and navigating human relationships is an ongoing source of reflection and difficulty. This made me realize that everyone, no matter their position, is constantly striving to grow and overcome challenges.” Ji Hyeon Moon ’25

“Counselman’s speech was both inspiring and insightful, offering a candid look at the challenges and growth she experienced in the financial industry. What stood out the most was her emphasis on how financial advising isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building trust and relationships.” Seungyeon Hong ’25

“Early in her career, she explained that she faced challenges gaining trust from clients as a young woman in a male-dominated industry. Instead of feeling discouraged, she turned this into an opportunity to learn. She emphasized the importance of mentorship with the phrase, “borrow grey hairs until you get your own,” meaning that young professionals should seek experienced mentors to gain knowledge and credibility.” Josie Gadsby ’26

“Joslyne’s story was incredibly inspiring to listen to, especially as a woman entering the field for similar reasons.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’26

“At the end of her presentation, Joslyne shared her three biggest struggles (even to this day). She claimed her three biggest struggles were impostor syndrome and the difficulties of fitting in, the struggle of achieving work-life balance, and letting go of control.” Ethan Tabaka ’26

“Being a financial advisor like Mrs. Counselman brings a rewarding career as well as long hours. She mentioned this as one of her struggles. I never really took time to understand how hard it is for women who want families to build a successful business career or any career.” Zach Johns ’25

“When she mentioned work-life balance, it caught my attention. This is something that everyone will experience trouble with throughout their career, and it is something the class could use advice on.” Derrik Zappa ’26

“Beyond her professional journey, Joslyne also spoke about her passion for running, which she initially took up to help with her asthma. She met her husband in 2015, and as a couple, they ran their first 5K together early in their relationship. Their shared goal is to run a race in all 50 states, and so far, they have completed races in 21 states.” Vincent Laribee ’25

“Joslyne is the perfect example of how getting through tough times in life can lead to the greatest successes. Failure is not the opposite of success; it is the step to success.” Jacob Castona ’25

“The one tip that stuck out to me was, “surround yourself with people that have the same vision or goals that you do. ‘This reminded me of “you cannot choose your family, but you can choose your friends,’ because in high school we would always be told this and then reminded that we surround ourselves with the people that we want to become” Natalie Pape ’26

“One of the things she said that helped her was making mistakes because she learned the most from making those mistakes. She also talked about how connections helped her through her career by helping her find new clients and how confidence is key and will help you go far in your career.” Kevin Gilroy ’25

“Her presentation provided me with valuable insights into professional development and personal perseverance, leaving a lasting impact by highlighting the significance of adaptability, resilience, and financial literacy in achieving long-term success.” Sam Denu ’26

“Overall, her insights were not only relevant to the financial industry but also applicable to anyone navigating career growth in a demanding professional environment.” Seungyeon Hong ’25

“Joslyne was a 2014 Thiel graduate, so she was close enough to our ages to be very relatable. She has gone through many of the same things we will be going through, and I appreciated having someone who graduated so recently speak to us.” Kelly Oros ’26

“Through it all, she realized the importance of authenticity—being true to herself rather than trying to be someone she wasn’t. She credited this understanding to a quote from David Miller: ‘How do you live life?’ You live it every day.” Bryce Stubert ’25

Lessons Learned:

• “Life is going to throw tough times at you, you have to find a way to get through it.” Jacob Castona ’25
• “True potential isn't defined by immediate achievements or current abilities, but by our capacity to evolve, learn, and adapt over time.” Sam Denu ’26
• “Your career is not a straight line; it is different for everyone.” Ethan Tabaka ’26
• “The hours you put in equal the confidence you will gain.” Kelly Oros ’26
• “Bet on yourself.” Bryce Stubert ’25
• “Learn from colleagues who have more experience in your field.” Shinyoung Kim ’25
• “Borrow the gray hair until you get some of your own.” (Essentially stay around experienced people until you are experienced yourself.)” Kelly Oros ’26
• “Network with purpose.” Derrik Zappa ’26
• “If you fail to plan you will plan to fail” Jordan Castona ’25
• “Success cannot exist without failure." Ji Hyeon Moon ’25
• “Having discipline in yourself right from the start – if starting a business, understanding that you are in business for yourself.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25
• “Figure out what your non-negotiables are.” Natalie Pape ’26
• “Set boundaries ahead of time and stick to them.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’26
• “Surround yourself with the right people and let go of those who don’t belong.” Vincent Laribee ’25
• “It is important to be kind, but it is not always important to be nice. Sometimes what is kind is not nice”. Kaitlyn Herrmann ’26
• “Building trust is essential.” Shinyoung Kim ’25
• “Be a very good listener. Listening is better than being heard.” Ava Kavulla ’25
• “Always take advantage of employer 401(k) matches—otherwise, you’re leaving free money on the table!” Josie Gadsby ’26

Dinner “Dishing”

• “The evening's menu consisted of an array of eclectic dishes that embodied authentic Indian cuisine. Everyone at my table began to laugh when we realized that we were expected to eat without any utensils, a common practice in this country that is deemed respectful when engaging in international business dining. We were all relieved when the catering team brought us a fork and knife as no one at the table was up for the challenge.” Anna Kavulla ’27
• “I haven’t eaten much Indian food, so the meal was new to me. The cucumber and pickled onion salad was very good; however, I did not attempt to eat it with my hands. The chicken over rice with vegetables was surely the star of dinner. It was seasoned with turmeric or some other Eastern seasoning, which went very well with the dish. The mango sticky rice dessert was also very pleasantly surprising. I enjoyed how it had just a touch of sweetness to it but wasn’t too overwhelming.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’26
• “This was the first dinner that I got to eat with the speaker, which I was excited about. Throughout the meal, I got to know the speaker much more personally than I have in the past weeks, as I got the chance to speak with her over the course of dinner, rather than just listening to her speak. The meal was unique once more, but good nonetheless!” Ethan Tabaka ’26

The Learning Commons is partnering with the Physician Assistant Studies program to build a tutoring program for PA students. 

Interested PA students are encouraged to apply.

• Apply online.