Thiel Happenings

Awards continue to roll in for Thiel College volleyball team after historic PAC championship

Following their electrifying sweep of second-seeded Grove City College to win the inaugural Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championship Tournament and punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history, the Thiel College men’s volleyball team continues to rake in accolades.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College’s Sigma Phi Epsilon conducts ‘Walk-A-Mile’ fundraiser for AWARE

The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity at Thiel College is conducting their annual Walk-A-Mile in Her Shoes fundraiser for Mercer County, a philanthropic campaign devoted to eliminating domestic and sexual violence.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College continues strong run at cheer nationals with its fourth straight podium finish

The Thiel College Tomcats Cheerleading team continues to make history, securing a top-three national finish on Saturday, April 12 and extending their streak in with an impressive fourth straight podium finish.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Fourth cohort of physician assistant students awarded white coats during ceremony

Thirty-nine students in Thiel College’s fourth cohort of Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies received their white coats as part of the program’s White Coat Ceremony on Friday, April 11 in Bly Hall of the Daniel & Dorothy Spence Academic Center on campus.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Faculty & staff: Remind students to fill out the FAFSA

Anyone interested in participating should go to http://www.redcrossblood.org/And then zip code Thiel or 16125 to find the Thiel College blood drive.

Thiel Choir flower fundraiser

Help support the Thiel Choir's fundraising efforts as they prepare for their Austria/Switzerland tour in March 2026. Click the link to check out the catalogue. At check out, you will have the option to specify a "seller" who will get credit for the sale. If none specified, the funds raised will go into the general choir trip fund. If you provide your home address, the products will be shipped directly to you; otherwise, they will be delivered to the college.

• Browse the online catalog.

In addition, Ben Byers M.S.’26 won the Wellness basket, Alyssa Rocha M.S. ’26 won the St. Paul’s basket and Caitlin Augustine M.S.’26 won the Walberg Pharmacy basket.

• Refer a student to the TLC.

• Schedule for Accessibility Resource Center finals testing.

Student News

Business seminar hears from attorney

Sarah Weikart ’12 was the featured speaker at the April 9 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Sarah is a Deputy Assistance District Attorney in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office in Pittsburgh. Also joining the class was Sarah’s husband, Joe Vanaskey ’10.

“Sarah Weikart’s profession was a unique and refreshing change from the normal business-related careers; she is a deputy district attorney! I thought it was interesting to hear from a speaker who was not in the same field that I plan to join one day. I found that while Sarah was in a different profession, she shared many of the same ideologies and attributes of other Thiel graduates. Throughout the evening, Sarah and her husband Joe delivered an intriguing and entertaining presentation.” Ethan Tabaka ’26

“Ms. Weikart started off by sharing her Thiel story with us. She explained that initially she did not want to attend college and instead wanted to go to bartending school. Her parents encouraged her to find a college and get a degree before making career path decisions. She decided that she would go to college but was more focused on sports rather than academics. When offered admissions at Thiel, she chose to attend because she could play volleyball, and it was far enough away from her parents that she could stay on campus.” Natalie Pape ’26

“Weikart first explored her non-traditional path to and after college. She originally came to Thiel only because of the sports – she had no ideas for what to pursue in her major. But it was through Thiel campus’ supportive environment (students, professors), along with her parents who pushed her to ‘do what made her happy,’ that helped her to get where she is now.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“At Thiel College, Weikart was not only a committed student but also a standout student-athlete and campus leader. From 2008 to 2011, she played as an outside hitter for the women’s volleyball team and held leadership positions in Alpha Xi Delta sorority. Her involvement extended to academic honor societies such as Lambda Sigma Sophomore Honors Society and the Order of Omega, where she was recognized for her excellence in leadership and academics.” Sam Denu ’26

“She even met her husband in an art class at Thiel—that’s when things really started to come together for her. She completed an internship with a local attorney but wasn’t sure she wanted to become a lawyer because of all the additional schooling.” Bryce Stubert ’25

“During her time at Thiel, she completed internships in both social work and the legal field and it was her legal internship that sparked her interest in becoming a lawyer. After graduating, she took a year off, working in the deli at Giant Eagle while studying for the LSAT. She later attended Duquesne University School of Law, where she participated in clinics.” Lexi Brown ’26

“Sarah shared that she loves talking more than writing, which made becoming a lawyer a natural fit. In 2016, she officially became an attorney, and by 2017, she had joined the District Attorney’s Office. From 2019 to 2024, she worked in the child abuse unit, a role she described as emotionally challenging but deeply meaningful.” Vincent Laribee ’25

“In 2024, Ms. Weikart achieved a major milestone: she was promoted to Deputy District Attorney for Allegheny County, becoming the youngest person to hold this position. She described this role as her “dream job.” It allows her to continue working on cases while also mentoring the next generation of legal professionals. She oversees the office’s internship program and personally ensures it provides the type of mentorship and experience she wished she had received at that stage in her career.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’25

“Sarah’s career path brought her to a difficult but rewarding position where she now works on complex and emotionally challenging cases—including homicides, sexual assaults, and crimes against children. She was incredibly open about how hard that work can be, and how, early on, she struggled to separate her personal life from her professional responsibilities. She admitted to often bringing her work home and unintentionally treating her husband like a therapist. Over time, she learned the importance of boundaries and emotional resilience. Her honesty in talking about mental health and balance was refreshing and powerful—it reminded us that even strong, capable people need to take care of themselves, too.” Josie Gadsby ’26

“She highlighted the importance of therapy and peer support in coping with trauma from handling child abuse cases. Throughout the talk, Sarah stressed the value of mentorship, honesty, empathy, and strong communication in building a career in law.” Shinyoung Kim ’25

“One of her key points was the importance of having someone to talk to—bottling everything up or relying only on your spouse can strain that relationship. This led into her next piece of advice: maintain a healthy work-life balance, surround yourself with supportive people, and make time to enjoy life with friends.” Bryce Stubert ’25

“She emphasized that her journey was not achieved alone. Sarah gave heartfelt credit to her husband for being a consistent support system, and spoke about the importance of nurturing deep, long-standing friendships.” Ji Hyeon Moon ’25

“She emphasized to us to never sacrifice your values for opportunities. She mentioned how she turned down better paying positions because they did not align with her personal values.” Kelly Oros ’26

“Although her story is not necessarily the ‘norm,’ her current success shows that there are a variety of paths that one can take in their careers and in their lives. Hearing from her has personally made me less nervous in my own path, I take a similar approach – taking a gap year and working while applying for various internships to gain some more practical experience before deciding where I want to be.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“I enjoyed hearing her perspective on her career as a practicing attorney, as I am a prospective law student. She was extremely helpful in answering all my questions—from tips for the LSAT to the law school admission process. This conversation was a highlight of the evening!” Anna Kavulla ’27

“As a law student myself, I found her personal advice particularly meaningful. She said, ‘Don’t rush into specialization. Stay open-minded.’ Rather than rushing into a specific field, she encouraged us to explore different areas and give ourselves the space to discover where we truly belong.” Ji Hyeon Moon ’25

“Sarah’s insights into her story, spanning from her time as a student at Thiel to litigating in the courtroom, were inspiring. I am grateful for the opportunity to hear her story and look forward to implementing her advice in my future career in law.” Anna Kavulla ’27

“My dad works for the Allegheny County Courts for Judge Thatcher where Ms. Weikart has practiced. Ms. Weikart knows many of the same people I know within the court system, which was very cool for me to meet her, as well as her husband Joe, who is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, as am I. I have seen him and talked to him before at our annual golf outing. It’s funny how small the world can be!” Zach Johns ’25

“Sarah Weikart’s presentation wove her own dynamic career journey with helpful life lessons for young professionals in various fields. She surely inspired her audience to pursue their highest career aspirations, whether in the courtroom, classroom, or office!” Ava Kavulla ’25

“One point that struck a chord with me was when Sarah said she always felt ‘special’ at Thiel. That really stood out because I feel the same way. Here, I feel seen and valued by my professors. They know who I am, they care about what I’m working toward, and they engage with me on a personal level. It’s not just about teaching a class for a paycheck—it’s about forming real connections and helping us grow. Sarah’s reflections on this reminded me how lucky we are to be part of such a supportive environment.” Josie Gadsby ’26

One of the biggest things I have learned at my time at Thiel is it might be a small college but don’t underestimate how important many of our alumni are. Ms. Weikart told me to tell my father hello, and when I did, he went on to say that she is a ‘bad ass attorney,’ which I feel is important to add to my paper for a couple reasons. Ms. Weikart didn’t know what she wanted to do while she was at Thiel and she wasn’t the most passionate about school, but she found something she loves to do and has built a very impressive career. The other reason I found it important is it shows that Thiel develops professionals who go into the world and thrive.” Zach Johns ’25

“Overall, Ms. Weikart really took the time to answer each and every question we threw at her, and I appreciate her taking the time out of her busy schedule to meet and network with us.” Natalie Pape ’26

“Thank you, Sarah and Joe, for taking the time out of your lives to give back to Thiel!” Ethan Tabaka ’26

Lessons Learned

• “Follow your passion, even if the path is uncertain.” Shinyoung Kim ’25
• “Success doesn’t follow a straight path.” Vincent Laribee ’25
• “You can’t plan everything, be ready to pivot, grow, and reflect.” Cora Post ’25
• “Always stay true to your values.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’25
• “Do something you want to do and makes you happy.” Jordan Castona ’25
• “Success isn’t just about climbing the ladder—it’s about being authentic, grounded, and purposeful every step of the way.” Josie Gadsby ’26
• “Work-life balance becomes easier once you find your rhythm.” Lexi Brown ’26
• “You do not need to say ‘yes’ to everything – You can still succeed while considering what you truly want, need, and can handle in the moment.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25
• “Truly consider promotions and job opportunities. It is not just about the pay raise. Consider the specific job duties and roles you will have in the new role before saying yes.” Ava Kavulla ’25
• “Authenticity builds trust and respect.” Lexi Brown ’26
• “Always be honest and empathetic.” Vincent Laribee ’25
• “Prioritize your mental health and build a support system.” Shinyoung Kim ’25
• “Always remember those who helped you along the way or have been there the whole time.” Jacob Castona ’25
• “Maintain your relationships; you never know when you might need friends!” Ethan Tabaka ’26
• “Be mindful of the value people bring to your life and the value you bring to theirs.” Lexi Brown ’26
• “Staying involved in the community can help you network.” Derrik Zappa ’26
• “For an interview, preparation is the key to success.” Kelly Oros ’26
• “Her tips for interviews from the prospective employer’s perspective emphasized having a well-groomed appearance, staying updated on the company you want to work for, and asking good questions.” Cora Post ’25

Dinner “Dishing”

• “We had the pleasure of hosting Sarah Weikart and her husband, Joe Vanaskey, along with my parents, Jessica and Justin Gadsby ’98, who were our special guests for the evening. Kelly Oros and I had the honor of serving as dinner concierges, and we were thrilled with how everything turned out. AVI did an incredible job bringing our vision to life, and although I helped plan the menu, I was still blown away by the delicious five-course meal. A special thanks to my uncle Tim Gadsby ’07, who generously donated the lamb—it was a new experience for many, and I’m glad people got to try it, even if it wasn’t everyone’s favorite. My parents had a wonderful time and were especially impressed by how intelligent and personable everyone in our class is.” Josie Gadsby ’26
• “For dinner, we had wedding soup to start, and then we followed up with three variants of lamb. I had never had lamb before, and it was delicious; everyone at our table commented on how well it had been prepared by the chef. To top it off, we had blueberry cobbler and vanilla ice cream for dessert.” Kelly Oros ’26
• “The dinner that Josie and Kelly planned was excellent! The lamb was excellent, and I think this was one of the best dinners yet!” Derrik Zappa ’26
• “Dinner was fabulous this week. Josie and Kelly did an outstanding with the meal courses, and the lamb provided by Mr. Tim Gadsby was greatly appreciated.” Natalie Pape ’26
• “This week for dinner, I sat with Sarah’s husband, Joe. Joe was a very funny and disarming person, and he made the formal dinner feel much more comfortable and relaxed. We spent time discussing his stories and experiences at Thiel, comparing his memories to how it is now.“ Ethan Tabaka ’26

Price reduction for Scandinavia trip

Professor of Environmental Science, Department Chair, Associate Director of the Dietrich Honors Institute Anna Reinsel, Ph.D. ’06 has altered the intinerary for the May 2026 trip to Scandinavia. The trip is slightly shorter but will still have stops in Oslo, Copenhagen and Stockholm.

• Read more information on the trip.
  

Regalia available for May graduates

The Campus Store has caps, gowns and regalia available for purchase. Students can stop by weekdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

• Bachelor's degree Gown, cap and year-dated tassel: $38/set
• MBA Gown, cap, year-dated tassel: $43 plus hood $35: total $78/set

Tennis helps out at St. Paul’s resident bingo night

Members of the men’s and women’s tennis teams assisted at St. Paul’s Senior Living Community on April 8 during bingo night at The Villas. The student-athletes helped bring residents to the community room and sat with them during two hours of bingo. Staff appreciated the extra Tomcat hands because it allowed residents that normally wouldn’t get an opportunity to play since they need the extra assistance during the bingo games.

Photo credit: Mike Allen, Director of Life Enrichment