Thiel Happenings

Thiel College cheer coach recognized by the Shenango Valley Chamber

Head Cheer and Dance Coach and Adjunct Professor Randall Burnett M.A.’22 has been named to the Shenango Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Under 40 Distinguished Impact Awards list.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College biology students present research at international symposium

Eight Thiel College biology students presented their semester-long research projects at the prestigious 2025 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Science Education Alliance International Symposium from April 25-27.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Isabella Zahner named Thiel Team Member of the Month for April

The Thiel College Office of Admission has recognized Isabella Zahner ’27 as its Thiel Team Member of the Month for April.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Mercer County Commissioner recognizes volleyball team with citation

Mercer County Commissioner Ann Coleman presented the volleyball team with a citation Friday during Farewell Fest after the team won the first Presidents’ Athletic Conference men’s volleyball tournament title and earned a trip to the NCAA Division III national tournament.

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.

• Register online (registration closed until May 25).

Student News

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.

Young alumni speak to Miller Senior seminar

Rachael (Rose) Albright ’17; Chuck McQuone ’18; Elijah Sklack ’20 MBA ’21; and Bailey Shepard ’21 were the featured speakers at the April 30 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Albright is a senior internal auditor at Wesco Distribution, McQuone is an information systems audit advisor at Evernorth Health Services, Sklack is an import/export specialist at ARLANXEO, and Shepard is the strategic partnerships and programs manager at Mercer County Foodbank.

“Tonight, we had the wonderful opportunity to not only hear from one speaker but four amazing speakers. These speakers were not only Tomcats but also recent graduates. Each of the speakers represented different specialties of business. Rachael Albright works in private accounting and has her C.P.A. and C.F.E. licenses. Chuck McQuone works in a job that combines IT, finance, and operations. Elijah Sklack works for Saudi Aramco in the supply chain sector. Bailey Shepard works as the Agency Relations and Programs Manager at the Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County.” Ava Kavulla ’25

“Tonight was a very educational night. We had a panel of young Thiel alumni for our speakers, and they each discussed their unique career paths and how they each got to where they are now. I really enjoyed the evening, and it was nice to hear four different perspectives at once, especially since they each one graduated very recently and can share very relevant information about life after graduation.” Kelly Oros ’26

“Rachael began by sharing her early college experience, admitting that she was not very active at Thiel in the beginning. She worked at Sheetz during that time, becoming known around campus as ‘the Sheetz girl.’ Her path took a turn sophomore year when she pursued an internship opportunity through one of Professor Oakes’ connections. From there, she became more involved on campus, eventually serving as the director of the Thiel Activities Board.” Vincent Laribee ’25

“Rachael graduated in 2017 and worked in public accounting for three and a half years and is now a senior internal auditor at WESCO.” Kelly Oros ’26

“Chuck mentioned that during his freshman year, he didn’t do much, but later got involved in the campus IT department, where he worked throughout most of his college years. He recalled working in some of the more obscure areas of campus, including the basement of Greenville Hall, where IT equipment was stored.” Shinyoung Kim ’25

“In his time at Thiel, he got involved with working in IT and then eventually got an internship at St. Paul’s. After graduation, Chuck got his first job working at the Mercer County courthouse for two and a half years but then wanted to challenge himself more and wanted to stick with auditing, so he moved to Citizen Bank, where he stayed for one and a half years. After that time wanted to go into IT auditing, so he taught himself how and started looking for a new job and eventually found Evernorth Health Services.” Kevin Gilroy ’25

“Chuck also shared that his wife, Emily Groves, is an alumna who graduated in 2021, and they met while both working in the IT department at the college. He ended with some humor about their shared experience in IT work.” Shinyoung Kim ’25

“One of the panelists, Elijah Sklack, is a 2020 graduate who then went on to complete the accelerated Master’s, graduating fully in 2021. During his time at Thiel, Elijah worked in the radio show and podcast club. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, even serving as president of the chapter for some time. In addition to his major, Sklack participated in the DHI Honors program, completing his thesis on supply chains – something that would later result in him obtain a job in the supply chain field.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“Elijah graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, double majoring in political science and business. During his time at Thiel, he was deeply engaged in campus life, most notably serving as Philanthropy Chair for the Xi-Epsilon Chapter of Kappa Sigma. In this role, he led fundraising efforts for the Military Heroes Campaign, successfully raising nearly $3,500 in just four days. His dedication to service and leadership earned him widespread recognition, particularly for his work supporting veterans and community initiatives.” Sam Denu ’26

“Bailey Shepard majored in public relations and business. Interestingly, she initially came to Thiel as a political science major but switched after falling in love with the professors in the business department. She was highly involved on campus—serving as a peer mentor, joining nearly every club possible, and, like me, commuting to campus.” Josie Gadsby ’26

“During her time at Thiel, Bailey was extremely involved. She was a Pedas fellow and peer mentor and was involved in many other activities on campus. In her words, she stated that she was involved in just about every club that was offered at Thiel. During her speech, she also stressed the importance of internships; the experience offered at internships is arguably more important than good grades in the classroom.” Kaitlyn Herrmann ’25

“Bailey also had several internship experiences including United Way, Warrior in Her, and the Buhl Club. She explained that each experience was unique, and she was able to get a better understanding of what she wanted to do.” Natalie Pape ’26

“After graduation, she landed her first job thanks to a recommendation from Professor Steve Kandray, who connected her with McConnell Marketing for a role he was vacating to begin teaching.” Josie Gadsby ’26

“Bailey eventually found her dream job working for a local non-profit, the Community Food Warehouse of Mercer County. She bubbled over with excited passion for her job. In fact, since starting around three years ago, she has not taken a day off! This is not only because of her driven nature, but also because if she is not there, no one will be there to help people in desperate need of food. Another detail she shared was how she is the youngest person in her workplace. She was 23 when she started, and her nearest-in-age co-worker was 45!” Ava Kavulla ’25

“Rachael emphasized how pursuing the CPA and CFE certifications contributed to her career success. She openly discussed her struggles with traditional CPA prep using Becker, explaining that it did not suit her learning style. By developing her own study approach—what she called ‘the Rachael way’—she passed all four CPA sections in just six months! Rachael encouraged students to trust their instincts, understand how they learn best, and not be overwhelmed by others’ expectations.” Seungyeon Hong ’25

“One of the most impactful parts of her speech was her honesty about the challenges of passing the CPA exams. She initially followed the Becker study method but found it too slow and unengaging. After 18 months, with none of the four required exams passed and the clock resetting, she hit a low point and nearly gave up. When I asked her what that experience was like, she candidly described feeling horrible, defeated, and unsure if she could continue. But instead of quitting, she changed her approach, studied in a way that worked better for her, and passed all four exams in just six months. Her story was a powerful reminder that setbacks don’t define us, rather how we respond to them does.” Vincent Laribee ’25

“Mr. McQuone talked a lot about matching up skills. What he meant by this is to look at the skills you have at the time and compare them to the skills you need for the job you want. For example, the job he has now doing IT auditing he took online classes to help him acquire the skills he needed get the job.” Zach Johns ’25

“Chuck talked to us about what it was like job hopping and some of the reasons to job hop. The first reason he talked about is that you might just want to do something different, which is what happened with his first move over to Citizen Bank, or the culture at the company isn’t a good fit for you. He did say, though, that you shouldn’t be worried about job hopping because it’s a very normal thing, and if you don’t get hired, it's ok, just keep applying to other places.” Kevin Gilroy ’25

“For Elijah Sklack, Covid brought with it a greatly shut-down job market, leading to his decision to join the MBA program. Today, he highly recommends the MBA, either right away or as a returning student, as it is a great “long-term investment.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“Elijah recollected that this time was extremely beneficial to him in various aspects. Firstly, it allowed him to refresh his memory of the wide-encompassing business courses he had taken in undergrad. This review allowed him to retain more knowledge and set the foundations for higher-level thinking. Secondly, the MBA program offered him a chance to work alongside his peers, who brought theory to the table, and seasoned business professionals, who brought the application to the table. This blend of students and skillsets allowed him to collaborate in a way that is modeled after the workforce.” Anna Kavulla ’27

“He divided the MBA into three main topics the last of which is business etiquette (what you are supposed to do in certain situations). Elijah Sklack said that the MBA will also help strengthen your degree, and Thiel has a competitive advantage by teaching their students the etiquette they will need in the workplace. He also said to look at the MBA program as an investment in your future, which will significantly help.” Jordan Castona ’25

“Elijah highlighted the power of collaboration. He explained that setting clear goals and working with others often results in outcomes that exceed what we could have achieved alone. Through collaboration, we also gain a deeper appreciation for the strengths of those around us and learn how to build more effective and empathetic teams.” Ji Hyeon Moon ’25

“Despite her recent graduation, Bailey shared many tidbits of wisdom and valuable insight into the early years of the professional world. Some of her ending tips were to always clean up after yourself, dress professionally, say hi and bye to coworkers as it helps build meaningful relationships, and be mindful of who you ask questions to.” Ethan Tabaka ’26

“Bailey always knew she wanted to help people, and when she found her current position at the Mercer County Food Bank it turned out to be the perfect fit. You could truly sense her passion—she said she reminds herself when she’s tired, ‘If I don’t work, people don’t eat.’ Josie Gadsby ’26

“Her discussion ended on a beautifully significant note. In her own childhood, her family struggled with getting meals, and she was part of the backpack program. Now, she oversees the backpack programs in schools across Mercer County. Her own career story reflects the bright beauty of helping others and making a difference in the community!” Ava Kavulla ’25

“These are people who have graduated very closely to our enrollment time, and it is nice to hear from successful people who are closer in age to us; it brings me hope that we can succeed just as soon.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25

“It was truly a wonderful evening, filled with learning, warmth, and meaningful conversations. I feel so grateful to have met such thoughtful and accomplished alumni, and I’m especially thankful to our professor for giving us the opportunity to connect with inspiring speakers throughout the semester. These moments have not only enriched my academic experience but also given me a clearer sense of the kind of professional and person I hope to become.” Ji Hyeon Moon ’25

“This was a very enjoyable and educational class; thank you for everything Professor Witosky, great job!” Ethan Tabaka ’26

Lessons Learned

• “Don’t get ahead of yourself. Enjoy your time at Thiel and the journey of looking for a job. Be OK with applying for many positions. (McQuone) Ava Kavulla ’25
• “The MBA is an investment in your future and helps tremendously.” (Sklack)” Jordan Castona ’25
• “Planning for further education should be based on timing, personal goals, and life circumstances.” (Sklack) Josie Gadsby ’26
• “Internships and experience are key investments for the future.” (Shepard) Shinyoung Kim ’25
• “Internships are much more important than grades when resume building.” (Shepard) Ethan Tabaka ’26
• “Certifications like the CPA and CFE can significantly improve job prospects and credibility in one’s career.” (Albright) Seungyeon Hong ’25
• “The world runs on Excel.” (Elijah Sklack) Kaitlyn Herrmann ’25
• “Etiquette and professionality is more valuable than you may think; Thiel has prepared us well, not all schools teach it.” (Sklack) Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25
• “Dress the part, make sure you look professional and dress appropriately for the position you hold.” (Shepard) Natalie Pape ’26
• “Consistently cleaning up after myself at work shows my coworkers that I am responsible and respectful of our shared environment.” (Shepard) Sam Denu ’26
• “Being recognized as a reliable expert in your field can enhance job satisfaction and build professional confidence.” (Albright) Seungyeon Hong ’25
• “Job-hopping is normal, not something to be ashamed of.” (McQuone) Ethan Tabaka ’26
• “Stay curious throughout your career and don’t be afraid to branch out.” (McQuone) Anna Kavulla ’27
• “Everyone’s path is different—embrace your own journey.” (Albright) Vincent Laribee ’25
• “Your work is your mission. Work in a place where you can use your talents to best serve others and your community. (Shepard) Ava Kavulla ’25
• “Have trust and confidence in yourself.” (Albright) Derrik Zappa ’26
• “Comparison is the thief of joy.” (Albright) Jacob Castona ’25

Dinner “Dishing”

• “The dinner tonight was led by Lexi Brown and Shinyoung Kim. Starting with the appetizer, we were presented with seaweed soup, which tasted light yet delicious. The entrée was braised short rib with a side of sliced carrots, both covered in a decadent sauce, as well as kimchi pancakes and rice. And lastly, the dessert was traditional Korean honey cookies (yakgwa) paired with vanilla ice cream. The meal was delicious and allowed the class to explore another culture through food.” Kaitlynn Wolffe ’25
• “The start of the night was a great Korean meal with many different Korean foods. My favorite part of the meal was the Milkis Korean milk because it was something completely different and new to me which kind of tasted like cream soda and the ability to use chopsticks. Overall, the meal was a great experience of Korean culture.” Jacob Castona ’25
• “We had a highly entertaining, although classified, dinner conversation. The proverbial ‘cone of silence’ was down around our table as Rachael shared more Professor Witosky quotes with us, and I found them to be very entertaining.” Kelly Oros ’26
• “Dinner tonight was unique. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal and the comradery that came with it. It was a great way to close out the wonderful semester. Thank you for everything Professor Witosky.” Bryce Stubert ’25

TLC celebrates graduating peer-learning leaders

Last week, the Learning Commons celebrated their graduating peer-learning leaders with a “Night with the Stars” senior dinner. At the event, seniors shared Learning Commons memories and future plans, and each graduate walked the red carpet to receive their own comedic-but-sincere "academy award." The honorees even had their own walk-up songs for the red carpet which were voted on by their fellow peer-learning leaders.

The Learning Commons would like to congratulate its graduating Peer-Learning Leaders, “Thank you for your service to students and best wishes for the future! We will miss you!”

Graduates include:

Kaylee Bensink ’25, Jacob Castona ’25, Grace Honeycutt ’25, Mackenzie House ’25, Sydney Linhart ’25, Sarahy Lopez ’25, Brooke Mottley ’25, Katlyn Phillips ’25, Kaitlyn Schmidt ’25, Fiona Shaffer ’25, Madeleine White ’25, Kaitlynn Wolffe '25, Faith Zagotti ’25.

December 2024 graduates were Laci Dezern ’24 and Emma Hatfield ’24.