Thiel Happenings

Thiel College honors students present research at regional conference in Connecticut

Thiel College Dietrich Honors Institute students presented undergraduate research across multiple disciplines at the Northeast Regional Honors Council Conference held this spring in New Haven, Conn. The annual conference, themed “The Haven of Honors: Cultivating Innovative, Upstanding, and Impactful Leaders,” brought together honors students and faculty from colleges and universities throughout the region.

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Motivational speaker Sabrina Parr addresses Thiel College student-athletes

Student-athletes at Thiel College heard from coach and motivational speaker Sabrina Parr during a recent presentation in Bly Hall focused on mental toughness, discipline and personal development. Parr, a former Division I athlete and six-time All-American, spoke to students about building resilience and preparing for success in athletics, academics and life.

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Thiel College Center for Speech-Language Pathology Services launches free preschool program

Thiel College’s Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program is expanding clinical learning opportunities and community services with the launch of “Bundles of Learning,” a play-based language development program for preschool-aged children at the Thiel Center for Speech-Language Services.

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Commencement Exercises are Saturday

Thiel College celebrates its 152nd Commencement Exercises at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2026 in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. The Class of 2026 undergraduates and Master of Business Administration graduates will be recognized during the event.

A Baccalaureate worship service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2026 in the David Johnson Memorial Chapel.

Alumnus Shane Snyder, Ph.D. ’94, retiring Professor of Chemistry Guru Rattan K. Khalsa, Ph.D. will be awarded emerita status and Riley Smith ’26 will be the senior orator.

The ceremony will be livestreamed as well as available for online viewing afterward.

• Commencement Exercises Live Stream

Class of 2026 Commencement Schedule of Events

Friday, May 8

7 p.m. Baccalaureate Service, David Johnson Memorial Chapel

Saturday, May 9

9 a.m. Graduate Robing, Maenpa Court at Beeghly Gymnasium

10:45 a.m. Brother Martin’s Walk Procession Begins

11 a.m. Commencement Exercises, William A. Passavant Memorial Center

12:30 p.m. Commencement Reception, Howard Miller Student Center (lower level)

Olympus groundbreaking follows Commencement

Thiel College will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Olympus Athletic and Recreation Center at 3:30 p.m. May 9 near the end zone of Stoeber Field at Alumni Stadium.

• Read more in the Newsroom.

The planned facility is estimated at $10 million and will expand on-campus recreation and wellness offerings for students, including additional locker room space, a multipurpose basketball court, a walking and running track, fitness areas, and collaboration and meeting spaces. Fundraising is ongoing with the goal for the project to be fully funded by donors.

The Olympus Athletic and Recreation Center is designed to support student life, intramural and recreational activities, and the College’s athletics programs while enhancing campus infrastructure.

Student News

Marini returns to campus for final seminar of semester

Mario Marini ’91 was the featured speaker at the April 29 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar. Marini recently retired after 23 years serving as an advancement officer at Thiel College. He provides tax preparation and advisory services to the public.

“A member of the Class of 1991, Mario went on to dedicate 23 years of service to the College, building a career rooted in commitment and integrity. From the moment he began speaking, his calm and thoughtful presence stood out, making it easy to see why he has been so respected throughout his career. He reflected not only on his time at Thiel but also on the lessons he learned along the way, offering advice that felt meaningful.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“After high school, Marini took a five-year gap before continuing his education, gaining real-world experience that helped shape his future path. He later earned his degree in Accounting and Business Administration from Thiel before beginning his career in finance, working as an Account Executive and later as a Trust Officer, where he developed strong skills in financial planning and client relationships. He eventually returned to Thiel, where he built a long career in advancement and planned giving, helping connect donors to the college in meaningful ways.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“He has had a lot of different career experiences everything from owning his own lawn maintenance business, to working in the mill, then becoming an investment guy, before ending his career working at Thiel while continuing to prepare tax returns.” Brett Channell ’27

“I was familiar with Mario before today’s class as I interned across the hall from him last semester. In that time, we crossed paths, but I was never aware of his journey and how much I would resonate with his story.” Spencer Cleary ’27

“Mario is the definition of a humble man. Throughout his speech, we really could not get him to talk himself up. Many of the other people in the room could not say enough about him, yet he was humble throughout the whole experience. I think that this speaks volumes about his character.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“He described good relationships as having to be cultivated: they take time, patience, and trust. While he was able to attest to this, it was even more powerful having Mr. Batt share his thoughts, too. He said that Mario was one of the best coworkers ever, because he was great at building relationships that lasted so long. He always provided advice, lessons, and truly cared about everyone he worked with. Additionally, he was the hardest worker, but incredibly humble, and extremely dedicated to Thiel.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“Mark Batt touched on how great Mario is not just at fundraising, but as a person. He made sure Mario knew how he had impacted not only Mark but the whole department. I thought that was powerful to see. I hope that one day people will think highly of me and what I do, like Mark does of Mario.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26

“He spoke about the importance of building trust, cultivating genuine relationships, and being willing to take risks when opportunities arise. Rather than presenting these ideas as abstract concepts, he tied them to real experiences, showing how each one played a role in shaping his journey and helping him navigate challenges over time.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“My favorite thing he talked about was about continuously cultivating relationships. Having relationships and having a big network was a common theme throughout our classes, and I believe every one of our speakers has talked about it. I have recently realized that to be true as I have two internships lined up for next summer due to knowing people who know people.” Trey Grazier ’27

“Mr. Marini stated that Thiel was like a ‘golden opportunity’ for him, but it seems like he may have also provided Thiel, and its students, with even more opportunity. As a recipient of the Baughman scholarship, it was very touching to hear about the relationship he developed with Mr. Baughman which resulted in Thiel receiving this scholarship gift.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26

“Overall, his message about networking, trust, hard work, and taking action was very meaningful to me. I was also impressed by his long-term commitment to Thiel College and his consistent work ethic. Additionally, through a fellow class participant who mentioned his dedication to family and work, I could feel how seriously he has approached his life and career.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“Altogether, the evening served as a meaningful reminder that success is built through consistency, strong values, and a clear sense of direction; qualities that Mario both emphasized and exemplified.” Giovanna Franz ’27

“The most memorable part of his lecture was the message about consistency. For me, it is sometimes hard to keep the same pace every day, but he made me realize that staying on the right track is what makes a real difference in the long run. I learned that success is not just about having a big dream, but about the small, consistent steps we take to reach it.” Eunseo Lee ’26

“He discussed the importance of building a plan. He illustrated that life may not always follow that plan directly, but it is important that you find your way back.” Makenna Oswalt ’26

“He struck a good balance between being realistic and optimistic about our future. He encouraged us to stay committed to our goals, while also acknowledging that things don’t always work out the way we expected.” Lorene Byler ’26

“Throughout his presentation, Marini emphasized the importance of having a plan and being intentional with your decisions. He strongly believes that Thiel College is a ‘golden opportunity’ for students, offering resources, connections, and experiences that can shape future success if taken seriously. He also shared that he worked for many years with Prof. David Miller to bring in speakers for this class, demonstrating his continued involvement and commitment to giving back to Thiel students.” Raegan Nelson ’26

“Family is also an important part of Marini’s life. Both of his daughters followed in his footsteps and attended Thiel College, where they successfully graduated. His dedication to hard work and discipline is evident not only in his career but also in his personal habits. His wife shared that while she tends to spend more, Mario is a saver and someone who values every dollar.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27

“After hearing his speech, I wanted to know more about his career, so I looked at his LinkedIn profile. He is not only an accounting professional but also active in nonprofit organizations, local community boards, and educational institutions. He continues to build and maintain different kinds of networks, which I found very impressive.” Miyeon Lee ’26

“I think that having Mario Marini as the last speaker of the semester was a great way to end the class. He kept his presentation brief, yet it was full of valuable advice. I appreciated that he didn’t go into detail about every aspect of his career or life and instead gave us the opportunity to ask as many questions as we wanted.” Lorene Byler ’26

“As an alumnus, Mario represents the values and education emphasized by the College, which prepares students for professional success and meaningful community involvement.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27

Lessons Learned

• “Have a plan.” Raegan Nelson ’26
• “Long-term goals, like financial stability and early retirement, require planning and discipline.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
• “There will be speed bumps in the road.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27
• “Stop, think, regroup, and then keep going. Trey Grazier ’27
• “Don’t ever give up.” Trey Grazier ’27
• “If you have a good idea, then start a business and see what happens.” Brett Channell ’27
• “Jump into it!” Miyeon Lee ’26
• “Continuously stay in touch and cultivate relationships.” Lorene Byler ’26
• “Network, network, network!” Raegan Nelson ’26
• “Networking is not just about making connections, but about building trust between people.” Miyeon Lee ’26
• “Treat others with respect and help when you can.” Priscilla Ehrensberger ’26
• “Value family alongside career success.” Lindsey Pearce ’27
• “Stay humble.” Dwayne Simpkins ’27
• “Always act ethically.” Lindsey Pearce ’27

Dinner “Dishing”

• “The final dinner of this semester was Korean food with Eunseo and I planning the Korean dishes. Kimchi-jeon, pumpkin porridge, bulgogi, japchae, yakgwa, and sikhye are all foods that are commonly eaten in Korea, especially during holidays and family gatherings. These are not easy dishes even for me to make so I am very grateful to the AVI chef for preparing them so well and deliciously. It was really good!!! The decorations also reflected a strong Korean (flag) atmosphere, with red and black colors and even chopsticks that added to the overall theme. I would also like to thank the professor for giving us the opportunity to be the concierges for the final meal and to AVI for preparing such a wonderful dinner.” Miyeon Lee ’26
• “To wrap up the semester, I had a very meaningful final dinner. We invited Jackie Kytchak, who has been helping us a lot throughout my exchange student life, as our special guest. Miyeon and I chose a variety of traditional Korean foods for dinner. It was a great opportunity to share our culture through food. This experience was a perfect way to conclude my journey here.” Eunseo Lee ’26
• “We’ve been exposed to so many great people and valuable connections in this class but the thing that sticks out most to me is the exposure I’ve been given into other cultures. I’m aware people would say the same about my dish, but experiencing a Korean, Amish and truly American farm raised meal was unreal and I’m so grateful for my classmates, AVI, and Professor Witosky for this class and this experience.” Spencer Cleary ’27
• “Our meal was planned by Eunseo and Miyeon, and I am very glad they chose to share a part of their home with us before leaving. It has been wonderful having dinner with them this semester.” Kendall McLaughlin ’26
• “I really loved getting the opportunity to try this meal, because I would not have normally chosen this on my own!” Makenna Oswalt ’26
• “This was the most unique dinner I have ever had, and I made sure to try everything at least once and AVI did a great job of making everything and getting the things like rice punch. Our table had great conversations, and I was able to meet new people who haven’t been to dinner before.” Brett Channell ’27
• “I have had a really great time this year in our class, and it has been my favorite three credits I have taken to date. Thank you so much to AVI for this incredible experience and being able to deliver awesome meal after awesome meal, week after week.” Trey Grazier ’27, Future Food & Wine Critic
• “For dinner, I had the honor of making the seating chart, so of course I made sure to sit with Professor Witosky, our dinner critic Trey, one of my favorite guests Mark Batt, along with Priscilla and our guest from down under, Lewis Cleary. Throughout dinner, our table had a lot of lighthearted conversation and laughs while enjoying a delicious Korean meal. Overall, it was a great night with even better company. It was bittersweet knowing this was our last dinner, and I will miss seeing the same faces every Wednesday.” Giovanna Franz ’27
• “It made me a little sad knowing it was my last time enjoying the weekly Wednesday dinners that AVI provides for us. They were consistently excellent throughout the semester and made the class even more enjoyable.” Lorene Byler ’26

Epilogue

Success does not happen by accident; a significant amount of planning, communication and coordination needs to occur to make this class work effectively. I am especially appreciative and grateful for the support of Vice President for College Advancement Roberta Leonard and College Advancement graduate assistant Aidan Ochs ’25 MBA ’26; President Susan Traverso, Ph.D.; Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College Sheila Nowinski, Ph.D.; Director of Special Events, Camps and Conferences Monica Adametz and Special Events Assistant Kasia Kolb; AVI; Director Communications and Marketing Dominick DiRienzo M.A.’22; seminar namesake Dr. Ruth A. Miller H’20, our guests from across campus; the students in the class, and, most importantly, our speakers. Many thanks to all for making it a great semester! Prof. Gary Witosky ’79 H’24