Thiel Class of 1971 presents largest class gift in school history to preserve and renovate Quad

Posted September 28, 2021 Print

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- The Class of 1971 is donating more than $100,000 to Thiel College to create an outdoor gathering space on campus that will improve and maintain this essential space for student and College community use.

Dedication of the Quad to the Class of ’71 will be accompanied by a breakfast occurring on the Quad during the Homecoming festivities from 8:30–10 a.m. Saturday, October 2.

View the weekend’s Event Quick Guide.

“The Quadrangle was a central part of our campus life when the Class of 1971 was at Thiel,” said College Archivist John Hauser ’71, H’20. “We had gym classes, intramural soccer, softball games, and snowball fights on the Quad. We were also the last class to have our Commencement on the Quad. When we talked about a gift as a legacy of our class, it was natural for us to want to preserve this central part of the campus.”

The class raised $110,940 to pay for the naming rights to the Quad, the landscaping, installation of an irrigation system, and to maintain it as a distinguished outdoor area for students and members of the College community to gather. This amount far surpasses the average monetary gift given to the College by 50th-year reunion classes, but that was a goal of the Class of ’71 from the start of their planning and fundraising process.

“What really got us ultimately excited and inspired was the fact that the administration said that typically, what was done for the 50th reunion was something in the neighborhood of a $20,000 to $25,000 gift…even before thinking about what we were going to use it for, we said, ‘we should do something bolder. We should raise $100,000,’” said John Zawacki ’71, a former president of the class and a former member of the Board of Trustees. “We proposed something bold, and we did it.”

Once it was suggested by Vice President for College Advancement Roberta Leonard that the Quad be dedicated to the Class of ’71, immediately they knew that was what they wanted to do.

“We talked about it being such a central location for all Thiel students, and the idea grew from there,” Zawacki said. “Everyone was on board.”

Plans were drawn up to include additional landscaping, irrigation, and new gathering spaces in the Quadrangle area.

“If you want to improve the quality of life in your community, you’ve got to get involved. You’ve got to be a donor, and you’ve got to be a leader,” Zawacki said.

The class hopes this gift to the College will not only preserve a favorite and central location on campus for many years to come, but they also hope this act of dedication to a common goal serves as an inspiration to future classes to encourage them to take the same bold approach when fundraising to help ensure the future of the College in the form of an everlasting gift.