Thiel College’s annual Martin Luther King awards will recognize Thiel community members

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College annually celebrates the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. by recognizing members of the Thiel community who embody his ideals and values and this year will also recognize a groundbreaking education pioneer at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17 in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.

Thiel students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members are eligible for the Martin Luther King Jr. Thiel College Community Service Awards.

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In addition to honoring members of the Thiel College community, Dr. Armendia Dixon, a Gov. Raymond P. Shafer Award for Distinguished Community Service recipient, will deliver a presentation as the event’s keynote speaker. Dixon was the first African American teacher hired to work in the previously whites-only schools of Laurel, Mississippi in the 1960s. Eventually, her teaching career brought her to Erie, Pa., and a few years later to Meadville, Pa. Over the years, she served as principal of several schools in the Meadville area. She went on to earn a master’s degree at Edinboro University and a doctorate at Kent State University; eventually, she would teach at both colleges as well. Today, she is the director of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mentoring Program at Meadville Area Middle School.

The Thiel Community Service Awards will be awarded to the following:

• Undergraduate student winner: Tumba Powell ’23, junior chemistry major
• Graduate student winner: Carolyn Peters M.S.’23, Master of Science in physician assistant studies
• Faculty/staff winner: Kristel Gallagher, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology
• Alumni winner: Damen Taylor ’95, controller at the August Wilson African American Cultural Center

Related Links

• Office for Diversity and Inclusion
• Office for Multicultural Student Affairs
• Office for International Students Affairs

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