Thiel Happenings

Thiel College trustee and wife set up $25,000 match challenge to celebrate 50th anniversary of walk

In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the Phi Theta Phi’s 100-mile walk from Thiel College to Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital, alumnus and Thiel College trustee Carl A. Hoffman Jr., D.O. ’69, H’10, and his wife, Theresa H’16, have announced their company, PrimeCare Medical, Inc., have established a $25,000 match challenge for this year’s event.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College invites community to celebrate Winter Fest at Rissell-Schreyer Dome

Thiel College will celebrate its ninth annual community festival, Winter Fest, in the Rissell-Schreyer Dome from 4:30—8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

A kick-off breakfast including Phi Theta Phi members and alumni, as well as faculty, staff and community members is at 9 a.m. Friday in the TC Café.

RSVP Friday for the Thiel employee Christmas Luncheon

The Employee Christmas Luncheon is from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13 in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center. Employees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to The Good Shepherd of Greenville.

Intercampus an RSVP or email Amy Taczanowsky by Friday, Dec. 7.

• Download the RSVP.

Greenville Kiwanis selling discount dining cards

Mario Marini ’91 is selling the 2019 Kiwanis Club of Greenville Dining Card. The card costs $25. The card is worth $700 in discounts and is accepted at 45 restaurants in the region.  

• See a complete list of participating restaurants.

For more information, contact Mario Marini ’91 at ext. 2022.

Black, Miller ask colleagues to consider adding United Way to charitable giving

Employees are asked to consider donating to the Hermitage chapter of the United Way. Campus campaign coordinators Martin Black, David Miller ’61 and Morgan Steiner ’16 are striving to top last year’s Thiel College employee United Way participation rate of 16 percent. The United Way has given internships to several Thiel students. Also, Instructional Technology Specialist and A/V Coordinator Joe Pouliot ’17 won a cash award for a promotional video he made for the United Way.

• Watch the video here.

Employees should have recently received a pledge form in their mailbox. Complete and return it to Kim Braden ’01 in Human Resources. The deadline is Dec. 15.

Photo highlights from the Christmas Festival

The Thiel College Department of Music and Theatre collaborated with Campbell Memorial High School Singers for its 66th Annual Thiel Christmas Festival Concert on Sunday, Dec. 2 in the William A. Passavant Memorial Center. The concert featured four pieces including the Vivaldi ‘Gloria’ and the full presentation of the Rutter ‘Gloria,’ a Pentatonix style version of ‘O Come All Ye Faithful,’ and a version of  ‘Silent Night.’ The Thiel Wind Ensemble presented two seasonal selections and the Thiel Choir was joined by guest choir Campbell Memorial High School Singers on two selections.

  Thiel College’s Flickr gallery

• 66th Christmas Festival photo album.

Student News

HPI hears from alumni on issues from head to toe

This month students in HPI 303: Professional Development met with two Thiel College alumni. Dentist Barry Foster, D.D.M ’86, owner of Egypt Road Dental Associates in Eagleville Pa., discussed his experiences as a dentist, small business owner and mentor of a future dentist.

 “I learned a lot about the field of dentistry from Dr. Foster. He also taught us a lot about private practice. He explained how he became a dentist and eventually owned his own practice.”—Lexxie Helbig ’20

“The biggest lesson I seemed to take away from the presentation is one that originally stemmed from the conversation at dinner. Dr. Foster mentioned how dentistry was never really on his radar until it was brought up in conversation by one of his coaches. And the lesson I took away from this is that you never really know for sure where your life’s events will take you and where your final position will be.”—Dante Vaniel ’21

The following week they were joined by Shawniece Boss, D.P.M. ’12, a podiatry resident at New York–Presbyterian/Queens. 

“Dr. Boss said a lot of things that really stuck with me. She talked about keeping your mind open and following your dreams.”—Sydney Turner ’21

“I was even more impressed with her during her presentation.  She can really command a room and give a great presentation.  That is something that I am working on personally.  She was so funny when she brought up the fact that she has an intimidating name and she is a little tiny person with a high voice.  She had a good point, which was to let the knowledge speak for itself, then that will make up for the first impression.”—Maggie Nee ’20

Student group launches inaugural book drive

The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association presents its inaugural book drive. Donate a new or gently used book for Pre-K to 6th-grade children. Books will go to low-income families for Christmas and a non-profit organization called Little Free Library. Donation boxes are in the AC faculty lounge, Langenheim Memorial Library and in the Haer Family Science and Arts Connector. Books are gathered up at the end of each day until the semester is over.

Read more about the book drive.

Research Symposium highlights student research work

The Student Research Symposium Saturday at the James Pedas Communication Center combined student research presentations from across campus including Dietrich Honors Institute members and students in the Statistics for the Social Sciences class of Assistant Professor of Psychology Kristel Gallagher, Ph.D., Gallagher's students displayed posters of their original research they performed based on secondary analysis of a large, national public dataset. They have done research examining various aspects of adolescent mental and physical health (e.g., suicide, drug and alcohol use, sexual activity, etc.).

Student to lead session about Pakistan

Farah Bano ’22 will discuss the culture of Pakistan at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 5 in Stamm Hall of the James Pedas Communication Center. Attendees will learn about the food, dress, tourist places, dance of Pakistan.

Etc.

Tomcat Tributes

Tomcat Tributes recognize the teamwork Thiel College employees exhibit each day. Employees can nominate co-workers for recognition in four categories (Random Act of Kindness, Going the Extra Mile, Had a Great Idea, Just Because).

• To nominate a fellow employee, visit the Campus Resources link on the Thiel Hub.