March 9, 2022

t-notes archive

Next Issue: March 16, 2022

Thiel Happenings

New cybersecurity program in Mercer County involving Thiel College students underway

Six Thiel College students are enrolled in a new cybersecurity program launched at LindenPointe Development Corporation in Mercer County.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Thiel College biology major featured blogger for website focused on first-generation students

Thiel College biology major Malajah Johnson ’23 is writing about her experience as the first person in her family to attend college for a website dedicated to supporting first-gen college students.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Medical ethics project presentation will address social media and suicide prevention

The Community Medical Ethics Project will host Jamie Zelazny, Ph.D. to discuss the ethics and role of social media in suicide prevention at 11 a.m. March 17 in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center at Thiel College.

+ Read the full story in the newsroom

Student News

Phillips shares her thoughts on her Thiel experience and the challenges of balancing a career with raising a family

Jessica Phillips ’08 was the featured speaker at the March 2 Ruth A. Miller Senior Business Seminar.  She is a manager with McGill, Power, Bell & Associates, LLP in Grove City, Pa. In addition to discussing career-related topics, Phillips shared how she ended up at Thiel, how she decided to major in accounting, and how she met her husband, Bob, when they were first-year students.    

“During her time at Thiel, Jessica met her husband, Bob, and fell in love, she also worked throughout her college career. In the same year that she graduated, Jessica was also married and passed her CPA exam. She spoke that it was the most exciting year that she had lived.” Abigail Cico ’22

“Jessica credits Thiel with providing a comprehensive education that prepared her for the CPA exams.  She noted that there were multiple people in her study groups from other colleges and universities that hadn’t been exposed to a lot of the things that she was prepared for thanks to Thiel.” Angela Sorg ’23

“You don’t really realize how much you learn in your first year out of school in the workplace. Your first year can be very difficult and a little confusing because you are learning a lot of new things.” Trey Williams ’22

“She has spent her career in public accounting and stuck to her own rule of not letting work get in the way of her personal life. This is something I will strive to do when I get a job in the real world.” Richard Crooks ’22

“Not only does Jessica hold an amazing career in personal tax, but she also has a family that she cares very deeply about. Cares enough about them to get up at four in the morning and work so she’s able to just be “mom” by dinner time. I think Jessica is a great example of having it all, she wants to have her career because she loves it but wants to be involved with her family.”  Madeline DePalma ’22

“Three years after Jessica graduated Thiel called and asked if she wanted to teach a class. Jessica taught for two years, but she quickly realized she couldn’t teach, be a CPA, and have a family all at once. Jessica went back to being a full-time accountant while raising her kids and being with her family.” Emily Sollers ’22

“I also enjoyed hearing from her because she works for a company that I am familiar with and know others who also work with that company and have all felt the same way. I also liked being informed on how accounting works and what their day to day lives look like.” Maddison Neely ’22

“The biggest lesson Jessica told us was, once you find something stick with it. I have always said this about myself. When I found Thiel College, I knew this was the place for me and I was going to stay for all four years.” John Retton ’22

“Jessica shared her six pieces of advice that made her successful which included to: be faithful, marry up, be the hare, draw your line, be present, and be an activator. I think her sharing this with us was the most helpful piece as we are all preparing to go into the workforce.” Madeline DePalma ’22

“She touched on the difficulties of balancing work and life. We have heard other speakers talk about this balance but a new perspective that Jessica gave us was that work and life are never totally balanced, instead, there are sacrifices made on either side. She made sure to tell us that we must be completely honest and true to ourselves so that we can make sure to draw the line on what we are willing to sacrifice on either side.” Brycen Dorfmeister ’22

“My favorite quote from her is that “there is no such thing as work-life balance you just have to know where to draw your line, so you don’t overexert yourself.” Alrick Francis ’22

“She is a very strong-willed and caring person that takes her job but also family very seriously. It was interesting to learn how she manages work so well with her family, especially during tax season.” Logan Long ’22

“Jessica Phillips also wanted us to know that we should be activators, meaning we shouldn’t be negative but have a good attitude instead.” Angela Sorg ’23

“Jessica loves her career and wouldn’t change a thing about it. Jessica feels Thiel prepared her to be successful and gave her a great education.” Emily Sears ’22

“During her presentation, Phillips asked the class some questions to get to know us better. The first question she asked us was why we chose Business. I did not answer, however, I was thinking about the way I would. This was eye-opening to me because looking back, I am not sure as to why I chose it. Nonetheless, I love my major and would not change it for the world. The choice I made freshmen year was the right one for me, even if I did not know why I chose it in the beginning.” Kate Sollers ’22

“I enjoyed that she did not try to make a broad presentation so she could try to relate to all of us, but rather said that she is only going to talk about what she knows and hopes we will be able to relate. Although I know borderline nothing about accounting, I was still able to take away a lot of other key points that she brought up.” Maddison Neely ’22

“She also espoused that sometimes when a company culture does not fit well with you, there is no harm in leaving and finding a better fit.” Owen Sa ’22

Lessons Learned

Dinner “Dishing”

Etc.

Communications collateral

Employees should update the logos used on institutional materials, including email signatures, letterhead, PowerPoint slides, etc. 

Thiel College has used the shield and wordmark combination as the official institutional logo for more than a year. They are the only approved logo for academic co-curricular and institutional use. Additional athletic logo packages are also available.

Email signatures, brand resources, and a job request form are all available online. A Dropbox folder has been set up with instructions and the materials necessary to create new email signatures. Employees can find other Thiel College-branded resources including letterhead, logos and PowerPoint slides in the same folder.

Thiel College community members who need help with communications and marketing initiatives and collateral can now request those services with a job form. The request form is available on the communications and marketing webpage or linked directly below.

For more information, email the office.

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).

Publishing Schedule

T-Notes is published weekly during the academic year. It arrives Wednesday afternoons. The next edition will be out March 16. Send your event or news to tnotes@thiel.edu by noon Monday, March 14 to be published in that week’s edition.

Connect with Thiel College

     

Special Notes

 

HR Notes

Thiel College welcomes:

Retirement advisor meetings

Independent retirement plan advisors for the Thiel College retirement plan, Will Ferguson and Jack Ryan from HB Retirement, are available to support faculty and staff members’ retirement planning needs through conference calls and virtual meetings. These office hours can be selected below.

Virtual: Ferguson is available on March 10, 16, 24, and 29.

Virtual: Ryan is available on March 16, 24, and 30.

They can assist faculty and staff members with questions regarding:

Health and Wellness Notes

Read the latest Health and Wellness newsletter, which contains healthy recipes and tips for spring cleaning.

DocuCenter Update

The DocuCenter is asking for everyone’s patience due to limited staffing March 10 through approximately April 1. The DocuCenter asks anyone requesting print jobs to plan in advance as they may take longer than usual. Completed jobs will need to be picked up at the DocuCenter.

Communications and Marketing update

Official style guide update for recognizing graduate students’ graduation year

The official Thiel College style for graduation years for graduate students is being updated to include the specific graduate degree an alumnus or alumna received.

Previously, master’s degree students were signified with a “G” followed by the student’s anticipated or actual graduation year. Moving forward graduate students who did not get an undergraduate degree from Thiel College will be identified as Tommy Tomcat M.S.’22. For students who receive both an undergraduate and graduate degree from the College will be identified as Tommy Tomcat ’21, M.S.’22. Please note, there is not a space between the period and apostrophe before the grad year. Also, the style is for an apostrophe not an open quote mark before the graduation year. See the example below.

The acceptable abbreviations for the degrees are:

For more information, contact Dominick DiRienzo M.A.’22 at ext. 2188.

Events

Campus events

Spring Break
March 5–13
Campus

Friday, March 4

Sunday, March 13
Students return

Classes resume Monday, March 14.

Physician Assistant Research Poster Session
Monday, March 14 from 9–10 a.m.
1st floor, Rhodehouse Science Building

Join us as graduate students in the Physician Assistant program line the hallway of the newly renovated 1st floor of the Rhodehouse Science Building to share their research projects with the Thiel community!.

For more information, contact Kristel M. Gallagher, Ph.D.

MBA Program Virtual Information Session
Monday, March 14 from 3–4 p.m. and  6–7 p.m.
Thiel College online

Virtual information session to learn about Thiel’s MBA program.

For more information, contact the Office of Admission at ext. 2345.

Coaster Club Guest Speaker
Monday, March 15 from noon to 1 p.m.
Lutheran Heritage Room, Howard Miller Student Center

Join the members of Thiel College's Coaster Club as they welcome Andrew Felice, the Operations Manager at Waldameer & Water World, to speak about the park! Learn about the park’s history, little-known fun facts and get a sneak peek of what's to come for the park in 2022.

For more information, contact Austin Krieger ’24.

Speech-Language Pathology Virtual Information Session
Wednesday, March 16 from noon to 1 p.m.
Thiel College online

Virtual information session to learn about Thiel’s Thiel's Speech-Language Pathology program.

For more information, contact the Office of Admission at ext. 2345.

Courageous Conversation with Lillian Evans
Wednesday, March 16 from 3–4 p.m.
Stamm Lecture Hall, James Pedas Communication Center

Lillian Evans will be presenting a Courageous Conversation about Women in Leadership & Networking.

For more information, contact Tyla Belton ’21, M.A.’22.

For a full list of upcoming athletic events, visit https://thielathletics.com/.

Community events

Grapes and Growlers
Saturday, May 21 from 4–7 p.m.
240 Main Street, Greenville (formerly Family Video)

The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce is once again hosting  Grapes and Growlers. This annual wine and beer tasting event will be held from 4–7 Saturday, May 21 at 240 Main Street Greenville, the former building of Family Video. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample some of the area’s finest wines and brews. Food will be available for purchase during this unique, casual atmosphere.

For more information or tickets, contact Mark Batt ’87 at ext. 2157 or 724-866-0705.

Thiel College Shield

Thiel College
75 College Ave
Greenville, PA 16125
1-800-248-4435