The Bell, Spring 2016

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4m raised $

Science connector architectural renderings courtesy of MacLachlan, Cornelus & Filoni.

These contributions are noticed by the students.

to the core of your person that people think enough of you to do what they did in support of this Campaign.”

“It is important that alumni give to The Thiel Fund in order for them to continue to see their school grow and give students the best learning environment,” said Megan Lee ’19, an early childhood education major from Venetia, Pa. Gifts to The Thiel Fund, regardless of their size, create a safety net so the College can react nimbly to unexpected opportunities or needs. “The Thiel Fund has an immediate impact,” Thiel 2016 Campaign Cabinet member and former Chair of the Board of Trustees Edward Bartko ’72, H’16 said. “It frees up dollars that can be put toward scholarships.”

The big and little picture Professor Miller has something else on his mind as he walks out of the Academic Center. “I cannot focus on the past—that’s yesterday—tomorrow is not here yet. We live in the [present],” Miller said. “What’s really important to me [is], ‘did I do the very best for my students?’ It is extremely hard to put into words, but it strikes

“The liberal arts background is even more essential today because so many students end up changing careers. The average college graduate changes careers seven times,” Stamm said. “That number is climbing. Those numbers always boggle my mind. We have to prepare students for not just success at one position or one endeavor. We have to provide a foundation on which to build a thriving career.” Planning for the future success of the College and its students means appreciating the power of the present. “This is a historic time at Thiel,” Stamm said. Indeed, as every Thiel 2016 gift lifts the College to unprecedented fundraising heights.

Thiel 2016 Campaign visual icons make the cover

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Miller’s thoughts are about his teaching and his endowed chair specifically. However, those principles can also be applied to Thiel 2016 Campaign and the College’s commitment to the past, present, and future. Stamm contemplates how those three parallel lines for the Campaign and the College can also be representative of students.

1. Hard hat

Construction hard hats have been as common as baseball caps on campus as more than $30 million has been spent on physical improvements during the Thiel 2016 Campaign.

2. David Miller bobblehead

The longest-serving professor in College history was immortalized with a bobblehead and an endowed chair that was funded during the Campaign. 4

3. Mortarboard

2

The Thiel Fund is a source of unrestricted revenue that can account for unforeseen needs without sacrificing resources for scholarships, allowing more students to graduate.

4. Beaker

The beaker is a common lab room item and symbolizes the Campaign’s focus on raising money to build four new science labs and a science connector.

5. Medallion

The Campaign has funded four faculty chairs and nearly tripled the endowment, which has provided increased academic opportunities for students and faculty. 5

6. Track and field uniform 6

A new track and field complex will bring the College’s final team back on campus and give every team a home field at Thiel. Spring 2016

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