Thiel College to Honor Childs, Faculty, Staff
GREENVILLE, Pa. – On Feb. 7, Thiel College will recognize 11 faculty and staff members and Harvey and Uta Childs at its annual Founders’ Day convocation. The event begins at 11 a.m. in the Lutheran Heritage Room of the Howard Miller Student Center.
President Troy D. VanAken will present the A. Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award to the Childs. Harvey Childs is chairman of board and a co-founder of Bail USA Inc.
Childs entered the surety bail business in 1956, making him the third generation in his family to do so. Childs, a native of Pittsburgh, made his home in Mercer County and is recognized as one of the founders of the Professional Bail Agents of the United States. His company, Bail USA, is the largest underwriter of surety bonds in the country with 2,700 agents in 43 states. The company has posted bail in many of the most famous and high profile cases of the last 20 years. In 1999, Childs turned the presidency of Bail USA over to co-founder Cheryl Burns so he could spend more of time traveling around the country visiting bail bondsmen.
The A. Louis and Barbara Thiel Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to members of thr Thiel community who demonstrate exemplary character, continuity of leadership, and long-term service to Greenville and its environs. The recipients must demonstrate a commitment to the common good above private interests. The award is named after Louis and Barbara Thiel, whose generosity made the founding of Thiel College possible in 1866.
Receiving the prestigious Professor of the Year Award is William Robinson, professor of performing arts, who joined Thiel College in 1974. Ovet the last four decades, he has transformed the performing arts program at Thiel. As director of the Thiel Players, Robinson has produced fall and spring productions each year -- ranging from Chaucer’s “The Canterbury Tales” to classic Greek and Roman plays to modern musicals -- and since 1980, he has welcomed incoming students with performances of “Charlie Brown Goes to College.” Robinson has directed the Greenville Area Community Theatre’s summer production since 1992 and has produced children’s shows for area grade schools since 1975. Robinson retires in May and will move from Greenville to Philadelphia.
Other faculty members to earn recognition:
- Christopher Stanisky, assistant professor of chemistry, distinguished service award.
- Mary Theresa Hall, professor of English, distinguished teacher award.
- Dan Eppley, associate professor of religion, distinguished scholar award.
- Kathryn Gray, adjunct professor of music, distinguished adjunct award.
Five staff awards will be presented:
- Rhonda Laird, housing coordinator and assistant to the dean of students, distinguished innovator award.
- Jonathan Shearer, distinguished newcomer award.
- Amy Schafer, assistant director of athletics, co-chairwoman of health and physical education department, head softball coach, senior woman administrator, and NCAA compliance and eligibility director, distinguished extra effort award.
- Joseph Webb, Monessen, Pa., director of multicultural affairs, distinguished outreach award.
- Robert Schaller, Transfer, Pa., maintenance technician, distinguished service staff award.
In addition, Warren Keck, adjunct professor of economics and business administration, Greenville, will receive a special commendation for years of service to the college.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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