Programs to debut at Thiel this fall SFlb

The college football field will get an air-supported cover during the off-season.

STAFF REPORT

GREENVILLE, Pa. — Thiel College plans to add a new Youth Ministry major, four new athletics programs, a shooting club and a marching band program to its offerings for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The Youth Ministry major will prepare students for work as youth and family ministers in Christian congregations and other ministry settings, such as summer camps. The new major combines study in theology, the Bible, ministry theory and social science coursework with supervised field and mentoring experiences.

The marching band program will field its first band in fall 2010 with plans to significantly grow the organization in subsequent years into areas such as pep or concert bands. This program will enhance the Thiel music program and provide an opportunity for high school musicians to continue performing as they move into their college years.

The marching band will be unveiled at Thiel’s first football home game on Sept. 4. The band, which will be overseen by the Music Department, is currently in the process of hiring a director.

The Thiel Shooting Club is a team-oriented club activity that will provide instruction in safe use, management and maintenance of firearms as well as competition opportunities to its members. Shooting facilities will be provided through an agreement with an area shooting club.

Thiel’s new sports will include men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s lacrosse. All four programs will compete at the NCAA Division III level and bring the Tomcats’ total number of athletic teams to 24.

Men’s and women’s lacrosse will take to the field for the first time for the spring 2011 season. Home contests will be played at Alumni Stadium, which will also accommodate preseason indoor practice space with the addition of an air-supported athletics structure, which will be inflated after the football team’s final game of the season and remain in place until the first lacrosse match.

Thiel will revive its men’s and women’s tennis programs after several seasons of inactivity. Both programs will compete and practice at the College’s on-campus tennis complex, which is slated for resurfacing in the near future. The teams will compete in the Presidents’ Athletics Conference.

Students interested in marching band or the new Youth Ministry major should contact Thiel admissions counselor Stephanie Hills for more information at (724) 589-2111 or shills@thiel.edu.

The Shooting Club will form for the fall 2010 semester and will be lead by Jim Flammia of the college’s Information Technology Department, who is an NRA-certified pistol instructor. Interested students can contact Dean of Students Mike McKinney at (724) 589-2600 or mmckinney@thiel.edu or Flammia at (724) 589-2246 or jflammia@thiel.edu.

Director of Athletics Jack Leipheimer will launch a national search for the men’s and women’s lacrosse coaches and tennis coach immediately. Individuals interested in joining any of the new programs should contact Leipheimer at (724) 589-2212 or jleip@thiel.edu.