By: Emmett Gill
April 16, 2026
Thiel College just hosted its Wellness and Benefits Fair this past Wednesday, April 16. The fair, an event open to students and faculty, was a wonderful opportunity for visitors to make new connections and engage with campus organizations and local businesses alike. Planned each spring by the college’s Special Events and Facilities teams with guidance from Human Resources, the fair spans across the Lutheran Heritage Room and the Bistro to encourage attendees to engage with over thirty-five different organizations. This year, over a hundred students were able to attend the fair.
The fair itself was first started twenty years ago with a focus on employee benefits for faculty but was later expanded upon in collaboration with the Wellness Center to include students as well. “Because mental health is a vital factor in overall wellness,” shared Counseling Center director Melanie Broadwater, “we felt it was important to include community partners such as the Mercer County Behavioral Health Commission, Charlie Health, and White Deer Run Treatment Network. Strong mental health enhances a person’s ability to grow, thrive, and function to their full capacity.”
In addition to the focus on mental wellness, the engagement between organizations and the rest of Thiel’s campus likewise brings the fair to life. Activities such as Jeopardy with the Learning Commons, the employment of “guessing jars” with prizes, opportunities to engage with and a raffle for faculty, the fair provides an experience like few others on campus. Diana Mazur, Human Resources assistant, shared her thoughts on the event:
“From an HR standpoint, the fair was originally designed for our employees as a way to thank them for the hard work they do all year long. We still want to do that, and we also enjoy engaging with our students—it is why we work at the college, after all. Creating a fun day, focused on health and wellness, for our employees and students to engage in together, has been a fun and fulfilling endeavor.”
To those who missed year’s fair, and to those eagerly awaiting the next, the event will return next spring on Wednesday, April 14, 2027.
