NATE Scholarship Winner Enjoys Stellar First Year At Thiel College

In winning NATE's $80,000 scholarship to Thiel College in Greenville, Pa., Gregory Andrle of Gibsonia, Pa., displayed a strong commitment to academics. He also demonstrated his ability to give back to his community by volunteering and working with youth and church activities. As an athlete, Gregory captained his high school basketball team with the hopes of playing for Thiel.

Gregory achieved both academic and athletic success during his first year at Thiel, and he has his sights set on exceeding his goals as he enters his sophomore year. Gregory recently wrote to NATE President-Elect Jerry Howell of Midwest Business Exchange about his first year at Thiel.

Dear Mr. Howell:

I'm heading back to Thiel in a couple of weeks and I just wanted to let you know how my freshmen year went. I made the basketball team and ended up playing in a lot of games. I also earned a 3.6 grade point average and surprisingly I got a 4.0 my second semester. I also wanted to remind you how thankful I am for your part in earning me the privilege to go to college with a full scholarship. Thanks again Mr. Howell and I hope all is well with you.

Thanks for everything,

Greg Andrle

Tom McDowell, Executive Director of the National Association of Trade Exchanges, announced Gregory as the winner of the scholarship in August 2006. Gregory received the honors as a special guest at NATE's 2006 Convention in Toronto.

Gregory's scholarship includes four years of tuition, room, and board, and is valued at $80,000. The cost was covered by members of NATE, who, with their clients, generously made trade dollar donations. The scholarship was originally intended to benefit a dependent of the Sept. 11, 2001 attack in New York City, but NATE was at first unable to identify an honoree. The NATE Board of Directors authorized a redefinition of the scholarship, to be given to a qualified dependent of a past or present member of the Armed Services, with special consideration given to those who served in the Gulf or Afghan wars. Kit Watson from the Pennsylvania American Legion assisted in the selection process.

Gregory's father, Tim Andrle, served in the first Gulf War and sustained hearing loss from his service. Gregory's mom, Esther, commented that the scholarship was “life changing,” and was effusive in her thanks to NATE. However, it is NATE who gives the thanks — to all those who have served our country to protect our freedoms.