Bretton and Stacey Walberg to be awarded Thiel College Passavant Award

GREENVILLE, Pa. - May 4, 2021 - PRLog -- The husband-and-wife team of Bretton and Stacey Walberg, who own the Walberg Family Pharmacies, will be given Thiel College's William A. Passavant Award on Sunday, May 9 as part of the College's 147th Commencement Exercises at Alumni Field.

The Walberg Family Pharmacies held some of the first COVID-19 vaccine clinics in the region in February at Thiel College's (https://www.thiel.edu/) 2,000-seat William A. Passavant Memorial Center. The Walbergs estimate they have distributed more than 37,000 doses. The Passavant Award is a rare and distinct honor that in the past has been awarded to Lutheran church leaders but in this exceptional year, in keeping with Passavant's pursuit of humanitarian causes, the criteria was expanded to recognize community leaders. The last recipients of the award were the late Glen H'88 and Lavonne Johnson H'16 in 2012.

"It is essential we remember and honor the contributions all of our frontline healthcare workers made, but it is especially rewarding for the College to give this award to the Walbergs," President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., said. "We teamed with them to use the Passavant Center as a vaccination site which opened the door for thousands of people to get their vaccinations. This award symbolizes so much about the spirit of community and connection and the important relationship between the region and the College.

The Walbergs held several first- and second-dose vaccination clinics at the Passavant Center as well as other locations in the region.

The Walbergs purchased Jamestown Pharmacy in 1999 from Bretton's parents and have continued to grow their business throughout Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 2014, Walberg Family Pharmacies won the prestigious Pharmacy of the Year Award for the Northeast Region from McKesson Pharmaceuticals, and during the same year, Bretton was selected as a Top Pharmacist Entrepreneur of the Year by Pharmacy Times. The Walberg family has grown Walberg Family Pharmacies from one location to 11.

About Thiel College

Thiel College (https://www.thiel.edu/) is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a Master of Science in speech-language pathology, a Leadership Master of Business Administration and a Management Master of Business Administration.  A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation.