Newsmaker: Nathan Flory

Noteworthy: Flory, a Thiel College student, will attend Oxford University in England for a six-week summer study program. He will complete a two-week tour of Ireland with the Thiel Choir before entering Oxford on May 24. Flory is the first Dietrich Honors Institute student to attend the Oxford Study Abroad Program. The private foundation places students at affiliated colleges of Oxford University. Students earning a spot must have achieved a 3.7 grade-point average, completed two years of study at a college or university education and submitted personal statements and written work samples. While at Oxford, Flory will study religion and postmodernism as research for his senior thesis.

Age: 21

Residence: Export

Family: Parents, Tom and Suzy Flory

Education: Pursuing a bachelor's degree in English literature and writing with plans to attend graduate or divinity school

Occupation: Resident assistant at Thiel College

Background: A 2013 graduate of Franklin Regional Senior High School, Flory is a member of Thiel College's highest academic honor society, Alpha Chi, and has a 4.0 GPA. He is active with the Thiel Tomcat Marching Pride Band, Greenville Junior Chamber of Commerce and Sigma Tau Delta, the English honorary society.

Quote: “The cultural aspect is really exciting. I love being able to tour, see the old churches. As many of my relatives have told me, and I agree, now is the time to travel. It really is a mind-opening experience, as cliched as that might sound, to go to these places.”

Mary Pickels is a Tribune-Review staff writer. She can be reached at 724-836-5401 or mpickels@tribweb.com