Two local residents will be among those honored during the Thiel College Alumni Awards Ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in Howard Miller Student Center's Lutheran Heritage Room on the Greenville-based campus.

Dr. Robert C. Olson, Thiel's academic affairs vice president and dean of the college, graduated in 1960 from the college with a bachelor's degree in history; and in 1962 with a master's degree and in 1969 with a doctorate, both from Pennsylvania State University.

He was a varsity letterman in wrestling for Thiel.

The Mercer resident joined Thiel's history department in 1965 and was appointed in 1999 to his current post after having served since 1998 as interim vice president and dean.

He served on college committees and as adviser to various student organizations. Olson received the Thiel College President's Award for Teaching Excellence in 1996.

He and his wife, Margaret, have one son.

Jeanne Miller Blackson began her career at Thiel in 1961 as a worker in the salad department.

She was named food services director in 1968 and held the post until her 1994 retirement.

The Jeanne Blackson Refectory in Howard Miller Student Center dining hall was named in her honor in 2000.

The member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Greenville, has three daughters and four grandchildren.