Thiel College Fraternity Mourns the Passing Away of 21-Year-Old Rising Senior

A heartbreaking loss has touched the Thiel College community and beyond. Toby Atwood, a student-athlete from Armstrong County, tragically passed away on July 20th after collapsing during the Presque Isle Half Marathon in Erie.

The event, hosted by the Erie Runners Club, turned somber as the news spread of Toby’s sudden passing. The exact cause of the 21-year-old's passing has not yet been determined, but the impact of her loss is deeply felt by classmates, teammates, and all who knew her.

Toby Atwood: A Student With Many Crown Jewels

Thiel College shared that Atwood was an exceptional student and leader in every sense. She was double majoring in business administration and accounting, and had earned one of the college’s prestigious full scholarship awards.

Despite her busy schedule, she maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA.She was a member of the class of 2026 and was also the co-captain of the women’s tennis team and served as president of the Zeta Tau Alpha women’s fraternity. The 21-year-old was also a member of the National College Honor Society and was recently inducted into Chi Eta Sigma, an honorary society for excellence in commerce.https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1262919532510532&id=100063774903778&rdid=dPgLZmwOoUI4Y7ui#A funeral service for Atwood will be held this Saturday at Center Hill Covenant Brethren Church in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania.

As the Thiel College community mourns this heartbreaking loss, the college has made counseling services available to support students and staff during this difficult time.

Tributes Pour In After Toby Atwood’s Death

The Vice President for Student Life and Athletics, Michael McKinney, said in a message to the campus community, “Her presence touched the lives of so many, and she will be deeply missed. During this heartbreaking time, we mourn for Toby and extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family, friends, classmates, teammates, coach, instructors, and all who knew her.”Toby’s brother, Jaret, spoke to Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 and said, She was, without a doubt, the best sister there was. She was all of our best friends – my brother, my mom, everyone's best friend in our family.”He added, “She was the hardest-working, most determined person anybody would ever meet. Anybody she ever met, she left an impact on — whether it was for one day or you knew her for 21 years.”Also read: From fashion runways to racetracks, Toni Breidinger redefines what it means to be a NASCAR star