Top 10 GC stories of 2017
2017 was quite a year at Goshen College. Here’s a look back at some of the highlights from the past 12 months:
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Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus becomes Goshen College’s 18th president
In May, Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus ’83 was named as candidate of choice, and in June she was appointed as Goshen College’s 18th president by a unanimous vote from the GC and MEA boards. She officially took office on Nov. 1.
Related: President Rebecca Stoltzfus begins role with optimism, goals and donut holes
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GC welcomes largest incoming class in eight years
GC welcomed its largest incoming class since 2009, enrolling a total of 215 first-year students, a 16 percent increase from last year’s class. Overall enrollment reached 950 total students, up nine percent from 2016-17, with 750 traditional undergraduate students, 133 students in adult programs and 67 students in graduate programs.
Related:
• GC wins national marketing-recruitment excellence award
• GC ranked among best nationally for preparing teachers
• GC named best school in Indiana for social work majors
• U.S. News & World Report again ranks Goshen College among best in Midwest
• Goshen College recognized among private schools for low student debt
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New year brings launch of 12 new academic programs at Goshen College
Building on its academic distinctives, GC faculty and administration recently approved 12 new undergraduate academic programs of study, including six majors, three minors, two concentrations and an education licensure add-on program, across five areas of study. And keep your eyes open, there may be more on the way!
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Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University partner to offer online Doctor of Nursing Practice
Goshen College and Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia) have partnered to offer the first doctoral degree program among the five Mennonite Church USA colleges and universities. With classes beginning in January 2018, the 22-month online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program will educate nurse leaders in both clinical and systems roles.
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In farewell address, President Brenneman says best is yet to come
It was a day of great thanks and much celebration as Goshen College President Jim Brenneman offered his farewell address, titled “Back to the Future: Reflections on Being GC’s 16th President,” to campus during the final convocation of the year on April 21. He said, “Looking back, I do believe things at Goshen College have changed for the better.”
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Goshen College is Indiana’s first Bee Campus USA
Last spring, Goshen College was named Indiana’s first Bee Campus USA and is just the second college in the Midwest and 27th nationally to be recognized for its work in supporting pollinators such as bees.
Related: GC maintains Tree Campus USA honors
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Sophomore Londyn Feasel wins big on the Price is Right
Londyn Feasel, come on down! Londyn, a GC sophomore and elementary education/special education major from Plainfield, Indiana, appeared on “The Price is Right” on Sept. 22, winning the grand prize in the Showcase Showdown. She was there with the GC Women’s Soccer Team, who featured prominently in the audience throughout the episode.
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Goshen College honors five alumni during Homecoming Weekend
During Goshen College’s Homecoming Weekend on Oct. 6-8, the college honored five outstanding alumni with awards for their commitment to the college’s core values.
The 2017 Alumni Awards were presented to:
• Sheri Hartzler ’73 of Harrisonburg, Virginia | 2017 Culture for Service Award
• Philip Thomas ’87 of Goshen | 2017 Culture for Service Award
• Nicole Cober Bauman ’08 of Elkhart, Indiana | 2017 Young Alumni Award
• Justine (Clemmer) Pletcher ’72 of Goshen | 2017 Dr. Ruth Gunden Champion of Character Award
• Stan King ’61 of Goshen | 2017 Dr. Roman Gingerich Champion of Character Award
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New spaces honor trailblazing alumni:
Two buildings on the Goshen College campus were renamed to honor alumni Octavio Romero and Juanita Lark, two of the first intercultural students to attend Goshen College.
Related: New Aschliman Peace Arts Collection honors the work of Kathryn Aschliman ’54
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Mennonite colleges and universities launch collaborative campaign to ‘Lead your way’
GC joined forces with the other four MCUSA colleges (Bethel College (Newton, Kansas), Bluffton (Ohio) University, Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Virginia) and Hesston (Kansas) College) to highlight how strong academics and affordability that prepare graduates for successful outcomes.
- Honorable Mention: President Brenneman signs final executive order to make college mascot grammatically correct
While not real news, our annual April Fools Day article about an executive order to change the college’s mascot from “Maple Leafs” to the more grammatically correct “Maple Leaves” receives an honorable mention.