Top Stories of 2022

We had a lot to celebrate this year and also moments of mourning. Read some of the top stories from this past year:

• $4 million federal grant will support Westlawn Hall renovations to grow nursing and public health in state-of-the-art learning spaces

  

  There is a critical shortage of healthcare professionals in the region that preceded and was exacerbated by the health crisis of COVID-19. The college’s talented faculty lead a world-class program, but are presently in crowded spaces that limit the growth of these outstanding and high-demand programs. Westlawn Hall will be renovated to create new state-of-the-art learning spaces and provide the needed additional space for an expanding portfolio of nursing and public health programming to meet the growing needs of healthcare.

• Campus reveals new mascot, Dash, a black squirrel

  

  Goshen College unveiled its new mascot, Dash, a black squirrel, during Homecoming Weekend. Dash was chosen to represent GC’s institutional and athletic personality: fun, energetic, friendly, confident, enthusiastic, strong, clever, quick and small but mighty.

• New Master of Social Work degree program launched

  Beginning in Fall 2023, Goshen College announced it will offer a highly interactive, online Master of Social Work (MSW) degree program, conducted in partnership with Bluffton University. With plenty of opportunity for application to real-world settings, students will gain advanced clinical skills and complete their master’s degree in as few as 12 months if they hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree from an accredited college, or in 24 months if students hold a bachelor’s degree in a field other than social work.

• Campus remembers student-athlete, Ezra Kipruto Kogei

  

  In October, Goshen College student, Ezra Kipruto Kogei, a sophomore nursing major from Eldoret, Kenya and a member of the men’s cross country team died from injuries he sustained from a tragic car accident.

• All IN Tuition program to cover full tuition for income-eligible students

  GC announced a new program to increase college access and affordability for Indiana students. The All IN program promises to cover 100 percent of tuition for new income-eligible students, beginning in the fall of 2022. This new program follows a longstanding commitment by the institution to increase affordability for students.

• Three students awarded new Global Citizenship Award

  President Rebecca Soltzfus announced the first recipients of the college’s inaugural Global Citizenship Award during opening convocation. Suzanna Yoder, a social work major from Wellman, Iowa, received the first place award of a $10,000 scholarship. Giovana Gaona, a public health major from Elkhart, Indiana, and Cadence Lee, a music and education double major from Elkhart, Indiana, were the two runner-ups and received $5,000 scholarships.

• Student-athletes head to nationals

  • Fisher leads pack of four Maple Leafs at NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Nationals
  • Men’s cross country finished 22nd a NAIA National Championships

• Goshen College awarded grants to further its mission

  Throughout the year GC was awarded multiple grants to help improve services to students, international education and community engagement.

  • Goshen College receives $1 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. for summer camps program
  • Federal grant awarded to strengthen faculty preparation for Study-Service Term courses
  • Department of Justice awards grant to increase resources for sexual violence prevention

• Students and departments honored with national and state awards

  

  Students brought in dozens of individual and group awards this year, more recognition of the amazing work our students and faculty put into their crafts.

  • Goshen College named best Audio Program in the country by Broadcast Education Association
  • 91.1 The Globe wins ‘Best Station in the Nation’ title for a fourth time
  • The Record wins state ‘Newspaper of the Year’
  • WGCS named ‘Radio School of the Year’ for the fourth consecutive year by Indiana Association of School Broadcasters
  • Sierra Ross Richer wins Indianapolis Press Club award 
  • Students win at Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival
  • GC students awarded top places at state vocal competition

• We also remember those who left us this year, including the following long-time faculty and staff:

  

  • Merritt Gardner, retired mathematics professor, died at age 87
  • Dr. “Sarge” Yoder, former professor, coach and namesake of baseball field, died at 94
  • Rafael Falcón, professor emeritus of Spanish, died at 74