Recent News from Central College

Recent News

Central College Wins Three Best of District VI CASE Awards

Central College received three Best of District VI awards from the Midwest Division of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) for communications and marketing content produced in 2025. Two of the awards centered around Dutchology,...

Nov 5, 2026, 12:56pm EST

The public is welcome to join the mayhem of Oscar Wilde’s play, “The Importance of Being Earnest,” performed by Central College’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Two characters are, left, Eryn Lenhart, Class of 2027, as Hon. Gwendolyn Fairfax, and Samantha Pagel, Class of 2027, as Cecily Cardew.

Central College Students to Perform Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest"

Central College's Department of Visual and Performing Arts will present Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest." This production will run Thursday, Nov. 12, to Sunday, Nov. 15, in the Kruidenier Center, with performances at 7 p.m. and a m...

Nov 4, 2026, 12:02pm EST

Mathew Kelly, professor of art, became the 12th Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professor of the Liberal Arts. He was joined by his father, George Kelly, and his wife, Anne McCullough Kelly.

Mathew Kelly Installed as Endowed Professor

Central College faculty, staff and friends celebrated the installation of Mathew Kelly, professor of art, as the 12th Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professor of the Liberal Arts. Named after Central's 18th president, who served from 1969 to 1990, th...

Nov 3, 2026, 10:22am EST

Scholte Strings Fall Concert to be Held at Central College

Central College invites the community to campus for the Scholte Strings fall orchestra concert. The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, in Douwstra Auditorium inside Central Hall. The group is under the direction of Kris Van Vark DeWild...

Nov 2, 2026, 3:16pm EST

From left to right: Isaac Stensland ’27, Lincoln Stensland ’27, Brianna Wright ’27, Kaylee Kettler ’28, Jayden Riberdy ’30, Gavin Walters ‘28[

Central College Mock Trial Places First in Iowa Tournament

Central College's mock trial team finished first in its second competition of the season. Central beat out 25 other teams at Cornell College's "King of the Hill" invitational from October 24-25. Central mock trial defeated teams from Bellarmine Univer...

Oct 30, 2026, 12:33pm EDT

Kate Nesbit, associate professor of English, released a book, “Willful Listeners: Reading Aloud and the Politics of Attention from Austen to Audiobooks.”

Central College's Kate Nesbit Hosts Writers Reading of New Book: Willful Listeners

Kate Nesbit, Central College associate professor of English, will release her book, "Willful Listeners," on Monday, Nov. 2. The book is a cultural and literary history of domestic reading aloud. Subtitled as "reading aloud and the politics of attentio...

Oct 29, 2026, 1:11pm EDT

Central College will celebrate a season of gratitude in November with service projects doing a good in the world.

Central College's Season of Gratitude to Bring Service Work to Surrounding Community

Central College students, faculty and staff will be performing acts of service throughout campus and Pella for the college's Season of Gratitude. The Season of Gratitude is an annual tradition at Central, stretching from the end of October until early...

Oct 28, 2026, 3:05pm EDT

Central Students Win the University of Iowa Tippie International Case Competition

Central College students took home first place in this year's Tippie International Case Competition, competing against four other teams to win the top spot. The team had less than 48 hours to analyze a case provided by the host and prepare recommend...

Oct 26, 2026, 5:03pm EDT

Mat Kelly, Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of Liberal Arts and professor of art, will display portions of his graphic novel, “Paracusia.”

Mat Kelly Book Exhibit at Central College's Mills Gallery

Central College welcomes the work of Mat Kelly, Kenneth J. Weller Distinguished Professorship of Liberal Arts and professor of art. He will be exhibiting a selection from the original illustrated pages of his graphic novel, "Paracusia." This exhibit wi...

Oct 22, 2026, 2:22pm EDT

Front Row, left to right: Donovan Klish ’28, Bailey Acton ’27, Andrew Mahaffey ’28, Jay Kimbrough ’27. Second Row, left to right: Addison Brown ’28, Allie Severe ’30, Kennedy Peterson ’29, Esther Harker ’29, Jose Leyva-Gramajo ’27, Piper Eighmy ’27, Brady Birkenholtz ’27, Rachel Mendlik ’28, Trace Hopkins ’30. Third Row, left to right: Grant Fletcher ’27, Olivia Phillips ’29, Cashen Thompson ’27, Xander Roerdink ’29, Cor Huyser ’28, Conner Hansen ’28, Teagen Peiffer ’28, Emerson Holle ’29. Not shown: Fynn Eighmy

Central College Students Elect Governance Leaders

Central College Student Senate announces the executive officers for the 2026-27 academic year: Bailey Acton of Winterset, Iowa, continues her role as senate leader. She is a member of the Class of 2027, majoring in biology. Jay Kimbrough of Chicago...

Oct 20, 2026, 10:37am EDT

About Central College

Central College of Pella, Iowa, is a private college known for its active student body, academic rigor and athletics success. Ranked the No. 2 Best Value College in Iowa by Niche.com, Central offers a learning environment with supportive educators committed to intellectual engagement, personal growth, career readiness and civic involvement. Founded in 1853 and shaped by its Christian heritage, the college of 1,100 students participates in NCAA Division III athletics. Central is an active part of the Greater Des Moines region and just minutes from Lake Red Rock, Iowa’s largest lake.