Recent News

Kayla Flanders, chief financial officer and controller for Central College

Central College Names New CFO and Controller

Central College President Mark Putnam announced the appointment of Kayla Flanders as chief financial officer and controller. Flanders served as vice president of finance at Pella Corporation since 2024. She begins her duties at Central Tuesday, Oct. 28...

Oct 28, 2025, 9:50am EDT

Central College Visual and Performing Arts presents Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel, Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

Carousel Production Coming to Central College

Central College opens another exciting production season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel this Halloween weekend. Performances will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, Friday, Oct. 31, and Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Kruidenier Theatre on Central's campus...

Oct 24, 2025, 2:41pm EDT

Central College's Professor Russ Goodman Earns MAA Award

The Mathematical Association of America awarded Russ Goodman, Central College professor of mathematics, the Crawford Distinguished Teaching Award in the Iowa Section. Goodman joined Central's mathematics program in 2002. He recently served as an offic...

Oct 23, 2025, 11:52am EDT

2024 Kid Captains took to the field during last year's game.

Kid Captains Coming to Central College Football

Central College will welcome six Pella area students as the 2025 Kid Captains at Central's football game Saturday, Oct. 18. The game against Nebraska Wesleyan University begins at 1 p.m. in Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium. Central is committed to celeb...

Oct 13, 2025, 3:45pm EDT

Central College celebrated the Poortinga Family Courts with Don DeWaard ’82 representing the City of Pella, Paula Allen representing the Pella Pickleball Club and multiple generations of the Poortinga family.

Central College, City of Pella and Poortinga Family Serve Up New Courts

Central College dedicated the Poortinga Family Courts during Homecoming, honoring the Poortinga family and community partners who helped serve up a new era for tennis and pickleball in Pella. The $750,000 project was fully funded by alumni, community ...

Oct 9, 2025, 10:13am EDT

Central's Korcheck Publishes Article Focused on Teaching Spanish Comics

Kathy Korcheck, Central College professor of Spanish, recently published an article, "Contemporary Graphic Travelogues in U.S. Spanish Classrooms: A New Itinerary for Teaching Spain," in Hispania. Korcheck's article presents her experience teaching wi...

Oct 8, 2025, 9:56am EDT

Central College is recognized by Niche.com as one of the best value colleges in Iowa.

Central College Garners Top Rankings in State

Central College has been recognized as one of the top higher education institutions in Iowa, earning high marks for value, athletics and academic quality in the new 2026 Best Colleges rankings from Niche.com. In the state-level rankings, Central was n...

Oct 6, 2025, 11:43am EDT

The Noel Cover Foundation board sunset the organization created by Noel Cover, Nebraska farmer. Foundation board members and those connected to the foundation at its 2024 meeting at the University of Denver are front, from left: Enid Macken, Megan Nelson of St. Olaf, Sunny Eighmy of Central, Bev Krushenisky. Back row, from left: Jerry Macken, Chelsea LeMar of Hastings, Dick Krushenisky, Ed Boos, Barbara Boos, Chuck Addy and Madeline Gregg of Denver.

Noel Cover Foundation Sunsets Operations with $943,250 Gift to Central College

The Noel Cover Foundation, created through the vision of a pioneering Nebraska farmer and rancher, has concluded 50 years of philanthropic support for higher education with final gifts totaling $943,250 to Central College in 2025. This brings the found...

Oct 1, 2025, 11:59am EDT

Central College’s Student Senate for 2025-26. Front Row (L-R): Bailey Acton ’27, Cassie Elliott ’26, Parker Lawrence ’26, Mya Ehresman ’26, Andrew Mahaffey ’28 Middle Row (L-R): Christian White ’29, Esther Harker ’29, Erin Heckman ’29, Rachel Mendlik ’28, Esveidy Soto-Soto ’25, Piper Eighmy ’27, Emily McMartin ’26, Addison Brown ’27, Brady Birkenholtz ’27 Back Row (L-R): Alex Volden ’28, Nathan Smith ’26, Collin Buchli ’27, Xander Roerdink ’29, Cor Huyser ’28, Grant Fletcher ’28, Mason Back ’27, Vito Luchi ’27, Dante Trinidad-Gomez ’26 Not shown: Jaycee Shaver ’26 and Donovan Klish ’28

Central College Students Elect Governance Leaders

Central College Student Senate announces the executive officers for the 2025-26 academic year. Bailey Acton of Winterset, Iowa, serves as senate leader. She is a member of the Class of 2027, majoring in biology. Mya Ehresman of Huxley, Iowa, contin...

Sep 29, 2025, 11:48am EDT

Janice “Ellen” Rempe Hamilton, 1961 Central graduate.

New Endowed Scholarship Honors Legacy of Pioneering Woman in Science

Central College announces the establishment of the Janice Ellen Van Doorninck Rempe Hamilton Scholarship, a new endowed fund honoring a 1961 graduate who was a pioneer for women in scientific research. The scholarship was created through a gift from t...

Sep 22, 2025, 11:24am 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.