Central College

Welcome back to Central College! Last semester didn't end the way any of us planned, but we are thrilled to have you back on campus for the Fall 2020 semester. We are all proud to be Forever Dutch!

63 students are members of the A Cappella Choir at Central College for the 2020-21 academic year. The A Cappella Choir started at Central in 1932 and is the oldest continuing music ensemble on campus.

Welcome to Central College! You are now Forever Dutch! Central is pleased to welcome the newest members of our community, including first-year and transfer students, for the Fall 2020 semester.

Central College is proud to announce this year's recipients of full-tuition Kuyper Scholarships and Rolscreen Foundation Scholarships, the most prestigious awards granted at the college. Peter H. Kuyper founded Rolscreen Company, known today as Pella Corporation. Students selected participated in Central's Scholar Days. All have at least a 3.78 GPA and 27 ACT score.

Lindsey Blommers, a junior at Central College, received a $5,000 scholarship from Community State Bank. She was presented the award In August on campus at the women's leadership conference. The one-time scholarship was created to support a female student interested in finance, business management or accounting.

13 Central College students participated in the 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium on Sept. 8, 2020, on campus in Graham Conference Center.

10 Central College students are partcipating in a women's leadership conference on campus this week. It is the second year for the conference, designed to provide opportunities for Central seniors nominated by faculty and staff members. The event allows them to meet with experts in their fields whose character sets an example for women scholars and future leaders.

Central College student Deryck Cleppe, Class of 2022 and a biochemistry major from Chelsea, Iowa, was accepted into the Summer Health Professions Education Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. SHPEP is a free summer program at academic institutions across the country with the "goal to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students underrepresented in the health professions and prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools."

22 Central College students had their work published in the college's annual Writing Anthology, a collection of exceptional student work from across the liberal arts curriculum. This was the 40th year for the Writing Anthology, which has been continuously published at Central since 1981. It can be viewed here: central.edu/writing-anthology.

10 Central College students are completing internships this summer for academic credit.

More than 325 students were named to the Central College dean's list for Spring 2020. The honor is awarded to full-time students who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester.

46 Central College students were inducted into the college's chapter of The National Society of Leadership and Success.

36 Central College students graduated with bachelor's degrees in December 2019.

Central College has announced the names of those elected as Student Senate executive officers for the 2020-21 academic year.

207 Central College students graduated with bachelor's degrees in May 2020.

Seven Central College students gave their Senior Honors Thesis presentations on May 9. They did so via Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Central College Student Development recognizes outstanding leadership at the college each year and has named its 2019-20 award winners.

Central College's Education Department and the Geisler Penquite Educational Excellence committee has announced the 2020 Geisler Penquite Scholars. This award brings with it the expectation of leadership in the classroom and in general and notes the potential for leadership in the students' future career in education.

Central's annual Scholarship Celebration was scheduled for Thursday, April 23, but was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. The event gives student scholarship recipients the opportunity to personally thank and share dinner with donors who help make their Central education possible. More than 700 students would have been recognized this year in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.

21 Central College students in Introduction to Angling, an exercise science course, helped place 175 trees attached to cinder blocks on the ice at Roberts Creek. When the ice melts, the structure will provide sustainable habitat for fish in Lake Red Rock. The project was done in cooperation with the Marion County Parks officers. It was part of the global sustainability portion of the course, which introduces the basic skills, theory and equipment necessary to begin the development of lifelong angling skills.

7 Central College students performed Feb. 14 in the annual Jazzmania concert in the Recital Hall of Cox-Snow Music Center.

26 Central College students performed with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble during its concert Feb. 23 on the Hoekstra Family Stage in Douwstra Auditorium.

9 Central College students performed in the ALMA Concert on Feb. 21 in the Recital Hall of Cox-Snow Music Center.

Eight Central College students participated in a Computer Science trip Feb. 20 to Des Moines. The students visited Conga, Rocket Referrals and Principal Financial for tours and to visit with Central alumni.

21 Central College students will participate in the production of Kander and Ebb's iconic musical "Cabaret." It runs March 4-8 in Kruidenier Theatre.

33 Central College students are participating in an internship during the Spring 2020 semester.

10 Central College students participated in Language and Culture in the Yucatan Peninsula in Merida, Mexico, from Jan. 2-13. The one-credit study abroad course is open to all Spanish language levels and immerses students culturally and linguistically in classes and homestays. The curriculum weaves topics such as immigration, health care, tourism, history and business practices into daily lessons. Students develop an appreciation for the history, culture and customs of the Yucatan.

Lexie Patton, a former student at Central College, completed a summer and fall internship with Grinnell Mutual that led to a full-time position upon graduation. Patton started in December as a personal lines claims adjustor at Grinnell Mutual in Grinnell, Iowa. Patton graduated in December 2019 with majors in business management and accounting.

More than 350 students were named to the Central College dean's list for Fall 2019. The honor is awarded to full-time students who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale while taking 12 or more graded credit hours for the semester.

Central College students Megan Beuter and Savanna Henning presented a research project titled "Interfaith Engagement for Climate Action and Advocacy" during the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Ed Conference and Expo last semester in Spokane, Washington.