Centre News

In the May 2010 Lane Report, Centre is praised for its “culture of
enthusiastic achievement,” newsworthy alumni, study abroad
program and much more.

The article pays tribute to many of Centre’s well-known alumni.
One of those mentioned is Fred Vinson, who served as chief
justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. A member of Phi Delta Theta
at Centre, Vinson is still a visible figure on campus: Phi Delta
Theta brothers continue to take his portrait, dubbed “Dead Fred,”
to every home football game.

“Perhaps the most influential components of Centre’s engagement-
with-the-world package is its study abroad program,” the article
says. On a recent abroad trip, Dr. David Anderson (second tier,
right) and several of his Centre-in-Mexico students visited the
pyramid Kukulcan of Chichén Itzá.

The Lane Report, which has been called Kentucky’s finest business publication, recently chose to celebrate 25 years of publication by profiling Centre College in its lead article.

The theme of the feature, written by veteran journalist Mark Green, is “Centre…sets the bar high and tops it with a culture of enthusiastic achievement.”

Green illustrates the Centre tradition of disproportionate accomplishment across the board with quotes and anecdotes that highlight the College’s history, study abroad programs, lofty rankings, faculty, physical plant, and campus culture.

Isaac Shelby, Abraham Lincoln, John Marshall Harlan, Fred Vinson, Joe Lieberman, and Dick Cheney

The piece begins by noting that Centre’s founding board chair was Kentucky’s first governor and towering figure of early American history, Isaac Shelby.

It goes on to point out, “One grad [John Todd Stuart] was a political mentor to Abraham Lincoln, advising the state’s most famous son to study law and loaning him the books when he was still a lanky young man seeking direction in life. Another became the youngest vice president in U.S. history [John C. Breckenridge]. [John Marshall Harlan and Fred Vinson]…served on the U.S. Supreme Court. [And the College]…hosted the 2000 U.S. vice presidential debate [between Joe Lieberman and Dick Cheney], very much the smallest school and town to ever do so.”

National Leadership in Foreign Study

“Perhaps the most influential components of Centre’s engagement-with-the-world package is its study abroad program. Eighty-five percent of students participate, some more than once, immersing themselves in another country for a semester. It’s rated one of the five best such programs in the United States.”

Racking Up the Rankings

“From just the last few years…[high-profile praise] includes:

Forbes magazine: No. 13 among all U.S. colleges and universities in 2008; No. 14 in 2009; Best Educational Institution in the South in 2010.

U.S. News & World Report: No. 46 among top 50 liberal arts colleges in the United States; No. 11 in the nation for Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Undergraduate Teaching; and No. 7 for percentage of students studying abroad.

Consumers Digest: No. 1 value in the nation among private liberal arts colleges.

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: No. 29 among all U.S. private liberal arts colleges on Best Value list.

Princeton Review: Named an ‘outstanding undergraduate educational opportunity’ for 2010.”

Fabulous Faculty

The article quotes president John Roush on the core component of Centre excellence: “The faculty who work here see themselves as mentors, not just teachers,” Roush said. “What we do here in terms of our undergraduate teaching is best practice.”

Fundraising Prowess Transforms Campus

“The ability to raise money has allowed Centre to engage in an $85 million construction campaign in recent years. Since 2005, Crounse Hall, the main academic building and home of the campus library, has been expanded and renovated; a new Campus Center and residence hall have been constructed; the Norton Center for the Arts has been renovated; so has the Sutcliffe Hall athletics and fitness center; and a 40,000-s.f. addition to the Young Hall science building is nearing completion. Pearl Hall, a LEED Gold-certified residence hall, opened last year.”

Expect the Extraordinary

The article concludes by reflecting on the College’s tradition of tackling daunting endeavors, working hard—and winning. From upsetting No. 1 ranked Harvard in football, to capturing the national championship in alumni giving, to securing and brilliantly hosting a Vice Presidential Debate, to being named the No. 1 institution of higher education in the South and the best religiously affiliated college or university in America, Centre knows how to achieve—often beyond what could be reasonably expected.

“The school has what its president refers to as a ‘Mighty Mouse’ attitude of taking on challenges out of proportion to its size—and succeeding. Reflecting on the college’s performance, he said, ‘I believe in luck, but I also believe luck favors the well prepared.’”

To read the complete Lane Report article, click here.