Top 10 Goshen College news stories of 2015

2015 will be remembered as an exciting time at Goshen College. Big changes, brushes with celebrities and student success marked an eventful year! Here’s a look back at some stories we couldn’t forget:

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1. A Prairie Home Companion at Goshen College

   

   
   On May 2, Garrison Keillor brought his beloved program “A Prairie Home Companion” to Goshen College for a live broadcast from Sauder Concert Hall. In a later interview, Keillor said that Goshen College was his all-time favorite place to host!

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2. TODAY Show’s Al Roker stopped at Goshen College in world record attempt

   

   
   When TODAY Show meteorologist Al Roker was deciding where in Indiana he would report the weather during his 50-state world record attempt, Goshen topped the list. On Nov. 10, Roker made a whirlwind visit and was treated to cheers, singing, Rise’n Roll Donuts and a goat.

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3. President Brenneman invited to White House for roundtable discussion on climate action

   

   
   On Nov. 19, GC President Jim Brenneman represented Goshen College’s sustainability efforts at a roundtable discussion at the White House as part of the American Campuses Act on Climate day of action. There were approximately 50 colleges and universities invited to the event in preparation for the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference in Paris.

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4. Goshen College changed non-discrimination policy, withdrew from CCCU

   

   
   When GC, along with Eastern Mennonite University, updated it’s non-discrimination policy in July to include employees in same-sex marriages, it made national headlines. The decision subsequently led GC and EMU to voluntarily leave the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

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5. Stories of student success

   

   
   It was once again an award-laden year for our students and programs.

   • NAIA recognized 32 fall Goshen scholar-athletes
   • First-generation student earned ‘Realizing the Dream’ award
   • FiveCore Media racked up various awards, including nomination for a regional Emmy, and GC named Indiana Television School of the Year for fourth time in six years
   • WGCS, 91.1 The Globe, earned awards from the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) in March and more nominations in December, as well as from College Broadcasters, Inc. (CBI) in October and from Indiana Broadcasters Association’s (IBA) in November, adding more hardware to their already impressive awards collection.
   • The Record and Red Cents publications received state awards
   • 100 percent of nursing graduates pass the National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses
   • Accounting program ranked 12th best in the nation, 3rd best in Indiana
     

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6. New student numbers rose with local and Latino growth

   

   
    New student enrollment increased this year, with a growing number of local and Latino students.

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7. Rankings

   

   
    GC earned top recognition in key national rankings. Here are some highlights:

   • #3 among the “40 Best College Farms” by collegeranker.com
   • #4 “Best Christian College” by Christian Universities Online
   • #5 among “Top Ten Most Globally Minded Colleges” by The Christian Science Monitor
   • #5 for “Most Students Studying Abroad” by U.S. News & World Report
   • Top 100 “best values” among all liberal arts colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
   • See more at goshen.edu/rankings
     

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8. Unique classes

   

   
   Providing our students with intercultural, international and innovative classes is not a new concept at Goshen College, and this year was no exception! Not only did students study on four continents, they also had opportunities right here on campus to experience a depth and breadth of cultures and topics.

   • In Kenya, GC students documented stories of sustainability
   • Connecting through music – and Google Hangouts
   • In jail, students from different backgrounds built bridges
     

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9. Goshen College alum a ‘hit’ on American Idol

   

   
   Samuel (Rosario) Prince, a 2013 GC grad, made his national television debut on Wednesday, Jan. 28, on the show “American Idol.” During his audition, Prince asked judges Jennifer Lopez, Harry Connick Jr. and Keith Urban to join him in an improvised telenovela scene. The judges obliged and after a fictitious argument, Lopez landed a fake-slap on Prince. Watch it here.

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10. Alumni are recognized during Homecoming Weekend

    

    Five alumni –  Kathy Short ’75, of Tucson, Arizona and Aliko Songolo ’68, of Madison, Wisconsin. The 2015 Young Alumni Servant Leadership Award was presented to Sonia Graber ’00, of Denver, Colorado. The 2015 Dr. Ruth Gunden Champion of Character Award went to Alice Gunden Bender ’80 of Washington, D.C., and the Dr. Roman Gingerich Champion of Character Award went to Ken Pletcher ’70, of Goshen. 

    GC athletic icons John Ingold and J. Harold “Sarge” Yoder were also honored this year with a renaming and dedication of the Dr. John Ingold Athletic Complex and the Dr. J. Harold “Sarge” Yoder Baseball Field. 

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11. Honorable mention: Even though it wasn’t a real news story, we’d be lying if we said our April Fools’ Day Performing Arts Series line-up announcement wasn’t one of our most popular stories this year. Maybe next year …