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Monmouth College's top 10 news stories of 2025

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (12/10/2025) — Note to editors: This section is part of a larger group of top 10 lists at Monmouth College for 2025, including photos, feature stories, quotes and sports photos. To view the entire set of lists, click here:

Top 10 News Stories

Diploma-cy: On a Sunday afternoon that lived up to its name, Lon Helton '72 gave the main address to the 142 members of Monmouth's Class of 2025 at his alma mater's 168th annual Commencement Exercises, which was held on the Wallace Hall Plaza in beautiful 65-degree weather. It was President Patricia Draves's first Commencement ceremony in her new role, and she took the time to single out legacy graduates, as well as first-generation students, congratulating the "pioneers" and "trailblazers" for their "remarkable journey."

Another happy Homecoming: With themes of women in science, the value of Greek life, and Monmouth being a welcoming home, the college welcomed home alumni young and old for another successful and memorable Homecoming weekend. There was also a theme of amateur meteorology, and that was a success, too, as most of the rain that had been forecast fell after the last Spirit Shout firework had exploded Friday night and before Saturday morning's first event, the M Club Hall of Fame and Fighting Scots Champions Club inductions.

Enrollment increase: For the first time in a decade, Monmouth saw a bump in its new student enrollment, with 265 first-year and transfer students joining the campus community for the fall semester. That was an increase of 35 students from the year before, and college officials are hoping to repeat the rise in 2026 for Monmouth's Class of 2030 (!) and enroll 300 new students.

FLASH/TRIO: Monmouth was awarded a $999,764 grant by the National Science Foundation to launch an ambitious new program aimed at increasing the success of Pell Grant eligible students pursuing STEM degrees. It will fund the college's new FLASH initiative - Focus on Learning for All with STEM as a Home. The college was also awarded a highly competitive TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant from the U.S. Department of Education, totaling $1.3 million over five years. The funding will allow Monmouth to expand its commitment to supporting students who are first-generation, low-income or have disabilities.

Schools of thought: In a move to expand academic opportunities, realign with student interests and position the college for long-term growth, Monmouth announced the creation of six new academic schools: the School of Engineering, Sciences and Innovation; the School of Health Sciences and Natural Sciences; the School of Humanities and Civic Engagement; the School of Communication and Creative and Performing Arts; the School of Education and Human Development; and the School of Business.

ABET accreditation: Monmouth's engineering program achieved a major milestone - official accreditation by ABET, the global standard in engineering and technology education - marking a significant moment for both the college and its STEM ambitions. ABET accreditation affirms that Monmouth's engineering curriculum meets the rigorous standards necessary to prepare graduates for leadership in essential STEM fields, from advanced manufacturing to clean energy to national research labs.

READY for a new brand: The college launched a new brand platform, with "Students READY for success" standing out as the main slogan of the campaign. In addition to preparing students for success, the brand is built on the pillars of a caring community, lessons that last, lifelong connections, and the idea of Monmouth being "rooted and growing, a nod to its 172-year history and its ambitions for the future.

Scots Day of Giving: By the end of April's 18-hour, 53-minute celebration, 916 donors had combined to contribute $350,701, surpassing the donor goal and establishing a new fundraising record for the annual event. Gifts were funneled to several causes, including the senior class gift of a new outdoor basketball court.

First nursing students: When the fall semester began in August, it marked the beginning of the journey for the 24 students who comprise the first class of nursing students of Monmouth. Said one of the students, Lydia Overcash, "The program is accelerated, which could be difficult in the moment but, overall, I think will be the better option in the end. Also, with the program being paired with OSF, it gives me job opportunities and more experience in a real-world setting."

A special team: Exactly a century after Monmouth's undefeated football team in 1925 was known as the "Trick-a-Minute Machine," the Fighting Scots were quite nearly the "Point-a-Minute Machine." They stormed through the Midwest Conference with a 9-0 record, outscoring opponents 497-43. In three of their victories, coach Chad Braun's team actually exceeded the point-a-minute pace, including a 69-0 victory over Knox.

Media Attachments

The nine Monmouth seniors who are majoring in engineering, a program that earned ABET accreditation during 2025.

Monmouth welcomed 265 new students this fall, an increase of 35 students from the prior year.

During 2025, the college announced a new brand campaign, with "READY for success" being a major part of the initiative.

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