Monmouth College's top 10 stories of 2023
Monmouth, Ill. (12/13/2023) — (Editor's Note: The entire special section, also featuring top photos and feature stories, is available here.)
Extraordinary financial support and national recognition of successful teaching and outcomes were among Monmouth College's highlights of 2023. Here's a look back at those stories and some of the many other happenings of the past year on campus.
Capital campaign exceeds goal: The College completed a record-setting campaign that will help set its course throughout the rest of the decade. "It is with great pleasure that I announce that the Light This Candle Campaign has raised over $80 million in current and deferred gifts, exceeding our original goal of $75 million by more than 6%," said William Goldsborough '65, national Campaign chair, in February.
President Clarence Wyatt to retire: In April, Wyatt announced that he will retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year. Monmouth's 14th president led the recently completed Light This Candle Campaign, shepherded Monmouth through the COVID-19 pandemic, enhanced campus facilities and added new STEM majors during his 10-year tenure, which began July 1, 2014.
'COMMutopia' ranked No. 1: The communication studies department was the recipient of the National Communication Association's prestigious Rex Mix Award, presented annually to the top small liberal arts college undergraduate program in the United States. Part of the credit went to its "COMMutopia" spirit - the way it offers people a safe space to communicate and a safe space for the College's diverse students.
Krueger '72 makes $4.15 million gift: Monmouth College received one of its largest commitments in its 170-year history, and it will be used to provide students with more opportunities to become globally engaged citizens. The $4.15 million commitment from Karen Krueger '72 will help Monmouth students who want to study abroad and support faculty in developing short-term and semester-long study-abroad opportunities.
Class of 2023 is welcomed to the club: The 190 graduates who received their diplomas during the College's 166th Commencement Exercises joined an exclusive club. In his remarks, former U.S. Congressman Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri told the students they were now in the "7% Club," as there are only about 500 million people in the world - out of roughly 8 billion - who have a college degree. Another highlight of the weekend was the establishment of two new "clubs," as the College awarded diplomas to its first engineering and health science/human movement graduates.
College receives $750,000 grant for teachers: The educational studies program received a $750,000 grant, secured by U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois through the federal Community Project Funding program. The grant supports the Monmouth Rural Education Initiatives program, which aims to address rural community teacher shortages, increase representation of teachers of color and encourage student-community engagement.
Sigma Phi Epsilon chapter turns 75: Several hundred alumni brothers, spouses, national leaders and current undergraduate chapter members from around the country converged on campus May 26-28 as the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity's Illinois Gamma chapter celebrated its 75th anniversary at the College. Launched on May 22, 1948, nearly 47 years after the fraternity was founded, the chapter has since initiated 1,180 members.
Homecoming a time to celebrate relationships: It all comes back to relationships. During the College's Homecoming weekend, that was the message shared publicly by award recipients and privately in countless moments across campus as "forever friends" reunited on the campus where their relationships were born. One of the award recipients was Brig. Gen. Chris Lawson '88, who was inducted into the Hall of Achievement.
Monmouth in national rankings: In the latest U.S. News & World Report's Best Colleges guide, Monmouth is ranked No. 29 in the social mobility category. "This ranking powerfully affirms the way in which Monmouth College changes for the better the arc of a student's life," said President Wyatt. The College was also one of Money magazine's "2023 Best Colleges," based upon a school's affordability, quality and student outcomes.
Scots win Lakefront Bowl: For the second consecutive year, the football team won a bowl game, and for the second time in his career, quarterback Carter Boyer led a late rally to defeat St. Norbert. Four years after keying the Scots' dramatic Midwest Conference title game win over the Green Knights, Boyer brought Monmouth back from a 14-7 fourth-quarter deficit. The 21-14 victory completed the Scots' 9-2 season.
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Monmouth President Clarence Wyatt announced that he will retire at the end of the 2023-24 academic year. He began his presidency on July 1, 2014. Among his accomplishments was helping the College reach a record-setting dollar amount in the recently concluded Light This Candle Campaign.
Monmouth's communication studies department was named the top small liberal arts college undergraduate program in the U.S.
The Fighting Scots sideline celebrates a blocked field goal that clinched a 16-14 victory over Lake Forest. Two weeks later, Monmouth ended its season with another thriller, coming from 14 points down to defeat St. Norbert in the Cousins Subs Lakefront Bowl.