- Loading...
- No images or files uploaded yet.
|
|
Centre College
Centre College 600 West Walnut St. Danville, KY 40422 859.238.5200
CAMPUS AT A GLANCE Established in 1819, Centre is a liberal arts college of about 1,200 students. The College’s record of achievement ranges from producing two vice presidents, a chief justice and a justice of the Supreme Court, and seven Rhodes Scholars; to upsetting five-year national champion Harvard in football in 1921; to hosting the only vice presidential debate in the 2000 general election; to leading the nation over the past 25 years in the annual percentage of alumni giving.
Centre’s personal education enables students to excel as undergraduates and achieve extraordinary success in advanced studies and careers. They win the most prestigious national awards, including the Rhodes, Fulbright (28 winners in the last 10 years), Goldwater (two in 2008), and Truman. Within 10 months of graduation, 91 percent are either employed or engaged in advanced study. The College is located in Danville, a town of 18,000 widely recognized for its high quality of life. It’s within easy driving distance of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati.
Centre is a U.S. News top-50 national liberal arts college (the highest ranking of any Kentucky institution). Centre’s four-year graduation rate of about 80 percent is the highest of any Kentucky college or university. (In comparison, the most recent four-year graduation rate at the state’s flagship university is around 30 percent, and the six-year average rate for all schools nationwide is 56 percent.) The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) finds our students among the most “educationally engaged” in the country in measures such as level of academic challenge, interaction with faculty members, and enriching educational experiences.
The foundation of Centre’s academic quality is our faculty, 97 percent of whom hold the Ph.D. or equivalent. Although active in research, their top priority is the academic and personal growth of their students.
We reinforce our results-oriented approach with the “Centre Commitment”: students who meet the College’s academic and social expectations are guaranteed 1) an internship, 2) study abroad, and 3) graduation in four years—or we provide up to a year of additional study tuition-free. The emphasis on international study reflects the global component of our mission. More than 85 percent of Centre students study abroad, among the 10 highest rates in the country and the highest percentage of any Kentucky institution.
The College’s Norton Center for the Arts is central to campus life. One of America’s finest arts facilities, the Norton Center showcases performers and performances—such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Aretha Franklin, and the Broadway musical Hairspray—that are tops in their fields. Centre students attend most of these events free of charge.
Our transforming education combined with a surprisingly low cost means Centre is widely recognized (by Fiske, U.S. News, Princeton Review, and others) as one of the outstanding values in higher learning. Consumers Digest ranks Centre as the No. 1 value among U.S. liberal arts colleges. Centre is the most affordable of the U.S. News top-50 national liberal arts colleges. We’re obviously proud of our institution and eager to talk about it. But the best way to understand Centre is to come to our beautiful campus (which is becoming even more stunning with a series of exciting building projects) and experience it yourself. You have a standing invitation to come to Danville, tour the campus, eat in our dining hall, and talk with the faculty members and students who are the core of our extraordinary education.
KEY FACTS Location: Central Kentucky, 45 minutes from Lexington, KY and 1.5 hours from Louisville, KY Enrollment: 1,250 Other interesting tidbits: Centre College has given rise to two Vice Presidents of the United States, one Assoicate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, and one Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
The school boasts alumni John Todd Stuart, friend of President Abraham Lincoln who encouarged the future leader to pursue a legal career instead of being a blacksmith, even to the point of loaning Lincoln law books.
School traditions include "Dead Fred" and "Flame Runs."
BONNER PROGRAM AT A GLANCE Name of Campus-Wide Center: The Bonner Center for Civic Engagement and Servant Leadership
Type of Program: Bonner Leaders and Bonner Scholars Year Began: 1999 Bonner Program websites: http://www.centre.edu/bonner/index.htm http://bonnercentre.pbworks.com
Total Number of Bonners: 55 Scholars: 21 Leaders: 34 Active in Bonner AmeriCorps Ed Award: 26
KEY CONTACTS
President: Dr. John Roush
Center Director: Patrick Noltemeyer Bonner Director: Patrick Noltemeyer Office: 859.238.8752
Bonner Coordinator: Elizabeth Wisman Office: 859.238.6915
Bonner Senior Intern: Scott Meltzer
Bonner Congress Representatives: Laura Bramblett, and John Losey
WHAT CENTRE BONNERS SAY about their experience in the Bonner Program
"Bonner has changed the way I look at and live life. When people ask me what Bonner is, I find myself stumbling over my own words. You see Bonner isn't just a club you join, it's a process you go through. The best way I can describe Bonner is by what it has done for me. You see, Bonner has changed me in many ways. The first is in how I see the world, the second is in the way I act on the world around me. It has opened my eyes to things in the world that most people don't know about or don't want to know about. Of course, more importantly, Bonner has opened my eyes to how to change the world around me. Not only has Bonner opened my eyes, but it has given a support group (in which I find some of my closest friends) to help me grow as an individual. Of course Bonner isn't only about me, part of being a Bonner is getting others involved in the process. I find being a Bonner isn't about doing things because it looks good, Bonners do the things they do because it is a part of who we are. The Bonner Organization brings out and nourishes the good in people. It helps that part grow during College so that when we graduate from College, it will continue to grow and be a part of us for the rest of our lives. Bonner isn't a four year experience, it's a life long commitment to service, leadership, and the world around us." - Josh Moore, Bonner Leader, Class of 2010
"Bonner has helped me to broaden my view of the world. I know that is a broad statement in and of itself but it is true. As a daughter of a five person family, growing up with two working parents I have only seen my view of the world. i have been blessed and am able to enjoy the good graces i have been offered, such as schooling, vacations, material belongings. This has led me only to know my way of life. For a long time i chose not to know others. i didnt think it was important. I was happy i just assumed everyone else was too. Centre and the Bonner program have opened my eyes to new worlds, such as the spanish speaking world, the factory worker's world, the homeless world and many others. I have seen lives through the eyes of other people and it has given me an appreciation for who i am lucky enough to be and has shown me that i can help to change the lives of others. I, alice seal, have the opportunity to make a difference. How many people have this power? It is one that i cherish and am excited to unfold over the next couple years in the Bonner program." - Alice Seal, Bonner Leader, Class of 2011
"My time as a Bonner has been absolutely invaluable. The first time I stepped on campus, I had a diverse group of friends that all had a similar goal: helping people. This network of people has been the foundation to my Centre career. Because of Bonner I have experienced new and different opportunities. From engaging in conversations with people from completely different backgrounds to flipping pancakes with senior citizens, the opportunities to grow and learn through service and communication are endless." - Kate Pedersen, Bonner Leaders, Class of 2010
"Everyone knows that the number of native Spanish speakers in this country is growing. There are so many Spanish speakers that some people who don't speak Spanish are having difficulty communicating, particularly when it comes to workers in the health services industry. This gave me the idea to offer a free Spanish class for adults in the Danville area. I have also worked to teach English to native Spanish speakers. My goal is to teach each group enough of each language so that communication is at least somewhat possible. The Spanish classes meet once a week for two hours. I have had such a great response, that I have to teach two sections, one on Monday and one on Tuesday. Most of the adults in the class work in the health services field, specifically the local health departments. In the class, we spend the first hour covering grammar and the second hour improving conversation skills. I try to teach phases that can be used immediately and the confidence to do so.
My hope is that this class will continue each semester, with me teaching one new beginning section and an advanced section as well." - Trisha Cole, Bonner Scholar, Class of 2009
MORE ABOUT US (our partners, trips, structure, best or unique practices) The Centre College Bonner Orientation Experience At Centre, we believe that a strong Orientation Experience is critical to the ultimate success of all students in the Bonner Program. A week before the traditional Centre Orientation, Bonners meet on campus then travel to a Kentucky camp facility in our region. Getting away from campus ensures that all participants will engage fully, free of other campus distractions. Key programs used during the Orientation process include "River Stories," "BHAGS - Big Hairy Audacious Goals," and lots of name games and team building! Time is spent exploring the meaning of the common commitments, connecting these commitments to service goals, and expanding the student understanding of the difference between service and civic engagement. Free time is also built into the experience for students to get to know one another in a more casual way as well. The Centre Bonner Program has been successful in establishing partnerships with camps throughout the state, procuring discounted lodging rates in exchange for service donated by our group. The incorporation of service into the Orientation Experience is significant, and provides the group with an opportunity to practice reflective discussions and teamwork.
SPAN Dances The Special Persons Advocacy Network (SPAN) is one of the Bonner Program's newest and strongest Community Partners. Working with children with special needs in our community schools, Bonner Scholar Teresa Johnstone learned that SPAN was an active agency in our community working to provide enrichment activities for children and adults with special needs. Understanding this mission, Teresa saw how Centre College could play a significant role in providing a location for these activities, as well as the volunteers to make them happen! Since her initial conversation with the SPAN Director, Centre has hosted a sock-hop, a jewelry-making workshop, and Valentine's Day party for special individuals in our area. The number of community partcipants continues to rise, as does the number of Centre volunteers!
Guide for Community Partners (PDF)
Sample Reflection Piece - by Justin Roush, Bonner Scholar, Class of 2010
ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES Click here to complete wiki-based portion of Annual Report.
Student Leadership Planning: Click here for Congress Leadership Plans: 2009 ANNUAL REPORT OF PROGRAM ACTIVITIES Noteworthy Initiatives
The 2008-2009 academic year was an exciting one for the Bonner Program at Centre College. We welcomed in a strong class of Bonner Leaders and Scholars in the fall, and bolstered our program with the addition of more Bonner Leaders at the end of the fall semester. Entering into the fall of 2009, we will be 55 members strong - a significant increase from the seven students who started the program at Centre in 1999. This year Bonners were successful in capitalizing on their strengths to implement three campus-wide community initiatives of note: The Bate-Wood Park Project, Spanish as a Second Language Classes, and a city-wide food drive to support one of our Community Partners.
The Bate-Wood Park Project began from a student idea to start a non-profit, non-cost soccer league for elementary and middle school students in our area. Centre students had served as coaches in several local leagues, but noticed that almost all of the participants were white and from middle- to upper-class home environments. Understanding that soccer was a sport enjoyed by many people - regardless of their social class or race - the students questioned the absence of other groups on their teams. Starting with this idea, in 2009-2010 a small group of students, led by Bonner Program participants, began work to revitalize a local park, in a low-income neighborhood, that had fallen into disrepair. Working diligently (and using a wiki!), these students surveyed local residents to find out what their ideal park would be like. Using this information, this small group of students drafted a long-term, multi-phase plan to ultimately meet many of the community's needs - including an open soccer field for their non-profit soccer camp. The students petitioned the Centre Student Government Association and met with several constituents in the city government, as well as local business owners, to acquire the funds to purchase and install new playground equipment. The Centre SGA designated $7,000 to the project and the local city government earmarked $18,000 for the students' use. A swingset and superdome are already in place, with more on the way.
One afternoon Bonner Scholar Trisha Cole was in the check-out line at a local store. In front of her was a Hispanic couple in the process of checking out, and in the midst of an argument with the cashier. After listening for a few minutes, Trisha realized that the problem was really the language barrier as the couple was speaking Spanish and the cashier, English. Using her years of experience with the language, Trisha stepped in to facilitate the interaction, eased tensions, and helped the couple finish checking out and move on. Trisha realized that this type of situation was likely all too common, and began thinking of ways that she could help. After several conversations with the Bonner Director and her Spanish faculty advisors, Trisha began a Spanish-as-a-Second-Language course, completely free and open to the community. Working with the Bonner Foundation, Trisha used community funds to purchase books, workbooks, and supplies for the course - which had 45 community participants during the first semester. Word spread quickly of the success of this program, and soon Trisha realized this was a sustainable idea and recruited other students to help facilitate, and to take over when she graduates in 2010. Hearing of the success of this program, the local sherrif's office contracted Trisha to come to work with the sherrifs and deputies so they could better communicate with the Spanish-speaking community in Danville and Boyle County.
Finally, in the fall semester of 2009, Bonner students teamed up with other campus groups to support the local Salvation Army by staging a city-wide food drive. During this autumn weekend, Bonners coordinated hundreds of Centre students to make their way door-to-door in the community, collecting desperately needed canned goods and other non-perishable food items. One morning of coordinated effort resulted in over 2000 pounds of food, equipping the Salvation Army with the supplies necessary to feed families in our area for the following four months.
SPRING 2009 INITIATIVES Serve 2.0
BWBRS
Bonner AmeriCorps
Issue-Based Research
PHOTOS
Bonner Leader Sam Ruth and Foundation President Wayne Meisel
Bonner Scholar Sarah Hargis and Bonner Leader Chase Martin learn about each other through the River Stories exercise, part of Bonner Orientation at Centre College.
Bonner Scholar Jasmon Dixon checks his balance during a team-building event, part of Bonner Orientation at Centre College.
Bonners Trisha Cole, Maggie Proffitt, Deysi Hernandez, and Emily Reynolds bask in the glow of a freshly painted bathroom in Caretta, WV as part of the Centre College Bonner First Year Trip in May 2007.
Bonner Leader Chase Martin surveys his next cut during the Centre College Bonner First Year Trip to Caretta, WV in May 2007.
Bonners and friends from Big Creek People In Action during the Centre College Bonner First Year Trip to Caretta, WV in May 2007.
Centre College Bonner Scholar Courtney Gilmore prepares to make a cut for a Habitat for Humanity home during the Fall 2007 Sophomore Service Exchange.
|
Anonymous
Create an account or Log in
Comments (1)
Marc said
at 11:32 pm on Jun 6, 2008
Yay Centre Bonners!!!!
You don't have permission to comment on this page.