By Emily Fox · Editor-in-Chief
The snow has melted and students are across the quad studying, playing Spikeball and enjoying the long-awaited warmer weather. Grove is green again. Spring has arrived at the college and, along with it, a season of celebrations.
On Thursday, the college will inaugurate its 10th president. At the ceremony, Grovers past and present will anticipate a bright future under the leadership of President Lingo while remembering the rich history that formed the college to be the institution it is today, with speeches from former Presidents Richard Jewell ’67 and Paul McNulty ’80.
Grove City College has a lot to be proud of and to praise God for. These past few weeks, The Collegian has highlighted some of the college’s milestones, such as the founding of its first fraternities and sororities, a landmark court case with national implications and even the institution of The Collegian’s first female editor-in-chief.
Throughout the generations, the college has witnessed shifting times. It has seen alumni serve in two world wars, it has watched 28 U.S. presidents come and go, witnessed both the institution and the overturning of Roe v. Wade and it even managed to keep its doors open during a global pandemic.
The college has also seen its culture grow and change over its history. Greek groups no longer must meet in secret, women are not held to a strict curfew and let’s not forget, we can now walk on the grass.
Along with preserving its historical legacy, the college has also remained strong in its convictions. Grove City remains a campus where faith and conservative thought flourish. We remain committed to the pursuit of vocational excellence, fostering Christian fellowship and studying Biblical truth.
In the college’s 150th year, we’ve come together to honor the people who came before us and shaped the college into the institution it is now. We remember the tenacity of Isaac Ketler, the philanthropy of the Pew family, the reaffirmation of our commitment to faith under Charles Mackenzie and the generosity of David Rathburn ’79.
As we commemorate the past, we also celebrate our present. In recent years, we’ve welcomed a former vice president turned Grove City College professor to campus. This fall, President Lingo launched a merit-based scholarship and mentorship program for incoming freshmen. Soon, we will honor the accomplishments of the senior man and woman of the year and of students’ achievements in their disciplines at the recognition convocation.
The 150th anniversary celebration bridges the past and present of Grove City College. We’ll gather to recognize the great character and integrity our college has built, first at President Lingo’s inauguration and then at the Celebrate 150 reception and musical tribute at Carnegie Hall in Pittsburgh. We’ll catch up with alumni and current students, and most importantly, we’ll remember the legacy of the college that ties us together.
