By Matthew Purucker · News Editor
The inauguration ceremony of Bradley Lingo ’00, the 10th president of Grove City College, will occur at 11 a.m. Thursday in Harbison Chapel.
Before his inauguration, Lingo, who graduated from the college in 2000, stressed the importance of this event and highlighted his speech.
“The speech matters because it’s a public affirmation of who we are in a moment of celebration and transition,” Lingo said. “It’s an opportunity to renew our strength by recommitting to our mission with clarity and confidence. “
The board of directors will formally install Lingo as president during the inauguration service. The service will also include worship and prayer, and former presidents Richard Jewell ’67 and Paul McNulty ’80 will talk about the college’s history and tradition.
Jewell served as president of Grove City College from 2003 to 2014 after graduating from the college in 1967. He will speak on the subject “Celebrating Our 150 Years.”
McNulty retired as the ninth president of the college in June 2025 after holding the position since 2014. He will discuss “Our Tradition of Faith.”
Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will give the benediction. Pence is also a distinguished visiting fellow for the Center for Faith & Public Life.
Senior Hannah Phillips will read Romans 12:1-12, and Student Government Association President Julia Sikora will give a salutation on behalf of the student body.
Among students, seniors Emma Danielson, Julia Kistler, junior Nathan Kebeck, sophomores Anna Kruppenbacher, Frances Baksa, Tyler Querry and David LaBarbera and freshmen Ella West and Henry Cramer will perform music in the prelude.
“As someone who doesn’t really like being the center of attention, I hope the focus remains, as it should, on the God and college I serve rather than me personally,” Lingo said.
Representatives from academia across five states will attend the inauguration, including presidents of five combined colleges and universities: Ronald Cole of Allegheny College, Kathy Brittain Richardson of Westminster College, Wayne Lewis Jr. of Houghton University, Jon Stuckey of Messiah University and Chris Brussalis of Point Park University.
K. James Evans, who graduated from the college in 1970, will also attend. Evans retired from Pitt-Bradford after serving there as vice president and dean of student affairs.
John Sparks, a 1966 graduate of the college and retired dean of the Calderwood School of Arts and Letters, will represent University of Michigan Law School at the service.
Lingo emphasized his excitement over having his parents at his inauguration.
“I’m glad that my own parents will be able to attend,” Lingo said. “I know that it will be special for them to see their son become the president of the college they dropped him off at as a freshman in 1996.”
With the college celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026, Lingo’s inauguration occurs during an important time in the college’s history. Emphasizing that, Assistant Director of Alumni Programs and Events Tricia Corey emailed students Wednesday to encourage them to attend the service.
“The core of the speech is about the importance of Grove City’s mission and continued faithfulness to that mission in the years to come,” Lingo said. “I try to distill our mission into four defining commitments: Christian, conservative, academically excellent and affordable and explain my understanding of what they mean for our community. The address is also a celebration of God’s faithfulness to the college over the past 150 years.”
