Northwestern College (Iowa)
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Northwestern College is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Orange City, Iowa. It is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America (RCA) as one of a few Reformed Church colleges in the Midwest. The other two RCA colleges are Hope College and Central College. Northwestern began as an academy in 1882. It was then upgraded to junior college status in 1928. Then in 1961, it became the four-year institution it is today. Northwestern is one of three colleges in Sioux County. The others are Dordt College in Sioux Center and Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon.
| Northwestern College of Iowa | |
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| Motto: | Deus est lux (God is light) |
| Established: | 1882 |
| Type: | Private |
| Endowment: | $37.9 million[citation needed] |
| President: | Greg Christy (2007-) |
| Faculty: | 78 Full Time, 53 Part Time[citation needed] |
| Location: | Orange City, Iowa, United States of America |
| Colors: | Red and White |
| Website: | http://www.nwciowa.edu |
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[edit] Community
Northwestern occupies 100 acres in the middle of Orange City, a town with 5,589 residents.[1]. The campus' 24 buildings are centered on the Highway 10 and Albany Avenue intersection.
[edit] Culture
Northwestern works to integrate "faith and learning" as the main goal of the college education. The liberal arts are to be taught, not as self-contained disciplines, but as part of a greater whole. Another motto of the academic culture is "a whole education for your whole life". A main project at Northwestern is "Vocare: Find Your Place". It is funded by the Lilly Grant, which aims to help students find their life's calling and follow it earnestly. These goals and projects take form in many ways, both student and faculty-initiated. An ample list of campus ministry and faith opportunities is listed below:
[edit] Student residences
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[edit] Events and traditions
- Every year during the fall semester, the Student Activities Council hosts "Airband", a night of usually 10 acts all dramatizing a song or a medley. Groups have done everything from choreographed group dances to a 4-man team creating a drama similar to Matrix Ping Pong.[2]
- In the spring, the college hosts "Ballyhoo", the campus talent show. Exhibiting even more variety than "Airband", student groups go head-to-head for the grand prize. Past winners were a 1-man band performing the song "Pick-up Lines", a "STOMP" broom routine, and an Irish jig featuring a violin soloist.
- RUSH: A Student Dance Concert performs each year at Northwestern College. RUSH is a completely student-led, student-initiated, student-choreographed dance concert involving over 10% of the student population. RUSH holds the belief that anyone can dance, so long as they are committed and determined. All who try out are cast, and in its five year run, RUSH has quickly become one of the most anticipated and most popular events at Northwestern.
[edit] Departmental facilities
- DeWitt Theatre Arts Center, opened in 2004
- Korver Visual Arts Center, opened in 2003
- Bultman Center for Health, Physical Education and Intercollegiate Athletics, opened in 1995
- Christ Chapel and DeWitt Music Hall, opened in 1987
- Van Peursem Hall
[edit] Administrative facilities
- Zwemer Hall, built in 1894 and restored in 1997 (listed in the National Register of Historic Places)
- Center for Spiritual Formation and Vocation
[edit] Notable personalities
[edit] Presidential leadership
- Dr. Bruce Murphy[2] has served as NWC's president from 2001-2007. His work as president helped the college rank on U.S. News and World Report's Top 20 Midwest comprehensive colleges. Under his leadership, the Korver Visual Arts Center and DeWitt Theatre Arts Center were constructed. Murphy, with his wife, Di, worked diligently on improving campus community, school budgeting, and increasing multicultural opportunities.
- Northwestern College named the new president, Greg Christy[3], on October 5. Christy will begin his presidential work in January. His previous work was at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota as the vice president for institutional advancement.
[edit] Staff and faculty
- James E. Bultman - former college president, later president of Hope College in Holland, Michigan
- B.D. Dykstra - former professor, pacifist, pastor, and poet
- A.J. Muste - former professor, pacifist, labor and civil rights activist
- Piet Koene - professor of Spanish who received the "2004 Iowa Professor of the Year" award
- Jeff Barker - professor of Theatre and Speech who received the "2006 Iowa Professor of the Year" award
[edit] Students in the news
- Senior, Deb Remmerde now holds the record for most consecutive in-game free throws in organized basketball. She ended her 133-shot free-throw streak in February, 2006. Remmerde later appeared on "The Early Show" where she completed 580 of 585 free-throws, live, in front of a CBS television crew.[3]
- Junior, Steve Mahr organized the first annual "Red Letter Festival," which occurred on May 5, 2007 in the Bultman Center. Steve, and other volunteers used this festival as a support-raising tool for "The Bridge," a shelter for victims of domestic abuse in the Orange City area. The news story describes some, but not all of the festival's activities.[4]
[edit] Recognition
- For three consecutive years (2004-2007) U.S. News and World Report placed Northwestern in their Top 20 Midwest comprehensive colleges.[5]
- The President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Rolls has recognized Northwestern for its contributions in Katrina relief.[6]
[edit] Athletics
Northwestern College is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Great Plains Athletic Conference. The college's athletes compete as the Red Raiders on eight men's teams and eight women's teams.
[edit] National Championships
- 1973 - Football - NAIA Division II
- 1983 - Football - NAIA Division II
- 2001 - Men's Basketball - NAIA Division II
- 2001 - Women's Basketball - NAIA Division II
- 2003 - Men's Basketball - NAIA Division II
- 2008 - Women's Basketball - NAIA Division II
[edit] National Runners-up
- 1972 - Football - NAIA Division II
- 1979 - Football - NAIA Division II
- 1984 - Football - NAIA Division II
- 1992 - Men's Basketball - NAIA Division II
- 2000 - Women's Basketball - NAIA Division II
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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