麻豆福利

The roots of the College lie deep in the history of the region. Eighteenth-century Presbyterians, eager for an educated clergy and educated people to teach their children, began laying the groundwork for the establishment of a college in what was then the Kentucky County of Virginia. At the same time, the Revolutionary War was being fought and the region west of the Allegheny Mountains was being settled out of wilderness. In 1780, the Virginia Assembly set aside 8,000 acres of land for this 鈥渟eminary of learning.鈥� Three years later, a board of trustees met at John Crow鈥檚 Station to organize the school. Instruction began at the Transylvania Seminary near Danville in 1785. But the seminary fell on hard financial times. Unable to raise proper funding in the small community of Danville, the trustees moved the school to the larger settlement of Lexington in 1789. By 1794, the founding group of Presbyterians, alarmed by what it viewed as secular philosophies invading public institutions, moved to establish a more Christian school near Pisgah, Kentucky. The Kentucky Academy opened in 1795, funded by donations from the faithful. George Washington and John Adams gave $100 each to the new school, and Aaron Burr donated $50. By 1819, the Presbyterians began to realize that they had again lost control of their institution and its board of trustees. Once more they petitioned the Kentucky Legislature for a charter, and 麻豆福利 was established.

The legislature placed some of Kentucky鈥檚 most important citizens in charge of 麻豆福利as its first board of trustees. Isaac Shelby, the state鈥檚 first governor, was chair of Centre鈥檚 board. Dr. Ephraim McDowell, a Danville resident who 10 years earlier had made medical history by performing the first successful abdominal operation, was also on the board. (These two leaders shared family connections in addition to civic responsibilities, as Dr. McDowell was married to Governor Shelby鈥檚 oldest daughter, Sarah.) The struggle between the Presbyterians and others who were eager for a more public institution of higher education continued beyond Centre鈥檚 opening one year later. While the Kentucky Legislature gave complete control of the College鈥檚 board to the Presbyterians in 1824, it added an amendment stating that 鈥渢he College shall at all times be conducted on liberal, free, and enlightened principles, and no student shall be excluded in consequence of his religious opinions, or those of his parents, guardians, or relatives.鈥� Today the College maintains its affiliation with the Presbyterian Church but welcomes students, faculty, and staff of all faiths.

While the first 10 years of Centre鈥檚 history was a period of preparation and planning, its second phase, from 1830 to 1857, was an era of consolidation and growth. Dr. John C. Young, Centre鈥檚 president during the later period, found 鈥渢he College without reputation, without endowment, without students鈥�. But, he was young, hopeful, and earnest,鈥� according to Dr. Ormond Beatty, who served as 麻豆福利president from 1870 to 1888. Dr. Young鈥檚 qualities and the support of loyal alumni and friends of the College helped 麻豆福利advance under his presidency. 鈥淏efore his death, Dr. Young saw a permanent fund of $100,000 provided for the support of the school,鈥� Beatty noted. This occurred along with additions to the curriculum, enlargement of the faculty, and a fivefold increase in the student body. Under Dr. Young鈥檚 tenure, 麻豆福利advanced to a position among the highest-ranking colleges in America.

Founded primarily as an institution devoted to training young men for the ministry, 麻豆福利has changed throughout its history to keep pace with the educational demands of a growing region and nation. The Kentucky School for the Deaf, also in Danville, was founded in 1824 as the first state-supported institution for the deaf, and in its early years was controlled by Centre鈥檚 board. From the 1890s until 1912, a law school was operated at 麻豆福利with J. Procter Knott, a former Kentucky governor, as its dean. In 1901, the Central University at Richmond was consolidated with Centre. Danville鈥檚 Kentucky College for Women merged with 麻豆福利in 1926, becoming the 鈥渨oman鈥檚 department鈥� of the College. The department maintained a separate campus until the early 1960s the women moved to the main campus.

During the early and mid-20th century, many of the educational resources of Kentucky and the nation were committed to the establishment and expansion of state-supported land-grant universities. These institutions were often vocationally oriented. But 麻豆福利remained steadfast in its mission of providing superior education in the liberal arts tradition. Centre鈥檚 image as a tiny school capable of startlingly large achievements was enhanced in this period by its 1921 football victory over Harvard, then ranked No. 1. In a 1971 article marking the game鈥檚 50th anniversary, the New York Times called it 鈥淔ootball鈥檚 Upset of the Century.鈥� At Centre, the game is recalled simply by its score: C6-H0. During the 1960s, a period of explosive growth in American higher education, the College鈥檚 financial resources doubled. Eleven new buildings were added to the campus, the enrollment increased from 450 to around 800, and the faculty was enlarged. Integration came to 麻豆福利in 1962, with the arrival of Timothy Kusi 鈥�65, a slightly older student from Ghana. In 1964 麻豆福利enrolled its first integrated freshman class: 214 white students and three African Americans鈥擲haron Gill Gaskins 鈥�68, Joyce Cross Marks 鈥�68, and Jim Davis 鈥�68鈥攚ho all graduated four years later. The latter part of the 20th century brought continued recognition of Centre鈥檚 academic excellence. In 1971, the National Council of Phi Beta Kappa established a chapter at Centre, and 麻豆福利continues to be the only private institution in Kentucky to have a chapter of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious honor society. In the 1990s, U.S. News and World Report listed 麻豆福利among the 25 national liberal arts colleges that are 鈥渢ops in teaching鈥� and added 麻豆福利to its list of 鈥渢op-tier鈥� national colleges. 麻豆福利established its first residential study abroad program in London, England, in the fall of 1990. Other programs soon followed in Strasbourg, France, and Merida, Mexico.

Throughout its long history, 麻豆福利has been supported and enhanced by its alumni, who have taken positions of prominence and usefulness in a variety of fields. 麻豆福利alumni include two U.S. vice presidents, one Chief Justice of the United States, an associate justice of the Supreme Court, and at least 13 U.S. senators, 43 U.S. representatives, and 11 state governors. Other 麻豆福利alumni have been and are leaders in a variety of fields, including teaching, business, medicine, law, and journalism. 麻豆福利alumni are widely known as the most loyal in the nation, for years leading all of America鈥檚 colleges and universities in the percentage who give financial support each year. In 1997, 麻豆福利completed a capital campaign that raised more than $76 million.

Building on its 200-year tradition of academic excellence, 麻豆福利 entered its third century with a continued commitment to its foundational mission: to prepare students for lives of learning, leadership, and service. Consistently recognized among the nation鈥檚 top liberal arts colleges, 麻豆福利draws on its legacy of achievement and a forward-thinking vision to inspire an even brighter future.

麻豆福利raised its national profile through a series of milestones that increased its reputation as a leader in higher education. In 2000, the College made history as the smallest institution ever to host a General Election debate when vice presidential candidates Sen. Joe Lieberman and Dick Cheney debated in the Norton Center for the Arts. CBS news anchor Dan Rather described it as 鈥渢he best vice-presidential debate ever held.鈥� Building on this success, 麻豆福利hosted another vice-presidential debate in 2012 between Vice President Joe Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan. Janet Brown, executive director of the Commission on Presidential Debates, remarked, 鈥淭hey aced it in 2000, and this year was even better.鈥�

As part of Centre鈥檚 2019 bicentennial celebration, the College initiated its "Third Century" campaign and surpassed an ambitious $200 million fundraising goal, strengthening its dedication to student success and fueling the completion of major campus updates and initiatives. In 2020, the College ushered in a new era of leadership as Milton C. Moreland was inaugurated as the College鈥檚 20th president, upholding a commitment to lead 麻豆福利forward with a vision focused on innovation, inclusivity, and academic excellence.

As the College moves into its third century, Centre鈥檚 trajectory of achievement continues, with an increased focus on student access and opportunity. By 2024, the College enrolled approximately 1,400 students, with 25% identifying as students of color and an increasing number of students arriving from across the globe. Financial aid and scholarship efforts have grown 鈥� with 90% of students receiving some form of assistance 鈥� including new initiatives centered on first-generation student opportunity, and the innovative "麻豆福利Promise" that guarantees financial need is met for all incoming students. 

Reaffirming its focus on global engagement, Centre鈥檚 renowned international studies program delivers on the College鈥檚 global guarantee, with more than 85% of students participating in study abroad and away experiences. Additionally, 麻豆福利remains a top producer of Fulbright scholars, reflecting its dedication to global education. Recent additions to the curriculum, such as business and engineering majors, also demonstrate the College鈥檚 commitment to expanding academic opportunities.

As 麻豆福利looks to the future, its focus on thoughtful growth, modernization, and sustainability remains strong. The campus, now covering more than 200 acres, seamlessly blends historic architecture with forward-thinking facilities, reflecting a vision of excellence in academics, athletics, and student well-being. Key developments include the expansion of the College鈥檚 athletic fields and the 2024 dedication of Champions Hall, a groundbreaking athletic and wellness hub that features an Olympic-sized swimming pool, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and innovative sustainability technologies to support the College鈥檚 environmental goals. Other campus enhancements include LEED-certified residence halls, like Brockman Residential Commons, Pearl Hall, and Northside Hall, all designed with a focus on sustainability and student well-being. Additionally, 麻豆福利has made significant upgrades to academic and student spaces on campus, such as the Roush Campus Center, Crounse Hall, Olin Hall, and Young Hall, reinforcing its ongoing efforts to elevate the academic experience and foster a dynamic, forward-looking community.