Central College generated exciting news to celebrate in 2024. Take a look back at the memorable year with our most popular and most-read stories.
1 A Legacy of Generosity
The Geisler-Penquite Foundation awarded more than $9 million to Central College, the largest single gift to Central in the college’s history. A portion of the donation will fund the Timmer Family Scholarship, a full-tuition scholarship in honor of Maurine and Gary Timmer, retired vice president for advancement at Central and 1955 Central graduate. Maurine served as Central’s first women’s golf coach. Funds will also support the Geisler Library endowment and an endowment to fund scholarships for education program students.
2 News Maker to Inspire Students
Though Central’s executive-in-residence program is not new — Rick Ryan, 1970 Central graduate, and Clay Thompson, 1990 Central graduate, have also held the honor — Harry Smith, 1973 Central graduate and retired national news correspondent, brought a heightened level of awareness to campus with multiple news media outlets wanting to share the insights of alumni leaders in the classroom.
3 Successful Alumnus Creates Full-Tuition Scholarship
The importance of planned giving is exemplified when a full-tuition scholarship for students is created, this one named for Shirley and Dirk Van Zante, a 1952 graduate. Van Zante grew up in Pella, graduated from Central and worked for the city before moving to Des Moines in 1971. He became the head of probate in the trust department of Central National Bank, now known as Bank of America. They left a generous portion of their estate to Central.
4 Brewing Success to Imagine More
Central launched a new brew, Forever Dutch® Roast, in partnership with Iris Coffee Company in Pella. This is another example of the integral relationship between the college and the community. Similar to the Forever Dutch Lager introduced in 2023, Central is partnering with a local business which is donating proceeds to support student scholarships.
5 Accelerated Pathway for Nursing Students
Nursing students have another option for a 3+1 dual nursing program after Central signed an agreement with Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. Students in the program can earn a liberal arts bachelor’s degree from Central and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mercy College in this accelerated program. One benefit of the Mercy program is the proximity to the Des Moines campus and hospitals.
6 Transferring to Central Became Easier in 2024
Central is one of 19 private, nonprofit colleges and universities across the state in the Iowa Private Transfer Guarantee admission agreement with Iowa community colleges. The agreement streamlines the transfer process for Iowa community college and qualifying high school students to private four-year institutions. Central appeals to students who want a smaller, more personalized education at an affordable tuition price.
7 Alumnus Ryan Rumery ’99 Earns a Tony on the Big Stage
Ryan Rumery, sound designer and 1999 Central College graduate, won an American Theatre Wing’s 77th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Award® for sound design of a Broadway play. He is the first Central alumnus to earn a Tony award.
8 Breaking Fundraising Goals
Central exceeded its goal for the Journey Scholarship Fund receiving $1,723,466 during fiscal year 2023-24 to support annual student scholarships. The college experienced another strong year for endowments and endowed scholarships, with 13 new scholarships formed, bringing the total of endowed and annual scholarships at the college to more than 1,000. Donations to endowments totaled $1,909,138. Endowed funds established at Central also directly support students and their experiences through a sustainable, long-term legacy of generosity by the donors.
9 Local Pella Business PPI Invests in Decision Science
PPI, Inc., donated $50,000 to support the college in exploring the development of a curriculum around artificial intelligence, digital transformation and analytics, known as decision science. This cross-departmental focus area addresses the changing demands of the workplace, growth of business insights, complex customer interface and technology changes. This concept would create a network across academic disciplines, knitting data analytics, visual analytics, business, math, computer science, marketing and more to better serve the needs of future employers of Central students.
10 Central Family Exceeds Hoo-Rah Day Goal
During its eighth-annual Hoo-Rah Day, the college raised $395,487 from more than 420 donors to help support student scholarships and programs. Participants came from 34 states and two countries — Italy and Malaysia. The Pella and campus communities raised Central pride with 13 local businesses providing Hoo-Rah Day specials. Student organizations hosted activities all day and into the evening, energizing the campus.
11 It’s More Than Just a Handshake
Central broadened its use of Handshake, a nationwide app for posting job openings and internships. The expansion is a logical step as Central implements the “Imagine More: It’s Central to Pella” initiative to strengthen the Pella and Central partnership. Imagine More dives into housing, work and living opportunities for students and residents. Local businesses may sign up for a free Handshake account and post job openings and internship opportunities.
12 Exceptional Athletes Lift Central’s Name
Throughout the year, various teams and individual student-athletes gained national attention for their Division III champion performances, competitiveness and sportsmanship. Central’s softball team competed in the NCAA Division III Super Regional championship. Central’s dance and cheer teams competed in three categories during the National Cheer Alliance/National Dance Alliance College Nationals Competition, earning top three honors in the three categories. The Hall of Honor recognized long-time sports information director, and alumni champions.
13 Heart-touching Celebration to Honor Dan Marburger
With a full football stadium to watch the Dutch take the field, fans included many young people with grandparents for the inaugural Grandparents Day Special in honor of Dan Marburger, 1989 Central graduate. He loved this game day tradition with his grandchildren. All children 12 and under received free admission and the grandparent special: a bag of popcorn and M&M’s.
14 Winner, Winner
Central earned a gold award in the national Circle of Excellence competition hosted by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award-winning entry was “Forever Dutch Lager” in the marketing/marketing initiatives for a staff of 10 to 25 category.
The launch of Forever Dutch also received a Best of District VI award from the Midwest Division of CASE. The alumni magazine, Civitas, won a Best of District VI award in the magazines, alumni/general interest category: Four-year colleges and universities (printed three+ times a year).
15 New Deans to Focus on Central’s Future
As Central continues to evaluate the changing needs and current climate of higher education, two faculty members were promoted to lead the process. Leslie Keuning Duinink, 1990 Central graduate, was promoted to dean of undergraduate education, and Aaron Roerdink, 1997 Central graduate, was promoted to dean of the faculty.
16 Academia Welcomes New Faculty
A hallmark of a Central education is the rich and diverse curriculum and academic trailblazers who will guide students. Faculty connections and classroom encounters shape students’ education and futures. In 2024, academic affairs welcomed eight new faculty members dedicated to teaching.
17 Professor Mena Named Endowed Chair
The Ruth and Marvin Denekas Endowed Chair in Science and Humanities recognizes a Central faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary teaching and scholarship and the ability to cross disciplinary boundaries. This honor was bestowed to Paulina Mena, professor of biology.
18 Industry Experts Join Voices for Central Conversations
Executives in residence Clay Thompson ’90 and Harry Smith ’73, both members of the Central Board of Trustees, created a six-episode podcast. The theme of the podcast is to explore the importance of being lifelong learners and continually curious.
19 U.S. Poet Laurate Spoke at Central
Joy Harjo, former U.S. Poet Laureate, gave an inspirational presentation about her creative process and read from her works. A member of the Mvskoke Nation, Harjo was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She began writing poetry as a member of the University of New Mexico’s Native student organization, the Kiva Club, in response to Native empowerment movements.
20 Investing in Youth Leaders
The Leadership Youth Summit welcomed students in grades 7-12 featuring workshops and activities geared toward personal growth and development. The Pella Community Foundation awarded a grant for the 2025 Leadership Youth Summit, June 3 and 4, on Central’s campus.
To read all the news of Central published in 2024, visit news.central.edu.
