Central College alumni, friends and family — you are awesome! Hoo-Rah Day 2024 was a record-breaking success, raising the most funds during this day of Central Spirit. Watch highlights from the day. 

Congratulations to the 53-Mile Challenge raffle prize winners: Al Paris ’77, Melinda Swanson Smithhart ’78, Rick Vander Pol ’81, Nicole Hocamp ’96, Eric Forsberg ’99, Dawn Everard ’00, Emory Clements ’26, Caroline Shelton ’26, Suzanne Holmes-Bunde (current parent) and Kay Vander Werf (past parent). Thanks to everyone who participated and our challenge donors!

Though Hoo-Rah Day raised more than $397,000 from more than 420 donors, we still need your help to reach the level of funding needed to support current students and the incoming Class of 2028 with Journey Scholarships as well as programming. Please join in supporting Central before its fiscal year end on June 30, 2024. 

Central alumna Wilma Damhof Hoekstra ’45 and ’69 shared her love of Central in a video at the 2024 Scholarship Dinner. This event thanked the many donors who pay it forward for future generations of Central students. 

WATCH

Celebrate Commencement with the Central community 10 a.m. Saturday, May 11. The ceremony will be livestreamed on the Central Dutch Network. You can make a gift to honor a graduate or faculty member, too. 

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Central announces the creation of a full-tuition scholarship in the name of Shirley and Dirk Van Zante ’52. This new scholarship brings Central’s total to 37 full-tuition scholarships awarded each year. 

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The Central Board of Trustees and its committee to refresh our vision and mission have completed their yearlong work. Alumni are invited to read the new Vision, Mission, Welcome Statements and Notice of Nondiscrimination. 

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We’re looking for “untold stories of Central College” for a future issue of Civitas. Have any exceptional moments, wild happenings or incredible stories the greater Central community has never been told? Drop a note to our Civitas editor at prokupekb@central.edu.

Sarah Hennesy ’91 [READ TIME: 5 min]

Joe Flaherty ’14 [READ TIME: 4 min]

Quinci Cottrell ’24, Abbi Eicher ’24, Amelia Brown ’25, Gunner Hutton ’25, Fynn Wadsworth ’25, Sarah Van Waardhuizen [READ TIME: 3 min]

Bradon Annegers ’23, Nathan Kuhlman ’24, Cathleen Morgan ’24, Sara Shuger Fox [READ TIME: 16 min]

Send us your updates, good news and any questions or comments!

Sunny Gonzales Eighmy ’99
Vice President for Advancement
641-628-5272

Allyson Mann ’16
Events Coordinator in Advancement
641-628-7604

Mary Benedict
Director of Engagement
641-628-7641