Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
Centre College
Centre College is an accredited, private, four-year liberal arts college located in Danville, Kentucky, USA. Centre was founded by Presbyterian leaders in 1819 and ranks 42nd nationally among top liberal arts schools in the 2005 US News & World Report list, and is the highest-ranking private Kentucky institution.
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History
Centre College received its charter from the Kentucky Legislature on January 21, 1819 and classes began in the fall of 1820 in Old Centre, the first building on campus which today is a Kentucky Landmark, and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The name reflects the College's location in the geographic center of Kentucky.
Centre has been affiliated with various institutions including the Kentucky School for the Deaf , also in Danville, which was originally controlled by the Centre board of trustees. In 1901, Central University in Richmond, Kentucky was consolidated with Centre, and the Kentucky College for Women merged with Centre in 1926.
In 1921, Centre upset Harvard University's undefeated football team six to zero which The New York Times later called "Football's Upset of the Century."
During the 1960s the College's financial resources doubled. Eleven new buildings were added to the campus and enrollment increased from 450 to 800. Today, enrollment hovers around 1070, with just over 100 faculty members.
In 2000, Centre became the smallest college ever to host a national election debate. Dick Cheney and Senator Joe Lieberman debated on October 5 at Centre's North Center for the Arts. The event was moderated by CNN's Bernard Shaw.
Dr. John Roush, who took office in 1998, is the college's 20th president. In 2003, the College broke ground on The College Centre, a $22-million project to expand and renovate the athletic center, academic center and library, scheduled for completion by autumn 2005.
Academics
The study-abroad program that attracts about 70% of the students and the college maintains permanent, residential sites in England, France, Japan, and Latin America, and short-term study program locations include India, Vietnam, Greece, and Sal Salvador Island.
Norton Center for the Arts
Student life
Centre has an active greek life on campus with chapters of Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, Phi Kappa Tau, Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Alpha Delta Pi, Delta Delta Delta, Kappa Alpha Theta, and Kappa Kappa Gamma . About 96% of Centre's students live on campus and participate in athletics, academic organizations, student government, and volunteer work.
Alumni
Centre ranks first in the country for the percentage of former students making gifts.
Notable alumni include:
Joshua Fry Bell : The first alumnus to serve in Congress, among the 43 Centre alumni who have been elected to the House and 13 to the Senate.
John Cabell Breckinridge: Vice President of the United States under Buchanan; Candidate for President in 1860.
John Marshall Harlan: Associate Justice on the US Supreme Court for 34 years. Harlan cast the dissenting vote in Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896; the text of his dissent became the basis for Brown v. Board of Education in 1954.
Adlai E. Stevenson: Vice President of the United States under Cleveland.
Frederick M. Vinson: Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court.
See also
Centre College Web Site
Majors offered at Centre
Student Life
Centre Debate 2000
Notable Alumni
US News Top Schools
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