Carthage College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Carthage College

Former names	The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church in the Far West Lutheran College Hillsboro College Illinois State University (1852–1870)
Motto	Seeking truth. Building strength. Inspiring service. Together.
Type	Private college
Established	January 22, 1847; 178 years ago (1847-01-22)
Religious affiliation	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Academic affiliation	Space-grant
Endowment	$111.5 million (2019)
President	John R. Swallow
Academic staff	150
Students	2,667 (fall 2022)
Undergraduates	2,559 (fall 2022)
Postgraduates	108 (fall 2022)
Location	Kenosha , Wisconsin , U.S. 42°37′16″N 87°49′18″W / 42.62111°N 87.82167°W / 42.62111; -87.82167
Campus	80 acres (32 ha)
Colors	Red and black
Nickname	Firebirds
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – CCIW CWPA
Mascot	Ember

Carthage College is a private college located in Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States. It was started in 1847 and is connected with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Carthage College offers many different study programs. Students can earn bachelor's degrees in over 40 subjects. They can also get master's degrees in three areas. The college has about 150 teachers and around 2,600 students. It is also part of the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium.

Discovering Carthage College's Past

Carthage College began in Hillsboro, Illinois. It was founded by Lutheran educators and officially started on January 22, 1847. At first, it was called The Literary and Theological Institute of the Lutheran Church in the Far West. Soon, its name became Lutheran College, and people in the area called it Hillsboro College. It started with two teachers and 79 students. The college promised a strong and useful education.

In 1852, the college moved to Springfield, Illinois. It was renamed Illinois State University. This is not the same as the university in Normal, Illinois. During this time, Abraham Lincoln was briefly on the college's board of trustees from 1860 to 1861. His son, Robert Todd Lincoln, studied at the college's prep school from 1853 to 1859. Student numbers dropped during the Civil War. The college closed in 1868. In 1870, some teachers reopened the college in Carthage, Illinois. This is where it got its current name, Carthage College.

Carthage College in Illinois in the 1930s

During the Great Depression and World War II, student numbers fell to 131 in 1943. But after the war, more students joined. This was thanks to the G.I. Bill, which helped veterans go to college.

After facing money problems and changes in support, Carthage's leaders decided in 1957 to open a campus in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The new campus by the lake was officially opened on October 14, 1962.

From 1962, the college started to grow a lot. Over the next ten years, it expanded continuously. Student numbers grew five times bigger. The college's money tripled, and its buildings and property increased by 600 percent. In fall 1995, Carthage had a new record of 1,527 full-time students. Since 2001, the college has spent over $130 million. This money went into building new places, fixing old ones, and getting new technology.

Growing the Campus: New Buildings and Spaces

In 2001, the Hedberg Library opened. It was next to the H. F. Johnson Center for the Fine Arts. The library was named Wisconsin Library of the Year in 2004. It also won an award in 2007 for its Family Fun Night. This program helps children aged 2 to 13 learn. The old Ruthrauff Library was updated. It became the A. W. Clausen Center for World Business, opening in 2004.

The Tarble Athletic and Recreation Center opened in 2001. The old Physical Education Center was rebuilt and renamed the Tarble Arena. It opened in 2009.

In fall 2011, a new student union opened. It has a new press box and new seats for sports events. It also has a bigger bookstore and new places to eat. There is a campus "living room," a new dining room, a theater with 200 seats, an art gallery, and a gaming area. In April 2012, the student center was named the Campbell Student Union. This honored President F. Gregory Campbell and his wife, Barbara. They served Carthage for 25 years. President Campbell retired in August 2012.

Straz Center

The Oaks, a new student living area, opened in 2012. It overlooks Lake Michigan. It has six villas with semi-private suites. Each floor has a media lounge.

In fall 2015, a new science center opened. It is in the updated David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Natural and Social Sciences. The old Science Hall was built in 1962. It was updated and renamed in honor of David A. Straz, Jr., in 1995. The latest $45 million expansion added a new planetarium. It also has twelve new science labs, new classrooms, and faculty offices. There are also student gathering and exhibition spaces.

In fall 2018, The Tower, a new residence hall, opened. It offers apartment-style suites with private bathrooms. Each floor has media lounges. Every other floor has shared kitchens. The new building also has The Terrace. This is a study space with TVs, laptop bars, and a fireplace.

Leaders of Carthage College

Carthage College has had many presidents since it started. Here are some of them:

Learning at Carthage College

Carthage College offers many study programs. Students can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in over 40 subjects. They can also get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Carthage also works with other colleges. This allows students to get two degrees in fields like engineering or pharmacy. The most popular majors for graduates in 2022 included:

• Registered Nursing
• Marketing
• Business Administration
• Psychology
• Exercise Science
• Biology
• Criminal Justice

The school year has two 14-week semesters. There is also a special month-long January term. The college has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission since 1916. Carthage also offers three master's degree programs. These are in education, business design, and music theatre vocal pedagogy.

Admissions and Student Life

In fall 2016, Carthage had 2,818 undergraduate students. There were also 112 graduate students. About 55 percent of the students were female and 45 percent were male. Around 70% of students who apply are accepted into the college.

Special Learning Programs

All Carthage students used to take a year-long course called Western Heritage. In this class, they read and discussed important Western writings. These included works by Plato, Homer, and Shakespeare. Since the 2020–2021 school year, this course was replaced with Intellectual Foundations. It has the same goal but includes more texts by non-white authors.

All students must complete a senior thesis. This is a big final project. It can be a research paper, a music show, an art display, or another original work.

During January Term, or "J-Term," students pick one class and attend it every day. Many students also travel with teachers on study trips. These trips happen in January or during the summer. In 2016, students visited places like Cuba and Nicaragua. They also visited World War II battle sites in Europe. All students must complete two J-Term courses. One of these must be during their first year.

College Rankings

Carthage College was tied for 37th among Regional Universities Midwest in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings of Best Colleges.

The Institute for International Education ranked Carthage no. 4 among colleges that offer bachelor's degrees. This was for student participation in short-term study abroad programs in 2013–2014.

In The Princeton Review's 2016 rankings, Carthage was listed as a Best Midwestern College.

From 2008 through 2016, 17 students from Carthage won Fulbright fellowships. In 2016, the college was named a top Fulbright producer.

Carthage in Chicago Program

In 2014, Carthage started the Carthage in Chicago program. Students in this program spend a semester in Chicago. They get an internship or work on a big school project. They live and take classes in the city. Their housing and classrooms are at HI-Chicago.

Carthage College Traditions

The Old Main Bell

For many years, the Old Main Bell was in the tower of Old Main. This was the first building on the campus in Carthage, Illinois. After sports wins, students would run to ring the bell. When Carthage moved to Wisconsin in the 1960s, a student group helped move the bell to Kenosha. In 2004, the victory bell found a new spot in the scoreboard at Art Keller Field.

Kissing Rock

Kissing Rock has been a part of Carthage since 1913. Students from the Class of 1913 found the large granite rock in a farmer's field. They moved the 2 ½-ton stone to the campus. The rock was placed at the entrance to Evergreen Walk. It quickly became part of college life. One story says that any woman sitting on the rock had to kiss the man who found her there. Many marriage proposals have happened near it. Students moved Kissing Rock to the Kenosha campus in the mid-1960s. It now sits facing Lake Michigan between Lentz and Tarble Halls.

Today, Kissing Rock is a symbol of the Carthage spirit. Students paint the Rock to support their groups and causes. They also use it to announce events and celebrate. Kissing Rock has been a memorial for loved alumni. It has also been used to protest unfairness and to honor after 9/11.

Christmas Festival

The Christmas Festival has been a part of Carthage's holiday season since 1974. Every year in early December, Carthage hosts a musical celebration. It celebrates the birth of Christ for the community. The event features student singing and music groups. Students from Carthage's Theatre Department also perform.

Carthage College Athletics

Carthage Firebirds wordmark

Carthage athletic teams are called the Firebirds. The college is part of the NCAA Division III level. It mainly competes in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW). They have been a member of this conference since the 1961–62 school year. They were also members before, from 1946–47 to 1951–52.

In 2005, the NCAA said Carthage could not host NCAA playoffs. This was because their old nickname, "Redmen," was seen as offensive to Native Americans. The college decided to rename the men's teams the "Red Men." This name came from the team's red uniforms in the 1920s. It removed any possible controversial meanings. A new logo was also created. It included a torch, a shield, and a C.

In men's volleyball, Carthage helped start the Continental Volleyball Conference (CVC) in 2011. In 2014, the CVC split into regional groups. Carthage and other Midwestern teams formed the Midwest Collegiate Volleyball League. The team then joined the CCIW when the conference started sponsoring men's volleyball in 2020.

In women's water polo, Carthage is part of the Collegiate Water Polo Association Division III Conference. This started when the team began in 2010. In spring 2021, Carthage announced a new e-sports team as a varsity sport.

More than one-third of Carthage students play in college sports teams. Another third take part in many intramural and club sports. Club sports include men's bowling, and co-ed curling and ice hockey.

Baseball Team Success

The men's baseball team won over 35 games per season from 1990 to 2010. Their total record was 702 wins and 237 losses. They have been invited to the NCAA Division III World Series many times. They finished third in 2009.

Since 1990, Carthage has won eight CCIW division titles. They have also won nine conference championships. They have been in 16 NCAA regional tournaments. This includes nine years in a row from 1992 to 2000. They won six regional titles. They finished third in the 1993 and 1994 NCAA Division III baseball championships. They also finished fourth in 1995 and 1997. Coach Augie Schmidt has been named "Coach Of The Year" nine times. He has also won the ABCA/Louisville Slugger Conference Award seven times. He has been named CCIW "Baseball Coach of the Year" 10 times.

Football Team Achievements

In 2004, Carthage's football team set a school record. They won 11 games and lost 2. That season was also the first time the team made the NCAA Division III playoffs. This happened since the school joined the NCAA in 1976. The team was coached by Tim Rucks. Carthage won their first two playoff games. They beat Alma College and Wooster College. The team then lost to Mount Union College. The team finished the 2004 season ranked 5th in the nation.

Mike Yeager was the head coach from 2012 to 2017. Dustin Hass took over in 2018. Matt Popino became the coach in 2024.

In 2020, Carthage decided to change its sports nickname. The "Red Men/Lady Reds" nickname and "Torchie" mascot were retired. The teams competed as Carthage Athletics for the 2020–2021 school year. A new name and mascot were chosen for the 2021–2022 school year. On February 19, 2021, the college voted to change the nickname to the Firebirds. This new name was used right away for all sports. At the Homecoming Football Game in October 2021, the Carthage team showed their new mascot, named "Ember."

Volleyball Team Victories

The men's volleyball team had a perfect season in spring 2021. They went on to win the school's first Division III National Championship. They won again in 2022. This made them the first sport to win back-to-back national championships at the college. They have been invited to the championships many times. They finished 2nd in their very first year. In 2022, they hosted the Division III Final Four. They won the National Championship on their home court.

Notable People from Carthage College

Famous Alumni

Well-Known Faculty