Drake University facts for kids
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| Motto | Veritas (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Truth |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | March 1881 |
| Founder | George T. Carpenter and Francis Marion Drake |
| Accreditation | HLC |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $245.4 million (2022) |
| Budget | $141.4 million (2022) |
| President | Earl F. Martin |
| Provost | Sue Mattison |
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Academic staff
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300 |
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Total staff
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900+ |
| Students | 4,774 (spring 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 2,848 (spring 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,926 (spring 2022) |
| Location |
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Iowa
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United States
41°36′08″N 93°39′15″W / 41.60222°N 93.65417°W |
| Campus | Urban, 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Newspaper | The Times-Delphic |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Nickname | Bulldogs |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot |
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Drake University is a private university located in Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. It offers many different study programs, with over 140 choices for students. These programs include subjects like business, education, law, and pharmacy. Drake University's Law School is very old, started in 1865, making it one of the oldest law schools in the country.
Contents
History of Drake University
Drake University was started in March 1881. It was founded by George T. Carpenter, who was a teacher and a pastor, and Francis Marion Drake, a general from the Civil War. When it first opened, the university had a connection to the Christian Church, but this connection ended in 1907. The first classes at Drake began in 1881 with 77 students. At that time, there was only one building, called Student's Home.
In 1883, the first main building, Old Main, was finished. Old Main is still an important building on campus today. It holds offices, a large hall called Levitt Hall, and Sheslow Auditorium. Many important events, including United States presidential debates, have taken place there. The university's law school was started even earlier, in 1865. It was founded by Chester C. Cole, who was a judge on the Iowa Supreme Court. Drake welcomed its first international students in 1886. These students came from countries like China, Persia, Armenia, and Japan. The first library on campus opened its doors on June 16, 1908.
The College of Education at Drake grew from another school called Callanan College of Women, which Drake bought in 1888. This college helped students become teachers. Today, the School of Education helps more than 1,000 students who want to become teachers or work in education.
Drake's law school is one of the oldest in the nation. It is a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It has been officially recognized since 1923. The law school is also home to important groups like the American Judicature Society. It also has the Drake Constitutional Law Center, which is one of only a few such programs supported by the U.S. government.
In 1887, a school called the Iowa College of Pharmacy joined Drake University. It was part of Drake until 1906. Drake did not have a pharmacy school again until 1939. At that time, another pharmacy college joined Drake University.
In 1931, the first on-campus home for women students opened. In 1937, work began on Cowles Library, which is now the main library for the university. A new home for men students was finished in 1939. This building also included a student union, which was called "The Kennel." In 1963, Kirk Residence Hall opened, and then Meredith Hall opened in 1965. These new buildings helped the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Journalism grow. In 1972, the Harmon Fine Arts Center, the largest building on campus, opened. The Olmsted Center, which is Drake's student union building, opened in 1974.
On September 17, 1969, Drake's student newspaper, The Times-Delphic, published a story about the "Paul is dead" rumor. This was one of the first times this rumor about Paul McCartney was written about.
In 1992, the Knapp Center opened. This building is where the men's and women's basketball teams and the women's volleyball team play. It has courts for different sports and a weight training area. In 1996, President Bill Clinton visited this center.
In 2013, Drake University became the home of The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement. This institute focuses on public policy and how citizens can get involved.
What Students Study at Drake
| USNWR National University | 179 |
|---|---|
| Washington Monthly National University | 186 |
| Forbes | 211 |
Drake University is divided into seven main colleges and schools. Each one focuses on different subjects:
- College of Arts & Sciences: This is where students study a wide range of subjects like science, history, and literature.
- Zimpleman College of Business: Here, students learn about business, money, and how companies work.
- John Dee Bright College: This college offers two-year associate degree programs.
- School of Education: Students here learn how to become teachers and work in schools.
- School of Journalism & Mass Communication: This school teaches students about news, writing, and media.
- Law School: This is where students study to become lawyers.
- College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences: Students in this college learn about medicines and health care.
Student Life and Activities
Drake University has more than 160 student groups and clubs. These groups include different fraternities and sororities, which are social organizations for students.
The School of Journalism & Mass Communication (SJMC) has a very strong magazine program. Experts have called Drake's magazine program one of the best for college students in the country. In 2007, student magazines from Drake won important awards called Pacemaker Awards.
Sports at Drake University
Drake University's sports teams are called the Bulldogs. They compete in NCAA Division I. This is the highest level of college sports. Most of Drake's teams play in the Missouri Valley Conference. The football team plays in the Pioneer Football League. The women's rowing team is in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and the men's tennis team plays in the Summit League.
Here are some of the sports offered at Drake:
- Basketball (for men and women)
- Crew (for women)
- Cross-country (for men and women)
- Football (for men)
- Golf (for men and women)
- Soccer (for men and women)
- Softball (for women)
- Tennis (for men and women)
- Track & Field (for men and women)
- Volleyball (for women)
History of Drake Sports
In 1885, baseball became the first official sport at Drake University. Soon after, football and track were also added.
In 1904, Drake started a women's basketball team. However, the Dean of Women at the time decided that the sport was "not appropriate" for women, so the team was stopped.
Also in 1904, Drake's sports teams got their nickname, the Bulldogs. A sportswriter noticed that the coach, John L. Griffith, often brought his pet bulldogs to practice. Before this, the teams were sometimes called the Ducklings or Ganders.
On October 11, 1905, Drake's first football field, Haskins Field, opened. In 1928, Drake's football team played a night game against Simpson College. This is thought to be the first night football game played west of the Mississippi River.
In 1969, Drake's men's basketball team made it to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament. They played against the top-ranked UCLA Bruins men's basketball team, led by the famous player Lew Alcindor (who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Drake almost won, losing by a very close score of 85–82.
In 1973, about 70 years after the first women's basketball team was stopped, Drake started a new department for women's college sports. In 1982, the first year of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, Drake's women's team almost reached the Final Four.
In 1981, Lewis Lloyd, a senior at Drake, was one of the best basketball players in the country. He was chosen by the Houston Rockets and played in the NBA for eight years.
Drake Relays: A Big Event
The Drake Relays is Drake University's most famous event. It is a huge track and field competition that started in 1910. The first Relays had fewer than 100 athletes. In 1935, the famous athlete Jesse Owens set an American record in the broad jump at the Drake Relays.
Today, the Drake Relays brings athletes from all over the world to Des Moines. Many Olympians, who compete in the Summer Olympics, also come to the Drake Relays. Before the Relays begin, students have a fun tradition called street painting. Student groups decorate parts of Carpenter Avenue near the campus with colorful designs based on a common theme.
Notable People from Drake
Many interesting and successful people have studied or worked at Drake University.
More to Explore
- Drake University Campus Historic District: This is a special area on campus that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its historical importance.
- Vote Smart: An organization that provides information about politicians.
- 620 Drakonia: An asteroid named after Drake University.
