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 |
| 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
|
900+ |
| Students | 4,774 (Spring 2022) |
| Undergraduates | 2,848 (Spring 2022) |
| Postgraduates | 1,926 (Spring 2022) |
| Address |
2507 University Ave
,
,
,
50311
,
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. It offers many different study programs, like business, education, law, and pharmacy. Its law school is one of the oldest in the United States, started way back in 1865.
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. He worked with Francis Marion Drake, a general from the Civil War.
The university first opened its doors in 1881. There were 77 students and just one building called Student's Home.
Early Buildings and Growth
In 1883, the first main building, Old Main, was finished. This building is still very important on campus today. It holds offices, a large hall called Levitt Hall, and Sheslow Auditorium. Many important events, like United States presidential debates, have happened there.
Drake's law school is one of the oldest law schools west of the Mississippi River. It was started in 1865 by Chester C. Cole. He was a judge on the Iowa Supreme Court.
In 1886, Drake welcomed its first international students. They came from countries like China, Persia, Armenia, and Japan. The first library on campus opened in 1908.
Developing Programs and Facilities
In 1931, the first dorm for women opened. This was the first new student home built since the university began. A new library, Cowles Library, started being built in 1937. It is now the main library for the university.
A new dorm for men was finished in 1939. It also had a student union area called "The Kennel." More buildings like Kirk Residence Hall (1963) and Meredith Hall (1965) opened later. Meredith Hall became home to the College of Liberal Arts and the School of Journalism.
In 1970, a building called Harvey Ingham Hall was damaged. No one was hurt, and the building was repaired. The largest building on campus, the Harmon Fine Arts Center, opened in 1972. The Olmsted Center, which is Drake's student union, opened in 1974.
In 1992, the Knapp Center opened. It's a sports center for basketball and volleyball teams. It has courts, a track, and a weight room. Even President Bill Clinton visited this center in 1996.
In 2013, Drake University became home to The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement. This institute focuses on public policy and how citizens get involved.
What Can You Study at Drake?
| USNWR National University | 136 |
|---|---|
| Washington Monthly National University | 186 |
| Forbes | 211 |
Drake University has 7 main colleges and schools where students can learn:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Zimpleman College of Business
- John Dee Bright College (This offers a two-year associate degree)
- School of Education
- School of Journalism & Mass Communication
- Law School
- College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Student Life and Activities
Drake University has more than 160 student groups. These groups include many fraternities and sororities.
The School of Journalism & Mass Communication (SJMC) is well-known for its magazine program. In 2007, student magazines from Drake, THiNK and 515, won special Pacemaker Awards. These awards are like the "Pulitzer Prizes" for student journalism.
Sports at Drake (The Bulldogs)
Drake University's sports teams are called the Bulldogs. They compete in NCAA Division I sports. Most teams play in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Bulldogs Sports Teams
Here are some of the sports teams at Drake:
- Basketball (men's and women's)
- Crew (women's)
- Cross-country (men's and women's)
- Football (men's)
- Golf (men's and women's)
- Soccer (men's and women's)
- Softball (women's)
- Tennis (men's and women's)
- Track & Field (men's and women's)
- Volleyball (women's)
History of Drake Sports
In 1885, baseball became the first official sport at Drake. Soon after, football and track were added.
In 1904, Drake started a women's basketball team. However, the Dean of Women at the time, Mary Carpenter, decided it was "not appropriate" for women, so the team was stopped.
Also in 1904, the sports teams got their nickname, the Bulldogs. A sportswriter noticed that the coach, John L. Griffith, brought his pet bulldogs to practice. Before this, the teams were sometimes called the Ducklings or Ganders!
In 1928, Drake played a football game against Simpson College. It 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 in the NCAA Tournament. They played against the top-ranked UCLA Bruins and their star player, Lew Alcindor (who later became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Drake almost won, losing by only 3 points (85–82).
In 1973, nearly 70 years after the first women's basketball team was stopped, Drake created a new department for women's sports.
In 1981, Lewis Lloyd was a senior at Drake. He was the second-highest scorer in men's basketball in the country. He was later drafted by the Houston Rockets and played in the NBA for eight years.
In 1982, the first year of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, Drake's women's team almost reached the Final Four.
The Famous Drake Relays
The Drake Relays is Drake's most famous event. It's a big track and field competition that started in 1910. The first event had fewer than 100 people and even took place during a blizzard!
In 1935, the legendary athlete Jesse Owens set an American record in the broad jump at the Drake Relays. Today, athletes from all over the world come to compete, including Olympians. It's common to see people who compete in the Relays also compete in the Summer Olympics.
Before the Relays, students have a fun tradition called street painting. Student groups decorate parts of Carpenter Avenue near campus with colorful designs based on a common theme.
Well-Known People from Drake
Many interesting and successful people have studied at Drake University.
See also
- Drake University Campus Historic District, a historic area on campus
- Vote Smart
- 620 Drakonia
