Eureka College facts for kids
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| Motto | The Moment of Discovery |
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| Type | Private college |
| Established | February 6, 1855 |
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Religious affiliation
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Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) |
| Endowment | $16.2 million |
| President | Jamel Santa Cruze Wright |
| Students | 559 (Fall 2023) |
| Location |
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U.S.
40°42′50″N 89°16′3″W / 40.71389°N 89.26750°W |
| Campus | Rural, 112 acres (45 ha) |
| Colors | Maroon and gold |
| Nickname | Red Devils |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – SLIAC |
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Eureka College is a private college located in Eureka, Illinois. It has a special connection with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). About 559 students attended the college in 2022.
Eureka College was one of the first colleges in the United States to allow both men and women to study there equally. It is also well-known because Ronald Reagan, who later became the 40th president of the United States, was a student there. In 2010, the college was recognized as a national historic district. This means it's an important historical place.
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History of Eureka College
Eureka College was started in 1848 by a group of people who were against slavery. They had moved from Kentucky because they disagreed with slavery there. The school was first called Walnut Grove Academy.
It officially became a college in 1855. When it was founded, it was the first school in Illinois and only the third in the entire United States to offer equal education to women and men. Later, in 1885, another school called Abingdon College joined with Eureka College.
Ronald Reagan's Connection
Eureka College holds a special place in history because it's the smallest college to have a future U.S. president graduate with a bachelor's degree. Many famous people have graduated from Eureka College. These include 42 college presidents, seven governors, members of U.S. Congress, and the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Wilson Reagan. He graduated in 1932.
Ronald Reagan is the only U.S. president who was born, grew up, and went to college in Illinois. He started at Eureka College in 1928 when he was 17. He studied economics and sociology and graduated on June 10, 1932.
Even after graduating, Reagan stayed connected to Eureka College. He visited many times and was part of the college's board of trustees. He also helped with fundraising. Reagan gave speeches at the college's graduation ceremonies several times. He also helped dedicate new buildings, like the Melick Library in 1967 and the Reagan Physical Education Center in 1970. When he passed away in 2004, Eureka College was one of the places his family asked people to send memorial gifts.
In 1982, President Reagan told the audience at Eureka College, "Everything that has been good in my life began here."
Eureka College has special programs to honor its most famous graduate. The Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program started in 1982. It gives scholarships, including full tuition scholarships, to students called Reagan Fellows.
In 2009, Mikhail Gorbachev, who used to lead the Soviet Union, visited the college. He saw a piece of the Berlin Wall on campus in the Reagan Peace Garden. Eureka College gave him an honorary degree, and students got to ask him questions. The college also gave Nancy Reagan an honorary degree in 2009.
In 2011, as part of the Ronald Reagan Centennial Celebration, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich gave the graduation speech. That same year, the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center and College Archives opened. This center collects books and studies written about Ronald Reagan. Important people like James A. Baker III and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor have also been honored as Reagan Fellows.
Ronald Reagan Museum
The Ronald W. Reagan Museum is located in the Donald B. Cerf Center on campus. It has many items and memories that Ronald Reagan himself donated. These items show his life as a student, an actor, an athlete, the Governor of California, and the President of the United States. You can visit the museum for free.
Campus Life
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Eureka College Administration and Chapel
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Administration Building
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 Location in Illinois
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| Location | 300 College Ave. Eureka, Illinois |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Georgian, Federal |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001426 |
| Added to NRHP | May 31, 1980 |
The Eureka College campus covers about 112 acres. It's a nice, open space for students.
- The Burrus Dickinson Hall, which is the main administration building, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- The college chapel is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Some people believe Ronald Reagan gave his very first public speech in this chapel.
- The Reagan Athletic Complex was named in honor of Ronald Reagan and his brother Neil Reagan. They dedicated it in 1970. In 1982, President Reagan announced an important treaty proposal in the gym there. The athletic center has been updated with new facilities like the Bonati Fitness Center and Reagan Center Pool.
Student Body
At Eureka College, about 48% of the students are women and about 52% are men. Most students, about 93.5%, come from Illinois. The college has a good student-to-faculty ratio of 13 students for every one teacher. This means students can get a lot of personal attention. About 70% of students who start at Eureka College go on to graduate.
Sports and Athletics
The sports teams at Eureka College are called the Red Devils. They are part of the NCAA Division III level of college sports. They mainly compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).
Eureka College offers 14 different sports for students to play.
- Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, and wrestling.
- Women's sports include basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.
Football Highlights
On September 1, 2012, Eureka College quarterback Sam Durley made an NCAA record! He threw for 736 passing yards in a football game. Eureka won that game 62–55 against Knox College. This broke the old record of 731 yards.
Greek Life
Many students at Eureka College are part of Greek life. This means they join social fraternities (for men) or sororities (for women). As of 2019, about 23% of male students and 26% of female students were involved in Greek life. Overall, about 24% of all students participate.
Famous Alumni
Here are some notable people who studied at Eureka College:
- William A. Poynter, 1867, a politician who became the tenth Governor of Nebraska.
- James E. Harris, 1860s, served as lieutenant governor of Nebraska.
- Oliver Perry Hay, 1870, a famous zoologist who studied animals.
- Frank Frantz, attended 1880s, a Rough Rider and the last Governor of Oklahoma Territory.
- Ronald Reagan, 1932, the 40th President of the United States.
- Neil Reagan, 1933, Ronald Reagan's brother, who worked in radio, TV, and advertising.
- Emik Avakian, 1948, an inventor who held many patents.
- William L. White, 1969, a researcher and author focused on addiction recovery.
Notable Faculty
Past Teachers and Coaches
- Emma Smith DeVoe, taught Music from 1870–1871.
- Oliver Perry Hay, taught Science.
- Mary Frances Winston Newson, taught Mathematics.
- Ralph McKinzie, a football coach from 1921–1937.
- Joseph Carl Hafele, taught Mathematics.
- Warner McCollum, football coach and Athletic Director from 1979–1989.
Current Teachers
- Junius P. Rodriguez, a historian.
