Eureka College facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Eureka College

Motto	The Moment of Discovery
Type	Private college
Established	February 6, 1855; 170 years ago (February 6, 1855)
Religious affiliation	Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Endowment	$16.2 million
President	Jamel Wright
Students	559 (fall 2023)
Location	Eureka, Illinois , U.S. 40°42′50″N 89°16′3″W / 40.71389°N 89.26750°W / 40.71389; -89.26750
Campus	Rural, 112 acres (45 ha)
Colors	Maroon and gold
Nickname	Red Devils
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – SLIAC

Eureka College is a private college located in Eureka, Illinois, United States. It was started in 1855 and has a special connection with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In 2023, about 559 students attended the college.

Eureka College was founded by people who wanted to end slavery, known as abolitionists. It was one of the first colleges in the United States to allow both men and women to study there equally. In 1856, Abraham Lincoln, who later became a U.S. president, gave a speech on campus. Ronald Reagan, the 40th U.S. president, graduated from Eureka College in 1932. He stayed very connected to the college throughout his life. Today, the college is home to the Ronald Reagan Museum and Peace Garden.

History of Eureka College

The college began in 1848. It was started by a group of abolitionists who had moved from Kentucky because they were against slavery. At first, it was called the Walnut Grove Academy. It officially became a college in 1855.

Eureka College campus in 1909

When the school opened, it was the first in Illinois to treat women and men equally in education. It was only the third school in the entire United States to do so. In 1856, Abraham Lincoln visited and spoke on campus. Eureka College is one of only three colleges where Lincoln gave a speech. Another college, Abingdon College, joined with Eureka in 1885.

In 2010, the National Park Service recognized Eureka College as a special national historic district. This means its campus has important historical value.

On March 27, 2009, Mikhail Gorbachev, who used to be the leader of the Soviet Union, visited the college. He saw a piece of the Berlin Wall that is on display in the Reagan Peace Garden. Eureka College gave President Gorbachev an honorary degree, which is a special award, during a ceremony where students asked him questions. In 2009, Nancy Reagan also received an honorary degree from the college.

In 2011, as part of a celebration for Ronald Reagan's 100th birthday, Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, gave the graduation speech. That same year, the Mark R. Shenkman Reagan Research Center and College Archives opened. This center collects books and research papers written about Ronald Reagan.

Important people like James A. Baker III and Justice Sandra Day O'Connor were honored as "Honorary Reagan Fellows" in 2012 and 2013. George P. Shultz, a former U.S. Secretary of State, also received this honor in 2014.

Exploring the Campus

Eureka College Administration and Chapel
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Administration Building
Location in Illinois
Location	300 College Ave. Eureka, Illinois
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. Two important buildings, Burrus Dickinson Hall (the administration building) and the college chapel, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ronald Reagan Museum and Peace Gardens are located inside the Donald B. Cerf Center. This museum has many items and memories mostly given by Ronald Reagan himself. These items show his life as a student, actor, athlete, Governor of California, and President of the United States. You can visit the museum for free.

The Reagan Athletic Complex was opened in 1970 by Ronald Reagan and his brother, Neil Reagan, who were both alumni. In 1982, President Reagan announced a major peace proposal, the START treaty, in the Reagan Gym during Eureka's graduation ceremony. In 2015, the Bonati Fitness Center and Reagan Center Pool were updated.

Student Life at Eureka College

In the fall of 2023, Eureka College had 527 students. The number of male and female students was almost equal. Most students, about 85%, came from Illinois. About 63% of students who started in fall 2022 returned for fall 2023.

Student Groups and Clubs

In 2019, about 24% of all students were part of "Greek life," which means they joined social fraternities (for men) or sororities (for women).

Sports at Eureka College

Eureka athletics logo

The sports teams at Eureka College are called the Red Devils. The college is part of the NCAA Division III, which is a level of college sports. They mainly compete in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC).

Eureka College has 14 different sports teams. For men, there are baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, and wrestling. For women, there are basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, volleyball, and wrestling.

The men's basketball team won a national championship in 1994. On September 1, 2012, Eureka College quarterback Sam Durley set an NCAA record by throwing for 736 yards in a football game.

Famous People from Eureka College

Many successful people have graduated from Eureka College. These include 42 college presidents, seven governors, members of the U.S. Congress, and the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan. He graduated in 1932. Eureka College is the smallest college in American history to have a future U.S. president graduate with a bachelor's degree.

Ronald Reagan's Connection to Eureka College

Ronald Reagan on the Eureka College football team, 1929

Ronald Reagan started at Eureka College in 1928 when he was 17. He graduated on June 10, 1932, with degrees in economics and sociology. After graduating, Reagan visited the college many times. He served on the college's board of trustees and stayed in touch with his fraternity and his football coach. He also helped raise money for the college.

Reagan gave graduation speeches at Eureka College in 1952, 1957, 1982, and 1992. He helped open the Melick Library building in 1967 and the Reagan Physical Education Center in 1970. When he passed away in 2004, Eureka College was one of three places his family asked people to send memorial gifts. In 1982, President Reagan told the Eureka College audience, "Everything that has been good in my life began here."

In 1982, Eureka College started the Ronald W. Reagan Leadership Program. This program gives scholarships, including full-tuition scholarships, to special students called Reagan Fellows.

Other Notable Alumni

• Emik Avakian (1948), an inventor with many patents.
• Harvey Butchart (1928), a mathematician and explorer of the Grand Canyon.
• James E. Harris (1860s), who was the lieutenant governor of Nebraska.
• Frank Frantz (1880s), a "Rough Rider" and the last Governor of Oklahoma Territory.
• Oliver Perry Hay (1870), a zoologist.
• William A. Poynter (1867), a politician and the tenth Governor of Nebraska.
• Neil Reagan (1933), a radio and TV executive, and Ronald Reagan's brother.
• Tom Vaughn (around 1958), a jazz pianist and priest.

Notable Faculty Members