Geneva College facts for kids
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| Motto | Pro Christo et Patria |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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For Christ and Country |
| Type | Private college |
| Established | 1848 |
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Religious affiliation
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Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America |
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Academic affiliations
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CCCU CIC NAICU |
| Endowment | $44.2 million (2019) |
| President | Calvin L. Troup |
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Academic staff
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96 |
| Students | 1,418 |
| Location |
,
,
U.S.
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| Campus | Suburban, 110 acres (45 ha) |
| Colors | Old gold and white |
| Nickname | Golden Tornadoes |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division III – PAC |
| Mascot | Turbo the Tornado |
Geneva College is a private Christian college. It is located in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The college was started in 1848 in Northwood, Ohio.
In 1880, Geneva College moved to its current home in Beaver Falls. Today, about 1,400 students study there. They can choose from over 30 different subjects. The college also offers some master's degree programs. Geneva College is connected to the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). Its courses focus on the humanities and a Christian view of the world.
Contents
History of Geneva College
Geneva College began in 1848 in Northwood, Ohio. It was founded by John Black Johnston, a minister from the RPCNA church. The college was first called "Geneva Hall." It was named after Geneva, a city in Switzerland known for its Christian faith.
The college closed for a short time during the American Civil War. It reopened and stayed in Northwood until 1880. Leaders then looked for a new place closer to cities. They chose College Hill in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. The college built its campus on land given by the Harmony Society. Old Main, the oldest building, was finished in 1881.
New buildings and improvements have been made over the years. The Rapp Technical Design Center was finished in 2002. In 2007, a major road project rerouted Pennsylvania Route 18 around the campus. In 2009, Reeves Stadium was improved, and a new campus entrance was built.
College Presidents Over Time
- John Black Johnston (1848–1850)
- William Finney George (1850–1852)
- James Renwick Willson Sloane (1852–1856)
- Calvin Knox Milligan (1856–1858)
- John Calvin Smith (1858–1860)
- Nathan Robinson Johnston (1865–1867)
- Samuel John Crowe (1867–1871)
- William Milroy (1871–1872)
- Henry Hosick George (1872–1890)
- William Pollock Johnston (1890–1907)
- William Henry George (1907–1916)
- Renwick Harper Martin (1916–1920)
- Archibald Anderson Johnston (1920–1923)
- McLeod Milligan Pearce (1923–1948)
- Charles Marston Lee (1948–1956)
- Edwin Cameron Clarke (1956–1980)
- Donald William Felker (1980–1983)
- Edwin Cameron Clarke (1983–1984)
- William Joseph McFarland (1984–1992)
- John H. White (1992–2004)
- Kenneth A. Smith (2004–2015)
- Calvin L. Troup (2016–Present)
How Geneva College is Run
Two groups help run Geneva College: the Board of Corporators and the Board of Trustees. The Corporators legally own the college. However, they let the Trustees handle most of the daily decisions. Both groups helped create the college's main ideas for education.
The RPCNA church still plays a big role. The college president, chaplain, and head of the Bible Studies department must be members of the RPCNA. Most members of both boards must also be RPCNA members. All professors in the Bible Studies department must agree with the Westminster Confession of Faith. Also, all full-time teachers and staff must state their faith in Jesus Christ.
What Students Can Study
Geneva College offers many different undergraduate degrees. Students can study things like elementary education, business, and engineering. Other popular subjects include student ministry, biology, and psychology. In 2006, Geneva's Business and Accounting students scored very high on a national test. They were in the top 5% of all American colleges.
Geneva also has a program for adult students called the Degree Completion Program (DCP). This program helps adults finish degrees in Human Resource Management or Organizational Development. These classes are often held off-campus. Geneva also has connections with colleges in Taiwan and South Korea.
For students who want to continue their education, Geneva offers graduate degrees. These include a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership. Students can also get master's degrees in education or counseling.
The college also has a Center for Technology Development. It was started in 1986. This center helps local businesses with research and technical support.
Online Learning Options
Geneva College works with Portage Learning. Together, they offer college courses online. These courses are for students who want to take classes and transfer them to their main college. Geneva students can also use these online courses to help meet their degree requirements.
College Connections and Approvals
Geneva College is part of several important groups. These include the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges.
The college's programs are also approved by different organizations. For example, the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools approves the college as a whole. Engineering programs are approved by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology. The chemistry degree is certified by the American Chemical Society.
Sports at Geneva College
Geneva's sports teams are known as the Golden Tornadoes. The college is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III. They are also part of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Division I. The Golden Tornadoes play in the Presidents' Athletic Conference.
For many years, Geneva was part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They joined the NCAA in 2007. After a transition period, they became full members in July 2011.
The college offers many sports for men and women. These include football, baseball, softball, and basketball. Other sports are volleyball, track and field, cross country, tennis, and soccer. Geneva has also had a rugby club team since 1994.
Golden Tornadoes Football
- See List of Geneva Golden Tornadoes head football coaches
Football started at Geneva College in 1890. The first coach was William McCracken. Over the years, the football team has won many games. They have played in the Victory Bowl five times. The current football coach is Geno DeMarco.
College Life and Traditions
Students at Geneva College must go to a certain number of weekly chapel services to graduate. The college does not allow Greek letter fraternities and sororities.
One of the very first college basketball games in the United States happened at Geneva College. It was on April 8, 1893. The Geneva College Covenanters played against the New Brighton YMCA and won. Geneva College celebrates this event by calling itself "The Birthplace of College Basketball." The Johnson Gymnasium at Geneva also has one of the oldest basketball courts in college sports.
Geneva College was founded by people from Scotland and Northern Ireland. Many places on campus have Scottish names. For example, the main meeting area in the Student Center is called Skye Lounge, named after the Isle of Skye. The college's restaurant is called The Brig, short for Brigadoon. This name comes from a play about a magical Scottish village.
Geneva's sports teams were once called the Covenanters. This name came from the church's history in Scotland. In the 1950s, the nickname changed to Golden Tornadoes. This name remembers a big tornado that hit the college on May 11, 1914. The tornado took the gold-colored roof off Old Main, which led to the new nickname and color. Even though the storm caused damage, no one was seriously hurt. Students and teachers were thankful for their safety.
Geneva's main sports rival is Westminster College. It is located in nearby New Wilmington, Pennsylvania.
Campus Buildings and Facilities
Offices and Classrooms
- Alexander Hall—This building holds offices for admissions, financial aid, and alumni. It also has the main dining hall.
- Alumni Hall—This is the main building for music classes and department offices.
- Fern Cliffe—Here you'll find faculty offices for political science, humanities, history, and English.
- Johnston Gym—Built in 1911, this gym is now mostly used for music and band. It was once the college's main gym.
- McCartney Library—The college library was built in 1930 and made bigger in 1965. It has over 371,000 items. It also has a special collection of historical documents from the RPCNA church.
- Northwood Hall—This building has classrooms and offices for the business and psychology departments. It was finished in 1998.
- Old Main—This is the first classroom building built when Geneva moved to Beaver Falls in 1881. It has classrooms, administration offices (including the president's office), and faculty offices.
- Rapp Technical Design Center—This is the newest educational building, completed in 2002. It has technical classrooms and labs.
- Science and Engineering (S&E)—This building has classrooms, labs, and offices for engineering, chemistry, biology, physics, and computer science.
Sports and Student Life
- Bagpiper Theatre—This theater hosts plays and shows put on by the Communications Department.
- Merriman Athletic Complex—This area is used for Track and field and soccer.
- Metheny Fieldhouse—This building has Gyms, locker rooms, sports offices, and other sports facilities.
- Jannuzi Tennis Courts—These are two dedicated tennis courts.
- Reeves Field—This field is used for football. The local high school team also uses it. Famous football player Joe Namath played here in high school.
- Student Center—This building has lounges, the Brigadoon restaurant, a coffee shop called Riverview Cafe, student mail services, a fitness center, and a bookstore.
- WGEV—This is the college's own radio station.
Where Students Live
Most full-time undergraduate students between ages 17 and 23 must live in college housing. This rule does not apply to students who live at home and travel to campus, or some older students. There are six dorms: Clarke, Geneva Arms, McKee, Memorial, Pearce, and Young. Geneva Arms and Young offer apartment-style living. The college also owns some smaller houses nearby for older students.
Notable Alumni
- Josie Badger, Ms Wheelchair America in 2011
- Joyce Bender, CEO and founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., and an advocate for disability employment
- Norman Clyde, Naturalist and mountaineer
- John Steuart Curry, American painter
- William Fitzsimmons, Singer-songwriter
- Kathryn Gardner, Judge of the Kansas Court of Appeals
- David Girardi, professional football coach
- Cal Hubbard, professional football player and baseball umpire
- Josh Kail, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Gertrude Martin Rohrer, composer
- David Shedd, Former Director of Defense Intelligence Agency
- John Snarey, Professor Emeritus at Emory University
- Caleb Stegall, Kansas Supreme Court judge
- Dan K. Williams, Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Images for kids
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Alexander Hall in 2008, with the former Route 18 in the foreground.
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Fern Cliffe House
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Northwood Hall (main entrance)
