St. Catharine College facts for kids
St. Catharine Chapel
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| Type | Private liberal arts college |
|---|---|
| Active | 1931–2016 |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Dominican Sisters of Peace) |
| President | Cindy Meyers Gnadinger |
| Location |
,
U.S.
37°42′33″N 85°15′45″W / 37.7092°N 85.2625°W |
| Colors | Purple & gold |
| Nickname | Patriots |
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Sporting affiliations
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NAIA – MSC |
St. Catharine College was a small Catholic college located near Springfield, Kentucky. It was a liberal arts college, which means it offered a wide range of subjects for students to study. At its busiest, about 750 students attended the college.
St. Catharine College closed down in July 2016. This happened because the college had money problems and was involved in a disagreement with the government. After it closed, the campus was empty for a while. Later, in 2020, a new center called Crown Recovery Center opened on the old college grounds.
Contents
History of St. Catharine College
The story of St. Catharine College began a long time ago, in the early 1800s. Classes were first held in a simple building. In 1839, a group called the Sisters of St. Dominic in Kentucky received permission to offer college degrees. A campus was then built along what is now U.S. Route 150.
In 1904, a fire destroyed the school's main building. The people in charge decided to rebuild it. A special statue and a plaque were put up to show where the first building once stood.
By 1920, the state allowed the school to create colleges and give out college degrees. In 1931, the school was officially renamed St. Catharine College. At first, it was a junior college and an academy just for women.
In 1951, the college started accepting both male and female students. It became officially recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 1958.
Later, in 2003, St. Catharine Junior College got permission to offer four-year programs. This meant students could earn a bachelor's degree there. New buildings were added to the campus:
- The Richard S. Hamilton Health and Sciences Building, with classrooms and labs, was finished in 2006.
- Aquinas Hall, a dorm for older students, opened in 2011.
- The Emily W. Hundley Library was added in 2013.
College Presidents
The college was first led by the Dominican Sisters. Mother Mary Louis Logsdon was the college president from 1931 to 1941. In 1957, Sister Jean Marie Calahan became the next president.
A very famous person, Martha Layne Collins, also served as president. She was the first woman to be the Governor of Kentucky.
William D. Huston was the first man to be president of the college. After him, Cindy Gnadinger became president in July 2015.
Why the College Closed
Between 2011 and 2014, the college had some issues with the federal government. The government looked into how the college was giving out money to students for its new four-year programs. The college believed it was following the rules, but the government disagreed about some of the money from earlier years.
In 2015, the government changed how it gave money to the college. The college had to give financial aid to students first, and then ask the government to pay them back. An official review found some serious problems with the college's finances. Because of this, the college changed its leadership and many staff members. In February 2016, the college took legal action against the government to get back some money it believed it was owed.
On June 1, 2016, St. Catharine College announced it would close at the end of July. The college had a large money shortage, partly because of the new buildings they had constructed. The disagreement with the government also caused fewer students to enroll.
When it closed, the college offered many different study programs. These included 17 types of bachelor's degrees, one master's degree, and five associate's degrees. It also had a special Berry Farming Program, which was based on the ideas of farmer and writer Wendell Berry. This program is now looking for a new place to continue its work.
College Sports
The sports teams at St. Catharine College were called the Patriots. They were part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). From 2008 to 2016, they mostly played in the Mid-South Conference (MSC).
St. Catharine College had 21 different sports teams.
- Boys' sports included baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, and wrestling.
- Girls' sports included basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, fast-pitch softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.
- Cheerleading was a co-ed sport, meaning both boys and girls could join.
Images for kids
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The Richard S. Hamilton Health and Science Building
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The Cambron-Ice Clock Tower as seen from the Emily W. Hundley Library
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The Emily W. Hundley Library
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Aquinas Hall, an apartment-style upperclassman residence hall
