William Jewell College facts for kids
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| Motto | Deo Fisus Labora (Latin) |
|---|---|
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Motto in English
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Trust in God, Work |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Established | 1849 |
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Academic affiliation
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Annapolis Group |
| President | Elizabeth MacLeod Walls |
| Students | 853 (Fall 2022) |
| Location |
,
U.S.
39°14′47″N 94°24′44″W / 39.246263°N 94.412159°W |
| Campus | Suburban |
| Colors | Red and Black |
| Nickname | Cardinals |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division II - GLVC |
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William Jewell College is a private college in Liberty, Missouri, USA. It's a place where students learn many different subjects, like science, history, and art. The college was started in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention. A kind person named William Jewell gave $10,000 to help get it started.
For over 150 years, the college was connected to the Missouri Baptist Convention. But in 2003, it became independent. This means it's no longer officially linked to a specific religious group. William Jewell College is approved by the Higher Learning Commission, which means it meets high standards for education.
Contents
History
How It Started
The college is named after Dr. William Jewell. In 1849, he gave $10,000 to help create the school. Dr. Jewell was from Columbia, Missouri. He wanted the school to be built in Boonville, Missouri.
However, a resident from Liberty named Alexander William Doniphan suggested that undeveloped land in Liberty would be better. So, Liberty was chosen as the location. Judge James Turner Vance Thompson donated the land on a hilltop where the campus is today.
During the American Civil War, the main building, Jewell Hall, was used as a hospital. It also served as a place for sick soldiers and even as stables for the United States Army. Union soldiers were buried on the campus grounds. Jewell Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The Mt. Memorial Cemetery, also on campus, was added in 2012. One of the college's founders was Robert S. James, who was the father of the famous outlaw Jesse James.
A Big Change
On February 13, 1913, a nearby school called the Liberty Female Institute burned down. This brought female students to William Jewell College. At first, it was a slow change. But by 1920, women were allowed to attend William Jewell on the same terms as men. This was a big step for the college!
Gano Chapel Story
In 1926, the John Gano chapel was built. This was possible because of a donation from Elizabeth Price, who lived in Kansas City. She was John Gano's great-granddaughter.
Ms. Price had two special requests for her donation. First, the chapel had to be named after John Gano. Second, it needed to display a painting of Gano baptizing George Washington. The college says this painting is very popular with visitors. The college doesn't say if the baptism actually happened. George Washington was an Episcopalian, not a Baptist.
Amazing Performances
The Harriman-Jewell Series is a special program for performing arts. It was started in 1965 by two English professors, Dean Dunham and Richard Harriman. Mr. Harriman helped bring the famous singer Luciano Pavarotti to campus in 1973. Pavarotti gave his first international solo concert there!
Today, this series continues to bring amazing music, dance, and theater to Kansas City. William Jewell students get free tickets to these events. This helps them experience different kinds of art. Most events are held in downtown Kansas City at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and the Folly Theater.
A Modern Learning Hub
In August 2013, William Jewell College opened the Pryor Learning Commons. This is a 26,000-square-foot center where students can gather, learn, and create. It's open 24 hours a day! This three-story building helps students learn in a modern way.
The Pryor Learning Commons has many cool features. These include innovation studios, recording and editing rooms, and a 3D printer. There are also large touchscreens, white board tables, and a coffee shop. This $15 million building was paid for by donations. It's designed to fit how today's students like to learn.
What You Can Study
William Jewell College offers almost 40 different subjects you can major in. A major is the main subject you focus on in college. They also have 10 pre-professional programs. These programs help students get ready for careers like medicine or law.
Special Programs
The college has an Oxbridge Honors Program. Students in this program take special classes called tutorials. They also get to study abroad in Oxford, England. In their last year, they take big exams to show what they've learned.
William Jewell also has a Journey Grant program. Students can get at least $2,000 to use in their junior year. This money can help them study abroad, do leadership projects, or work in internships. It can also fund research or business projects.
In 2019, the college started the Honors Institute in Critical Thinking. This is a scholarship program that helps students think deeply and solve problems. Students design their own projects around a world issue.
Since 2013, many students from William Jewell have won important scholarships. These include Fulbright Scholars and Goldwater Scholars. This shows how well their students do!
The college also offers three graduate programs for students who want to continue their education. These include a Master of Arts in Teaching and a Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction.
Sports and Teams
The sports teams at William Jewell College are called the Cardinals. The college is part of NCAA Division II. This is a level for college sports teams. They mainly compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). They joined this conference in the 2011–12 school year.
Before joining the NCAA, the Cardinals were part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). They competed in the Heart of America Conference for many years.
William Jewell has 25 different sports teams for men and women. Men's sports include baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and swimming. Women's sports include basketball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. There are also co-ed sports like powerlifting.
Student Groups (Greek Life)
William Jewell College has different social groups called fraternities for men and sororities for women. These groups are part of "Greek life" because they use Greek letters for their names.
Fraternities
- ΚΑ Kappa Alpha Order
- ΛΧΑ Lambda Chi Alpha
- ΦΓΔ Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI)
Sororities
- ΑΓΔ Alpha Gamma Delta
- ΔΖ Delta Zeta
- ΖΤΑ Zeta Tau Alpha
Famous People Who Went Here
Many interesting people have attended William Jewell College. Here are a few:
- Cyrus Avery (1870–1963), known as the "Father of Route 66."
- Eugene Monroe Bartlett (1885–1941), a Christian singer and songwriter.
- Daniel Belcher, a Grammy-winning opera singer.
- Nancy Boyda, who worked for the government and was a congresswoman from Kansas.
- Robin Carnahan, who was the Secretary of State for Missouri.
- Tom Carnegie (1942), the longtime voice of the Indianapolis 500 car race.
- Jim Davis, an actor famous for playing Jock Ewing on the TV show "Dallas."
- Homer Drew, a well-known college basketball coach.
- Dan Lanning, the head football coach for the University of Oregon.
- Bill Snyder (1962), a very successful head football coach for Kansas State University.
