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Bridgewater College is a private liberal-arts college in Bridgewater, Virginia. Established in 1880, Bridgewater College admitted both men and women from the time of its founding and was the first four-year liberal arts college in Virginia to do so.[2] Approximately 1,800 students are enrolled.[3]
Former name | Spring Creek Normal and Collegiate Institute (1880–1889) |
|---|---|
| Motto | College of Character, Community of Excellence |
| Type | Private liberal arts college |
| Established | 1880 (predecessor) 1889 (current institution) |
Religious affiliation | Church of the Brethren |
| Endowment | $91.9 million (2020)[1] |
| President | David W. Bushman |
Academic staff | 94 full-time |
| Students | 1,421 |
| Undergraduates | 1,385 |
| Postgraduates | 36 |
| Location | , , United States |
| Colors | Red & gold |
| Nickname | Eagles |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division III, Old Dominion Athletic Conference |
| Website | www |
 | |
  Location in Shenandoah Valley  Bridgewater College (Virginia)  Bridgewater College (the United States) | |
History
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Bridgewater College was established in 1880 as Spring Creek Normal and Collegiate Institute by Daniel Christian Flory. Nine years later, the school was named Bridgewater College and chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia to grant undergraduate degrees. Bridgewater conferred its first Bachelor of Arts degree on June 1, 1891. In 1895, the Chairman of the Faculty, Walter B. Yount, a graduate of what would become Juniata College and the University of Virginia was named the college's first President. After his retirement in 1910, John S. Flory (an early Bridgewater graduate who also received degrees from other institution and had served on the faculty and as vice-president) succeeded him as the college's president.[4]
Bridgewater College became the first senior co-educational liberal arts college in Virginia and one of the few accredited colleges of its type in the South.
The oldest portion of the Bridgewater College campus, consisting of five fine brick collegiate buildings constructed before 1911, is included in the Bridgewater Historic District.[5] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.[6]
2022 shooting
editOn February 1, 2022, 55-year-old campus police officer John Painter and 48-year-old campus safety officer J.J. Jefferson were shot and killed on campus after being called to investigate a suspicious person on campus. The shooter, a 27-year-old former student named Alexander Wyatt Campbell, was later apprehended after a manhunt and suffered a gunshot injury at some point during the incident.[7][8] In February 2024, Campbell plead guilty to murdering both officers and was sentenced to life in prison.[9]
Repatriation of Native American items
editThe college is returning sacred funerary belongings and remains that were donated to the college. These items are protected by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).[10]
Academics
editBridgewater offers more than 60 majors and minors, awarding the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. Bridgewater students have the opportunity to study abroad through the BCA Study Abroad program and May Term Travel Courses.[11]
Bridgewater also offers the Flory Honors Program. Flory Fellows gain access to many opportunities and benefits, including honors sections of general education courses limited to 15 students each, housing within the honors community, and more.[12]
Bridgewater was ranked #229 in national liberal arts colleges based on the U.S. News & World Report.[13]
Student life
editTraditions
editAnnual events at Bridgewater College celebrate tradition, community, alumni, and culture. Founder's Day observance at Bridgewater commemorates the April 3, 1854, birth of Daniel Christian Flory, who began Bridgewater College in 1880, at the age of 26.
Homecoming weekend in October welcomes alumni back to the college with class reunions, outdoor festivities, a home football game and the annual Athletic Hall of Fame banquet.[14]
Athletics
editBridgewater College is a Division III member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Its teams are members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), which has 14 member institutions.
Notable people
editAlumni
edit- G. Steven Agee, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia and now a Judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- Pasco Middleton Bowman II, Senior federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
- David Branshaw, professional golfer.[15]
- Ray Bussard, former NCAA Championship (1978) winning Men's Swim Coach at University of Tennessee from 1968 to 1989
- Moses H. W. Chan, Physicist elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2000[16]
- Wolfgang Drechsler, German social scientist and government adviser
- Phil Eyler, Canadian politician[17]
- Jacob A. Garber, U.S. Representative, 1929-1931[18]
- Nathan H. Miller, politician
- Richard D. Obenshain, politician
- Chris Obenshain, politician
Faculty
edit- Carl Bowman, sociologist[19]
References
edit- ^ As of June 30, 2020. U.S. and Canadian Institutions Listed by Fiscal Year 2020 Endowment Market Value and Change in Endowment Market Value from FY19 to FY20 (Report). National Association of College and University Business Officers and TIAA. February 19, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
- ^ "Bridgewater College - History of Bridgewater College". Bridgewater College. Archived from the original on November 10, 2017. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- ^ "Peterson's Bridgewater College - College overview". Peterson's, A Nelnet Company. Retrieved June 4, 2008.
- ^ "Bridgewater College Presidents - Bridgewater College". www.bridgewater.edu. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission Staff (1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Bridgewater Historic District" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 6, 2013. and Accompanying photo
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Lukpat, Alyssa; Jiménez, Jesus (February 1, 2022). "Two Officers Killed at Bridgewater College in Virginia". New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ Smith, Hannah (February 1, 2022). "2 officers killed in shooting at Bridgewater College, suspect charged with capital murder". NBC12. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
- ^ Johnson, Colby (February 26, 2024). "Bridgewater College Shooter pleads guilty, receives two life sentences". WHSV-TV. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
- ^ Hull, Lindsey (May 4, 2023). "An archivist has spent 12 years working to return Native American remains and artifacts to their tribes. Success may be close". Cardinal News. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
- ^ "Study Abroad - Bridgewater College". www.bridgewater.edu. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Flory Honors Program - Bridgewater College". www.bridgewater.edu. Retrieved February 5, 2018.
- ^ "Areas of Study". Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ^ "Alumni and Friends" Archived 2015-08-09 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 2015-07-28.
- ^ David Branshaw at PGATour.com
- ^ "Prof. Moses H. W. Chan @ Penn State Physics". Penn State Official Website. Archived from the original on February 13, 2008. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
- ^ "WCPI search results". University of Winnipeg. Archived from the original on March 22, 2014. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". US Congress BioGuide. Retrieved June 3, 2008.
- ^ "Directory". Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture. University of Virginia. Archived from the original on September 3, 2006. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
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External links
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