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75 Years of Excellence
By: Shannon Ann Hodgins
Staff Writer
One special aspect of
school this year at Montreat-
Anderson College is the cele
bration of its 75th year of
higher Christian education.
Each student, professor, and
faculty member should be
aware of the fact that they are
part of a college whose his
tory encompasses three-quar
ters of a century. Located in
the Blue Ridge Mountains,
Montreat-Anderson is a
symbol of Christian commit
ment, and personal growth
through education and
knowledge.
Although Montreat-
Anderson College had a small
beginning, it has grown
quickly throughout the years.
In 1916 Montreat Normal
School opened with only 8
students enrolled. The for
mer President of the College,
Dr. R. C. Anderson and his
wife, Sadie Gaither Ander
son were the main support
ers of the College in its early
years. Through their support,
as well as that of many other
dedicated persons, the Col
lege grew into a junior col
lege and was renamed Mon
treat College. The need for
Christian education increased
and in 1945 Montreat College
became a four year baccalau
reate-degree granting institu
tion.
The followingyears were
a struggle for the college, and
in 1959 the Board of Trustees
decided that the college
should revert to a two-year
coeducational institution and
be named Montreat-Ander
son College. Due to their
efforts, as well as those of the
faculty and staff, the college
achieved full accreditation by
state and regional accredit
ing agencies.
Enrollment gradually
increased throughout the
years. During 1986, after
much prayer and advance
ment, Montreat-Anderson
College again became a four
year baccalaureate-degree
granting institution. Since
that year, the number of sen
iors and graduates has been
steadily.increasing.
Today, Montreat-Ander
son College is a fully-accred
ited liberal arts college with a
total enrollment of 414 stu
dents, 23 full-time and 10 part-
time professors. Montreat-
Anderson has also embarked
on an ambitious program to
raise $10 million dollars inor
der to expand its programs.
The plan calls for the con
struction of a new dormitory
and a new chapel, a new com
puter laboratory, and support
for existing facilities. In addi
tion to the changes wrought
in the seventy-fifth year, the
college is presently searching
for a new president to replace
the current president. Dr. Si
las Vaughn, who is retiring.
Celebrations for the Col
lege in this special year in
clude many events. The next
event planned will be a
Church/College Missions
conference, with the main
speaker being Charles Davis
of Alumni Missionaries. This
event is scheduled for No
vember 15-18, 1990. Events
for next semester include the
Opening Convocation,
Spring Spiritual Emphasis
Week, The George Darden
Concert (Associate Conduc
tor of Metropolitan Opera),
the Class of 1991 Commence
ment, Montreat-Anderson
College Day, and the Friends
of the Library Celebration.
Support of the College
through prayer is one of the
most essential needs of the
College. Since its beginning
in 1916, Montreat-Anderson
College has proved the need
is definitely evident for a
higher Christian education.
Hopefully, this need will
continue and expand, con
tinuing to provide a purpose
and motivation for the Col
lege to succeed.