Sterling College's new Executive Assistant to the President Amy Boyea has had to hit the ground running. Boyea began her job on November 30, one week before the College began its comprehensive evaluative visit from the Higher Learning Commission, the College's accrediting agency.

"It's been a fast learning curve," she said. Boyea comes to the College from Hospira, Inc., a global pharmaceutical and medication delivery company with an office in McPherson, where she served as an administrative assistant in the Human Resources Department.

It's been a busier-than-usual fall at Sterling College, but that has not stopped its administration and faculty from writing, creating, and composing. Recently President Paul J. Maurer and Professors David Harmon and Dr. Brad Nix have experienced recognition for their work.

December 28, 2009, Sterling, Kansas—Sterling College Debate and Forensics Coach Ken Troyer has a young team this year: one senior, seven juniors, six sophomores, and six first-year students. His team is also a very local team: thirteen of its twenty members can travel home in an hour or less. However, the youth and local recruiting seem to be working to the team’s advantage: Sterling College’s top debate duo is ranked twelfth in the nation, and three team members have already qualified for the American Forensics Association National Tournament in April.