The Sterling College debate and forensics team started off its season with a bang. The team accrued multiple honors when it competed Sept. 25-27, 2015, at the ninth annual “Debates on a Plain” debate and forensics tournament, which Sterling College co-hosted with Hutchinson Community College. Thirteen schools competed, including the University of Nebraska, Texas State University, West Texas A&M University and Kansas State University.

Sterling College reported their official enrollment numbers for 2015 with the fourth highest count in College history, 704 students. Over the past five years Sterling has increased its minority percentage by eight points, reporting 27 percent of students claimed an ethnicity of black, Hispanic, American Indian and Asian/Pacific Islander this year. The College also reported students coming from 28 states and eight international countries, a significant increase in the number of international students in the last five years.

Thousands of children and teachers across Rice and surrounding counties enjoyed the Santa Fe Trail Children’s Literature Festival from 2002-2010. Merrillyn Kloefkorn initiated the festival when she became a member of the education faculty at Sterling College, drawing from her many acquaintances in the world of children’s literature to plan the festival. Unfortunately, Kloefkorn had to discontinue the festival in 2010.

Recognizing the benefit of the event for public schools, the education faculty at Sterling College decided to reinstate the annual festival this fall. 

Last month, 10 members of the Sterling College Ministry Teams joined with over 260,000 people from around the world to participate in the Global Leadership Summit. Ministry Teams Director Jenny Bradley joined students Britt Bowman, Chris Green, Austin Mettling, Joel Morey, Micah Oelze, Justin Porter, Dara Quastad, Chyann Schneider, Lindy Smith and Summer Stanley in attending the event on Aug. 6-7, 2015.

Cool fall weather is right around the corner, and finding the perfect place to spend time outdoors is now easier thanks to a Sterling College professor’s book about the best trails in Kansas. Sterling College’s Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Jonathan Conard has co-authored a book with his sister, Kristin Conard, a writing teacher and freelance travel writer. The book, “Kansas Trail Guide: The Best Hiking, Biking, and Riding in Kansas,” is published through University Press of Kansas and has been available for purchase since May 2015.