Saint Vincent College

Saint Vincent College

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Saint Vincent College

Saint Vincent College is a four-year, coeducational, Roman Catholic, liberal arts Benedictine college in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, located forty miles southeast of Pittsburgh. It was founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer, a monk from Bavaria, Germany. It was the first Benedictine monastery in the United States. It is sponsored by the Benedictine Monks of Saint Vincent Archabbey. Formerly a men's college, Saint Vincent became coeducational in 1983.

History
Traditions
Notable alumni
See also
References

Footnotes
Additional sources

External links

History

Founded in 1846 by Boniface Wimmer as a men's college, Saint Vincent began admitting women in 1983. Now, the number of female students is slightly higher than the number of male students.

In 2004, the college hired a professional lobbyist who successfully lobbied Representative John P. Murtha into awarding $4 million through an addition to a federal appropriation bill. The money was used to improve the safety and appearance the school's entrance road stemming from US Route 30.^[1]

The college also hosts the Pittsburgh Steelers football team's summer camp.

In the Fall of 2007, the Saint Vincent College Bearcats resumed their varsity football program in the Presidents' Athletic Conference after a 44 year hiatus. The team ended the 2007 season with a 0-10 record.^[2]

In May 2007, President George W. Bush delivered the commencement address.^[3] Presidents Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy have spoken at the college as well.

Traditions

Saint Vincent College Basilica

Each year, on the Thursday before Thanksgiving, the Saint Vincent Community celebrates Founders Day, honoring all those who founded the college and have been a part of its community since its inception. The day features Honors Convocation (held in the Archabbey Basilica), a candle-lit turkey dinner in the gym, Zambelli fireworks and the campus light-up, featuring lighted arches in Melvin Platz.

The college took a page from Duke University's Cameron Crazies in creating the Carey Crazies, the student fans at home basketball games (located in the Robert S. Carey Student Center). In addition, the Carey Crazies have a tradition of standing up, turning around and reading a page from the newspaper while the visiting team is announced and takes the court.

The Saint Vincent College fight song, "Forward, Saint Vincent," was approved by the college's student government in 1996 and was written by Jen Waldmann, Heather Fields, and Chris Rodkey.