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Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.

History

The history of Doane College dates from 1857, when the General Association of Congregational Churches, in its first annual meeting in Fremont, Nebraska, resolved to lay the foundations of a literary institution of a high order in the state. Fourteen years later, and after several unsuccessful attempts to establish Congregational schools across the state, an academy was founded in Crete on May 22, 1871. The efforts of the local Congregational pastor and Thomas Doane, chief civil engineer for the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad, were instrumental in advancing the idea of the Academy.

On July 11, 1872, Doane College preempted the old Crete Academy. Doane College is the first liberal arts and sciences college in Nebraska.

The college has had 55 Fulbright Scholars since the program began in 1946.

Enrollment

The enrollment consists of over 1,000 undergraduate students on the Crete campus, as well as 750 adult learners and 1,200 graduate students who attend the Lincoln and Grand Island campuses.

Academics

Doane offers 40 undergraduate majors, seven pre-professional programs and three graduate programs in counseling, management, and education.

Athletics

Doane has a rich athletic history. The first college football coach at Doane was F.P. Reed, who led the team to a 1-1 record. Other coaches through Doane's football history include Al Papik, Tommie Frazier, and current head coach Matt Franzen.

Notable alumni

• Henry Pratt Fairchild - sociologist and educator
• Zenon C.R. Hansen - former chairman of the board at Doane College and CEO of Mack Trucks, Inc
• Weldon Kees - poet
• John Perry - philosopher and professor of philosophy at Stanford University
• Robert Van Pelt - District Judge, United States District Court for the District of Nebraska, 1957–88
• Douglas L. Wilson - two-time recipient of the Lincoln Prize and professor at Knox College
• J.R. Artozqui - professional football player

Recognition

In 2008, Doane College was named to The Princeton Review's "Best Midwestern Colleges." The designation was given to 161 Midwest schools, including six from Nebraska. Doane College placed among the top 25 liberal arts colleges nationwide in the ‘least debt' rankings released in the Sept.17, 2007 issue of U.S.News & World Report. Kaplan/Newsweek College Catalog recently called it a "hidden treasure." U.S.News & World Report has ranked Doane a "Great School at a Great Price" for five consecutive years as well as placed it among the top 25 of 572 Midwestern schools. In 2009, Forbes rated it 66th of America's Best Colleges.

• Doane was named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for 2006. Doane also received a distinction for Hurricane Relief Services for its hurricane relief efforts following the Gulf hurricanes of 2005.

Points of interest

• Doane College Historic Buildings, including Gaylord Hall, Boswell Observatory and Whitcomb Conservatory/Lee Memorial Chapel.
• Doane College Osterhout Arboretum
• Frees Hall
• Smith Hall
• Fiske Lodge
• Dean Memorial Pergola
• Cassel Open Air Theatre
• Brandt Memorial Bridge
• Porter Memorial Bridge
• Butler Gymnasium

References

External links

• Doane College Official web site
• Thomas Doane, 1821-1897, Nebraska State Historical Society

Coordinates: 40°37′25″N 96°56′55″W / 40.623578°N 96.948724°W / 40.623578; -96.948724