The Sterling College Athletic Training Program had three students pass their Board of Certification exam this spring. Kate Brickell of Valley Falls, Kansas; Rebecca Grasha of Olathe, Colorado; and Megan Yoder of Hutchinson, Kansas, all passed the exam on their first attempt.

Beginning their summer with two weeks of service, students and staff from Sterling College are currently serving in Ghana, Guatemala, and Peru through June 2. The groups left May 18 and 19 for their two weeks of service through teaching English, outreach and evangelism.

Sterling College has announced their new vice president for student life, Kimberly Christian, beginning mid-June. In this role, Christian will be essential to the student experience through leading the student life staff and working with the Campus Activities Board and Student Government Association.

On May 5, 2016, the editorial staff of the Sterling College literary journal The Great Plains Review hosted a party at Broadway Market to celebrate the release of the 2016 edition. Featuring 24 students, alumni, employees of the College and Sterling community members, the 2016 GPR includes a variety of writing and artwork. The journal was compiled by students at Sterling College under the direction of Dr. Mark Watney, assistant professor of language and literature.

Out of a class of 127 students, two were named Sterling College’s 2016 Outstanding Male and Female Graduates in conjunction with the Professor Fran Jabara Leadership Award - Joshua Aaron Hoover of Elbing, Kansas, and Hayley Elizabeth Ray of Derby, Kansas.

The awards are given to two students who exemplify outstanding academic achievement, leadership skills and involvement, and who portray an enthusiastically Christian faith. They must have a cumulative gpa of 3.4 or higher and are voted upon by faculty and staff.

Sterling College presented the 2016 William M. McCreery Teaching Award to Daniel Swartz, assistant professor of art and design, recognizing him for his creative and innovative classroom teaching. The award was established in honor of Sterling College’s fourth president, William M. McCreery, and has been awarded to one outstanding faculty member each year since 1977.

The traditional bagpipes filled the air as Sterling College celebrated commencement on Saturday, May 14, 2016, on East Cooper Lawn. After a speech by Kimberly (McCreery) Kuo, senior vice president for public affairs at Coca-Cola Consolidated, who encouraged students to let God write their story as they continue on to a new adventure, graduates turned their tassels and walked across the stage to shake several hands to complete the ceremonial celebration of hard work and dedication. Sterling College named 127 students as members of the class of 2016.