2021 Year in Review at Coe
January
Kohawks celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with a variety of virtual offerings including a keynote speaker, prayer and slam poetry.
Kohawks were invited to an online Inauguration Day Watch Party with Director of Community and Civic Engagement Joe Demarest.
Students, faculty and staff completed COVID-19 testing as Kohawks returned to campus and began the spring term.
The Board of Trustees unanimously passed a resolution addressing diversity, equity and inclusion. Board of Trustees Chair Ken Golder ’82 provided the Coe community with an update which can be found at www.coe.edu/why-coe/discover-coe/trustees/update-chair.
February
The Coe community celebrated Black History Month with a book and movie display in Stewart Memorial Library, visits to the African American Museum of Iowa, panel discussions, soul food and more.
Once again Coe was named a Top Producer of Fulbright U.S. students.
Angelina Ramirez ’22 was named a finalist for the prestigious Truman Scholarship.
March
Kohawks declared their majors during the annual Major Declaration Day celebration on March 10.
Math Club celebrated Pi Day with mini pies and virtual pi-related activities.
Kohawk wrestlers Alex Friddle, Brock Henderson and Josh Gerke topped the podium in their respective weight classes at the NWCA Division III National Championships.
Future Kohawks registered for fall classes during a Virtual Admitted Student Day.
A new scoreboard dedicated to the memory of Coach Steve Staker was installed on Clark Field.
April
Coe held its annual Student Research Symposium as a virtual event via Zoom.
More than 800 donors contributed $660,739.68 on Coe’s annual Day of Giving.
Coe was the only college or university in Iowa ranked in the Top 10 Best Schools for Internships and was chosen to be in the Top 20 Best Alumni Networks among private colleges by The Princeton Review.
This year’s Flunk Day kept decades of festive traditions alive while enforcing pandemic-related restrictions.
May
Coe celebrated the classes of 2020 and 2021 during a weekend of graduation events.
Coe ranked second in the small school category, and ninth overall nationally, for per capita recycling in the Campus Race to Zero Waste. Coe students, faculty and staff recycled 37.46 pounds of waste per person.
Coe announced its newest major: data science.
Professor of Chemistry Maria Dean was chosen for a HER Women of Achievement Award. She was nominated by peers for her contributions as a faculty member, researcher and STEM field program mentor.
Makyla Boyd ’21 received a Leadership Scholarship and Ian Slagle ’21 the Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award from the American Institute of Physics’ Society of Physics Students.
June
Crystal Maldonado was awarded a prestigious Critical Language Scholarship to pursue learning a fourth language — Swahili.
The summer edition of the Courier was published online.
Coe College was closed in observance of Juneteenth to ensure our community had the opportunity to reflect and attend events.
JULY
Coe College will enhance corridor health care education with construction of its Center for Health and Society.
MyKeisha Wells ’22 received the U.S. Department of State Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study in Turkey.
August
Graham Beckler '22 was named the first runner-up for the 2021 Alfred R. Cooper Young Scholars Award from the Glass and Optical Materials Division of the American Ceramic Society.
Coe welcomed to campus 438 incoming students, the third-largest class in the college’s 170-year history and the largest domestic first-year population ever.
Coe was announced as one of The Princeton Review's Best 387 Colleges, which places Coe in the top 14% of four-year colleges and universities nationally.
September
Coe was recognized as a leader among its peers regarding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Coe College earned a Top 100 spot in Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings, which recognize college’s contributions to the public good.
Coe College is one of only six Iowa colleges to make U.S. News & World Report's Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list.
Coe kicked off construction of the David and Janice McInally Center for Health and Society with a steel signing event.
Students, faculty, staff and trustees showed their appreciation of David and Janice McInally, who served as president and first lady for many years, with a campus barbecue.
October
After a competitive national search, the Coe College Board of Trustees selected Interim President David T. Hayes ’93 as the college’s 16th president.
The Coe College Board of Trustees honored the 2021-2022 Clark Merit Scholars: Lila Dabill ’22, Natalie Hansen ’22, Zach Niemeyer ’22, Ally Roeker ’22 and Luke VanderSchaaff ’22.
Kohawks enjoyed a taste of home in the cafeteria when Dining Services recreated family recipes submitted by students.
Coe College Theatre Arts kicked off this year’s season with performances of “The Living.”
After a hiatus in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, alumni return to Coe College for a full weekend of Homecoming festivities.
November
Kohawks took part in Coe’s first Orientation 2.0 featuring llamas, music, lawn games and a photobooth.
Coe hosted the 30th Annual Tri-State Undergraduate Psychology Conference, during which Kohawks presented their research, met with graduate programs and learned about career opportunities.
Coe hosted the fourth annual Kohawk Startup.
The Music Department presented Coe’s annual Christmas Convocation and Vespers programs.
GivingTuesday raised $38,483 for the Coe College Annual Fund, supporting scholarships and aid packages as well as student services across campus.
December
Kohawks enjoyed a traditional Late-Night Breakfast to fuel up for finals.
Coe’s esports team won a nationwide collegiate jersey competition conducted via social media voting.
Coe was named one of the Best Nursing Programs in Iowa for 2022 by Nursing School Hub.