2025 Year in Review at Coe

January

We kicked off the year with our first group visit of 2025 — Admitted Student Day! Future Kohawks explored what makes Coe special, from meeting with accessible professors to hearing directly from students about their Coe experience. 

February

Coe College Arch

Coe faculty were selected as recipients of four ACM FaCE grants designed to increase collaboration to enhance teaching and learning. Read more about these projects.

Daniel Kraft spoke at Coe College as the featured guest of the 21st annual Contemporary Issues Forum. Daniel Kraft is a Stanford and Harvard-trained doctor with over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, biomedical research and healthcare innovation. Kraft frequently addresses the future of health, medicine and technology and has delivered four TED and two TEDMED Talks. He is the founder and board member of several Fortune 50 and digital health-related startups and is the inventor of the MarrowMiner, an FDA-approved device for the minimally invasive harvest of bone marrow. Also an avid pilot, Kraft has served in the Massachusetts and California Air National Guard as an officer and flight surgeon and was a finalist for astronaut selection with NASA.

March

Airplane outside hangar

We welcomed future aviators to our aeronautical field station for an aviation visit day. Prospective students experienced discovery flights, received a tour of the Eastern Iowa Airport and met professors, AFROTC Detachment 255 and Revv Aviation instructors. 

Kosovo visit to Coe group photo

Coe welcomed visitors from the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo, Iowa National Guard, Iowa International Center and the Iowa Economic Development Authority. We celebrated a burgeoning partnership between Kosovo and Iowa, and discussed how Coe students can assist with international community engagement. Coe is working with the Consulate of the Republic of Kosovo to develop a new diplomatic collaboration opportunity for Kohawks.

JLI Reentry simulation

The Justice Learning Initiative's reentry simulation is an eye-opening educational experience. Attendees role-played scenarios recently incarcerated individuals experience upon release, which helps build awareness and understanding regarding the challenges they face.

Spring 2025 Courier cover

The Spring 2025 edition of the Courier was released!

All American Kohawks

The Kohawk wrestling team finished in a tie for sixth at the NCAA DIII Championships, with four wrestlers earning All-American status — Bryce Parke (second), Brayden Parke (fifth), LJ Richardson (sixth) and Jared Voss (seventh) all were on the podium.

Track and field thrower Chris Baker earned a second team All-American honor in the weight throw competition at the national indoor meet!

Amber Shaw

After guiding Kohawks in their pursuit of national fellowships, Dr. Amber Shaw has earned her own prestigious academic fellowship. She has been named an Associated Colleges of the Midwest (ACM) Academic Leadership Fellow.

April

This year's Flunk Day was all about Dis-Coe Fever. Kohawks had a groovy time celebrating a day away from classes and the semester wrapping up.

Day of Giving 2025 Graphic

We celebrated Coe’s 11th annual Day of Giving, our biggest fundraiser of the year!

Students displayed and discussed original research, performed compositions and read creative writings at the annual Student Research & Discovery Symposium. 

Current students imparted wisdom, tour guides handed out vibes and local restaurants provided literal taste of what it's like to live in Cedar Rapids for future Kohawks at our April Admitted Student Day,

During the Taste of Cedar Rapids event on campus, Kohawks got a literal taste of what some of the 100+ locally-owned restaurants in the city cook up.

May

The Class of 2025 rang the Victory Bell, walked the stage for Commencement and will now get to spread their wings and take flight into their next endeavors. Remember, once a Kohawk, always a Kohawk!

Tyler Salrin in cap and gown at Coe graduation

Tyler Salrin ’25 was Coe’s fifth National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the past five years. His story is one of faith, passion, dedication and opportunity.

June

Katherine Davis

Katherine Davis ’27 was Coe’s sixth Gilman scholar in the last five years. The scholarship will take Davis to Japan this fall, where they’ll seek out the best in every person. 

People looking into airplane at Coe hangar

Coe participated in the Young Eagles Flight Rally, which helped local students explore aviation and even take a free test flight at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID).

July

Plane in Coe College hangar

Kohawks are taking to the air with ATD! Coe College has entered into an agreement with experienced flight training partner, ATD Flight Systems, to integrate their expertise into our aviation management and flight operations program. A beautiful combination!

Coe College sign

Go online with Coe Online! Announcing our initial online degree — a Bachelor of Arts in business administration with a strategic leadership concentration. An affordable and flexible way for anyone to advance their careers! 

Aviation workforce development campus graphic

The Eastern Iowa Airport (CID) has established the Aviation Workforce Development Campus (AWDC) at CID, partnering with Coe College and Kirkwood Community College to provide essential education and training.

Admission counselor in front of airplane

We met future Kohawk aviators in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, at EAA AirVenture — the largest airshow in the world! It was the perfect place to continue spreading the word about our aviation management and flight operations program and the Aviation Workforce Development Campus at the Eastern Iowa Airport (CID). 

Male Coe student smiling

We introduced our newest business administration concentration: risk management/insurance! This is an in-demand area of study projected to grow in the coming years.

Coe College announced the launch of a women's wrestling program that will begin competing at the NCAA level in the American Rivers Conference (ARC) in the fall of 2026. As interest in women’s wrestling continues to build, Kaleb Reeves ’23 will guide the newest Kohawk athletic team as its head coach. An All-American wrestler himself, Reeves brings an array of folkstyle, freestyle and Greco wrestling experience.

August

Students exploring airplane in Coe College hangar

Another step closer to taking to the skies! Coe earned Part 141 ground approval from the FAA.

The Princeton Review ranking graphic

New and updated accolades from The Princeton Review lauded Coe as a Top 20 college in the nation across three crucial student support categories. Coe has the #11 Best Career Services, is #14 for Best Student Support and Counseling Services and has the #18 Most Accessible Professors. Coe was the only college or university in Iowa to earn a ranking in these categories.

Kohawk Athletic Day of Giving graphic

Coe celebrated its first Athletic Day of Giving. 

Coe welcomed Tim Busch as its assistant chief instructor. Busch arrived to Coe with over 28 years of flight instruction and flight school experience. He is ready to help you become a pilot and prioritizes your safety and experience as a flight instructor.

Hundreds of new Coe College students moved to campus to start their college journey at Coe!

Games, movies, ice cream and campus exploration during New Student Orientation helped our new Kohawks make new friends fast.

September

Coe College continued to be recognized as a top liberal arts college in the country, performing particularly well in categories that relate to contributions to the public good.

The first Global Pathways internship opened a whole world of connections for Maria Bello ’26 and Davis Sharp ’26.

President David Hayes and Provost Angela with Czech Museum reps

Coe signed an extension of our agreement with the National Czech & Slovak Museum & Library in Cedar Rapids to continue facilitating our educational and research collaboration.

Prospective students experienced the excitement and community spirit of Coe College’s Kohawk Kickoff Day! They met students and professors, toured campus, learned about specific majors and felt like a Kohawk for a day!