A look back through 140 years of Hastings College

HASTINGS, Neb. (KSNB) - As Hastings College celebrates its 140th anniversary, faculty and staff welcomed students back to their classrooms on Wednesday.

“It’s a great day to be a Bronco.” — Those are words people often hear while walking around the campus of HC.

This year, the phrase is being said with even more pride as staff, students and alumni celebrate 140 years of the college.

“It’s our 140th anniversary, which is fantastic to kind of see where we’ve come and as an institution and… being in part of the community,” said Annette Vargas, HC vice president of student access, enrollment, and performance.

The college was founded in 1882. A couple of years later, McCormick Hall was built, becoming the first historical building on the campus.

HC Executive President Rich Lloyd told Local4 News, people tend to make random, frequent stops inside of McCormick to admire its beauty.

“It’s really a connecting building to the chapel — sort of as we go through the half circle of Circle Drive,” he noted.

Story Talbert, a freshman on campus, looked back on the beginning of HC and how it all started with a single building.

“It’s a testament to really, how wonderful schooling is and how many people want to come here,” Talbert said. “This really is a great place and it’s exciting to see that it’s grown so much so it can continue to be the great place it is.”

Hundreds of students flocked to the 120-acre campus for the first block of the academic year Wednesday and many, like Talbert, took one of many strolls through HC.

“The campus is beautiful and the antique charm definitely has something to do with that,” Talbert noted. “To carry on the legacy that so many people have created here at Hastings is just super exciting.”

Lloyd added, “we’re just delighted and honored to be celebrating 140 years of wonderful education at Hastings College as we open a new year.”

Details on 140-year events are yet to be released.

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