Academic News and Achievements
H-SC Named Top Fulbright Scholar Producer
The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs recognized Hampden-Sydney for being one of the colleges and universities with the highest number of faculty and administrators selected for the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program.
Hardy Earns Sullivan Foundation Faculty Service Award
At its annual awards ceremony on April 12, 2024, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation presented Johns Professor of English Sarah Hardy with a 2024 Sullivan Foundation Faculty Service Award.
Eanes Receives Henry Timrod Award
Wilson Center Visiting Lecturer Greg Eanes was awarded the 2024 Henry Timrod Southern Culture Award.
Hargadon Earns Research Mentor Award
Trinkle Professor of Biology Kristian M. Hargadon ’01 has been awarded the 2024 Research Mentor Award (Mid-Career) from the Biology Division of the Council on Undergraduate Research.
H-SC Captures Silver at Leadership Challenge
On March 2 and 3, college students from across the country gathered in Topeka, Kansas, for the 14th annual Leadership Challenge Event™ (LCE™) hosted by the Washburn University Leadership Institute.
Students Shine at International NATO Competition
On November 1, four Hampden-Sydney students took home gold from the 2024 WMGIC x NATO Countering Disinformation Challenge.
Campus Improvements and College Advancement News
Scholarship Endowment Unlocked
With the help of many generous alumni and other benefactors, Hampden-Sydney successfully completed the Carpenter Challenge, adding a total of $20 million in need-based scholarship aid to the endowment.
The Historic Restoration of Venable Hall
Thanks to the thoughtful renovation of Venable Hall, Hampden-Sydney College students now reside in a 200-year-old dormitory while enjoying every contemporary amenity they could want.
$20 Million Gift for Gilmer Hall Renovation
In a remarkable act of generosity, Endeavour Legacy Foundation has pledged $20 million to Hampden-Sydney College, a gift that will be instrumental in funding the renovation of Gilmer Hall.
Generous Gift Establishes Bunting Professorship
Hampden-Sydney College Trustee John E. Corey ’80 has made a generous gift that will support the establishment of the Josiah Bunting III and Diana Bunting Endowed Professorship.
Kirk Pledges $1 Million for Athletic Facilities
Bill ’72 and Shireen Kirk have once again invested in the future of athletics at Hampden-Sydney College.
New Apiary Buzzes with Excitement
With generous support and dedicated efforts, the College has established an apiary on campus, unlocking great educational and community opportunities.
State-of-the-Art Shooting Range Announced
One of the oldest higher education institutions in the U.S., H-SC is paying homage to recreational shooting, another of the oldest institutions in the U.S., with a new state-of-the-art shooting range.
Endeavour Legacy Foundation Announces $30M Gift
Hampden-Sydney memorably kicked off its capital campaign, “It’s time, good men,” with a $30 million investment from Endeavour Legacy Foundation, led by Mrs. Katharine P. and Dr. Eugene W. Hickok '72.
How Firm a Foundation: The Rededication of Venable Hall
On October 24, 2024, at 4 p.m., Hampden-Sydney College held the rededication of Venable Hall.
A Legacy of Generosity
Together, Rodney and Carson Pitts ’15 have established the Rodney Carson Pitts ’15 Scholarship to enable qualified students from eastern North Carolina to experience the same high-quality education that Carson received at Hampden-Sydney.
Civic Engagement
Hampden-Sydney Fire & Rescue Sends Aid
Members of Hampden-Sydney Volunteer Fire & Rescue provided support to a Tennessee fire department affected by Hurricane Helene.
A Life-Saving Gift
An exemplary Hampden-Sydney man, Peyton Lambert ’27 courageously and selflessly donated his stem cells after discovering he was a match for a leukemia patient.
H-SC Gives Back to Farmville Community
As part of the Heat Watch Project, Hampden-Sydney students, faculty, and staff participated in a tree planting event at Farmville’s new splash pad.
College Rankings
H-SC Named “Best Value College”
The Princeton Review named Hampden-Sydney to its 2024 Best Value Colleges list, one of only 209 institutions in the nation to earn this ranking.
Hampden-Sydney Named to Best 390 Colleges List
Hampden-Sydney College has been named to The Princeton Review’s list of Best 390 Colleges for 2025 and made the top 10 in 10 categories.
H-SC Excels in Wall Street Journal College Rankings
Hampden-Sydney has achieved notable recognition in the Wall Street Journal's 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. rankings, affirming its status as a leading institution for higher education: notably, Hampden-Sydney was ranked third liberal arts school in the south.
U.S. News & World Report Ranks H-SC Amongst Best Colleges
Hampden-Sydney College has been ranked No. 103 among the 2025 Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
Athletics Success
The End of an Era
Head Football Coach Marty Favret left behind 24-years and a monumental impact on thousands of men he’s coached across more than two decades.
Tiger Basketball National Runner-Up
Hampden-Sydney College Basketball closed its historic season on Saturday, March 16, as the NCAA Championship National Runner-up.
Rick Jeffrey '75 Inducted into Virginia Sports Hall of Fame
Rick Jeffrey ’75 was honored by the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame as he was inducted in the 2024 Hall of Fame class and given the 2024 Distinguished Virginian Award.
Griff Aldrich ’96 Honored
Longwood University Men's Basketball Head Coach Griff Aldrich '96 was named a Skip Prosser Man of the Year finalist for the second year in a row.
Will Thomas '25 Named Semifinalist for 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®
The only semifinalist from the ODAC and among 44 selected from NCAA Division III, Hampden-Sydney defensive end Will Thomas '25 has been named a semifinalist for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football's premier scholar-athlete award known as the "Academic Heisman."
Community News
Stimpert Appointed to NAICU Board
Hampden-Sydney President Larry Stimpert was appointed to the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) Board of Directors, representing Region IV.
College Mourns Passing of Dr. Jim Simms
Elliott Emeritus Professor of History and Wilson Center Teaching Fellow James Young Simms, Jr. passed away on April 25, 2024.
Two Retiring Faculty Members Leave Mark on H-SC
With a combined total of 55 years on the Hill, the College bids farewell to two legendary professors, John Eastby and Paul Hemler.
Josiah Bunting III Publishes Book
Hampden-Sydney's 19th president recently published his seventh book, titled The Making of a Leader: The Formative Years of George C. Marshall.
College Announces Vice President for College Advancement
Hampden-Sydney is pleased to announce the appointment of James Hugh Haskins ’01 as Vice President for College Advancement.
H-SC Welcomes New Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement
Hampden-Sydney is pleased to announce that Liz Crowder was appointed as the new Director of Alumni and Parent Engagement, effective December 1, 2024.
Hampden-Sydney’s 250th Year
Hampden-Sydney College is commemorating 250 years of forming good men and good citizens with special programs, exhibits, field trips, classes, and research projects exploring the historical and intellectual foundations of the College. Stay up to date on the latest events and reflections surrounding this historic milestone by visiting the 250th anniversary website often. The following are notable keynote speakers of 2024.
Jeffrey Rosen delivered the Founders Day commemoration speech. Author of New York Times-bestseller The Pursuit of Happiness, Rosen discussed his examination of what “the pursuit of happiness” meant to our nation’s founders and how that famous phrase defined their lives and became the foundation of our democracy. Jeffrey Rosen is president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, a professor of law at the George Washington University Law School, and a contributing editor at The Atlantic. Watch the recording on YouTube.
The Honorable Robert Hurt ’91 delivered the opening convocation keynote address. He is an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Virginia’s 5th congressional district. In his address, he underscored the vital importance of civic virtue and leadership in today’s world, highlighting how knowledge and civility are essential for the formation of good men and good citizens. Watch the recording on YouTube.
David Brooks delivered the Class of 2024 Commencement address. He is a columnist for The New York Times, a contributor to The Atlantic, commentator on The PBS Newshour, and founder of Weave: the Social Fabric Project. His address outlined six activities that contribute to becoming a good man and a good citizen concluding that the journey to becoming a good man is inextricably linked with being a good citizen. Watch the recording on YouTube.
Join us for more events as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of Hampden-Sydney‘s founding.