New Saint Andrews among top 50 ‘All-American Colleges’

By Kate Baldwin, Daily News staff writer

Applications to New Saint Andrews College are likely to skyrocket when it shows up in a soon-to-be released book that lists the nation’s top 50 “All-American Colleges.”

“I would be surprised if we didn’t have double or triple the applications next year,” said Roy Atwood, president of NSA. “It’ll open up the eastern part of the country to us.”

It won’t affect the number of students accepted, he said.

The school plans to maintain its limited enrollment structure. Atwood said the increased competition for the number of freshman slots will only enhance the overall quality of the incoming students.

The book doesn’t list any typical All-American colleges, instead it identifies: “All-American Colleges: Top Schools for Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals, and People of Faith.”

Intercollegiate Studies Institute compiled the list. The institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students select their college or university.

Atwood said his college would fall into the category of religiously oriented colleges, along with others like Thomas Aquinas College, Hope College and Calvin College.

“It’s a wonderful honor and it’s humbling,” Atwood said. “We know we have lots of areas to improve in; the fact they’re recognizing us for the quality of where we are now is very flattering.”

This fall the college will enter its 13th year, whereas others on the list, like Princeton and the University of Chicago, have been building their reputations for more than 100 years.

“It does give external affirmation or confirmation of the quality of things we’re doing here,” Atwood said. “The national recognition of that is very important to us.”

In the 413-page book, the profile of NSA earned six pages that detail the college for prospective students. The review included interviews from students and faculty to supplement information gathered from NSA’s general catalog.

It gave any incoming freshmen a fair warning of the intense reading requirements. It also described the welcoming community feel of the students and faculty on campus.

The book can be pre-ordered at www.isi.org/books or by calling (800) 526-7022. New Saint Andrews College will also carry the book in its bookstore.

Kate Baldwin can be reached at (208) 882-5561, ext. 239, or by e-mail at kbaldwin@dnews.com.

May 10, 2006

Ninth Commencement honors 26 graduates and
Pastor Jim Wilson for Distinguished Christian Service

The College's Ninth Commencement ceremony, held Wednesday, May 10, at the Logos Field House, drew more than 400 friends and families to honor the 26 members of the Class of 2006, and to honor Pastor Jim Wilson, of Community Christian Ministries, with the College's first Distinguished Christian Service Award.

The College faculty also recognized Jon Dion, Lindsey Leithart, Jess Monnette, Brooke Moody and Ty Rallens as this year's Outstanding Students. Ty Rallens delivered the class address, and Lindsey Leithart read poetry during the ceremony. Eric Engerbretson, Tom Garfield, and Douglas Wilson gave the principal commencement addresses that also paid tribute to Jim Wilson .

See Spring 2006 News Archive for more photos and stories of the 2006 graduates.