John F. Kennedy College was founded in 1965 in Wahoo, Nebraska, United States, one of six colleges started by small-town businessmen on the model of Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. The college was named after President John F. Kennedy. Due to a drop in enrollment, financial difficulties and 3 fires[1] following the end of the military conscription draft in 1973, Kennedy College closed in 1975.[2]
 | |
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Active | 1965–1975 |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Rural |
| Mascot | Patriots / Patriettes |
Athletics
editJFK College was a pioneer in intercollegiate women's athletics. The softball team won the first three Women's College World Series championships in 1969–71.[3][4] They were excluded from the May, 1972, tournament by a decision of the Nebraska Women's Intercollegiate Sports Council in April, which barred schools from appearing in the WCWS if it gave scholarships to any women athletes, not just softball players. JFK openly awarded partial women's basketball scholarships, as that sport was governed by a non-collegiate organization, the AAU.[5]
The women's basketball team, winners of several AAU titles in 1972 and 1973, helped to further the diplomatic thaw in Sino-American relations in 1973 by representing the U.S. on a tour of games in the People's Republic of China, which was the subject of an article in Sports Illustrated.[6] The basketball team also advanced to the final game of the National Women's Invitational Tournament in 1972, 1973 and 1974, falling to the same team (Wayland Baptist) each year.
Parsons Plan
editThe "Parsons Plan" academic model was the brainchild of Millard Roberts, the president of Parsons College from 1955 to 1967. The multi-faceted plan featured innovative teaching and administrative techniques, and emphasized the recruitment of a geographically and academically diverse student body. Among other characteristics, the "Parsons Plan" schools welcomed unconventional students who had not seen success at other colleges. In the 1960s, the schools were also attended by a substantial number of young men seeking draft deferments that would allow them to avoid military service during the Vietnam War.
Current usage
editIn 2004 a private physician bought the former library for use as an office. Since then, several buildings have been renovated.[7] Some of the land was sold to a housing developer, and a developer built condominiums for senior citizens on part of the campus.[8]
Three of the buildings remain empty.[8] The building's grass is still being mowed however many of the buildings are suffering decay, with glass shattered, many warning signs outside, doors that are boarded up[9] no images online show the inside.
Reunions
editThey had a 50th anniversary reunion of the first fully graduating class in 2010[10]
In October 2019, many coaches, students and staff of the college had a reunion[11] "A good time was had by all" as stated on a student and teacher website
References
edit- ^ "John F. Kennedy College". John F. Kennedy College. Bottom of the page. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Luebke, F. (2005) Nebraska: An Illustrated History. University of Nebraska Press. p 315.
- ^ Mary L. Littlewood (1998). Women's Fastpitch Softball - The Path to the Gold, An Historical Look at Women's Fastpitch in the United States (first ed.). National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Columbia, Missouri. pp. 145, 208. ISBN 0-9664310-0-6.
- ^ Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
- ^ Gaarder, Nancy (December 21, 2022). "Lost to history: Nebraska's three-peat college softball champions paid the price for equity". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
- ^ William Johnson (1973-07-02). "Courting Time In Peking - It was friendship first, competition second as Americans drank toasts, met Madame Mao and learned that "lan chiu" is a Chinese addiction". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2011-04-22.
- ^ Pesek, C. (2004) "New life on a once-crumbling campus" Archived 2008-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Lincoln Journal Star. April 19, 2004. Retrieved 1/22/08.
- ^ a b Star, KEVIN ABOUREZK / Lincoln Journal (2010-08-02). "Epilogue: A closed campus". JournalStar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ trishwriter (2015-02-23). "Abandoned John F. Kennedy College". Abandoned, Forgotten, & Decayed. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Good Press". John F. Kennedy College. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Bios 2019". John F. Kennedy College. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
External links
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