As Hampden-Sydney College (H-SC) begins a new decade, the institution reflected in a press release on a few of the highlights of 2019, a banner year for the historic college.

Listing some of the highlights, officials said in the release, “A transformational $30 million gift for a new science facility, the launch of an experiential learning initiative, the opening of a new home for a flagship program, 188 men joining the nation’s fourth-best alumni network.”

Touching on some of those highlights again, the release then provided a formal list, organized into five major categories:

CAMPUS CONSTRUCTION

• A transformative $30 million gift supports the construction of the Pauley Science Center.

• The Pannill Center for Rhetoric and Communication opens.

• Construction on the highly anticipated new residence hall complex begins.

NATIONAL RANKINGS

• The Princeton Review rankings include recognition as being a Best Value College, having the nation’s fourth-best alumni network, fifth-best college library and being a top-20 school for internships.

• H-SC is named a 2019 “Great College to Work For.”

• Field & Stream names Hampden-Sydney among the Best Colleges for Hunters and Anglers.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

• Senior Charlie Wolfe is named a Goldwater Scholar — H-SC’s fourth in the last six years.

• Two new partnerships are announced:

• The University of Virginia Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and

• Cornell Institute for Public Affairs at Cornell University.

• 188 graduates of the class of 2019 join the nation’s fourth-best alumni network.

• Compass, an experiential learning program, officially launches.

ATHLETICS SUCCESS

• Golf finishes 12th at the 2019 NCAA Division III Men’s Golf Championships and finishes 2019 ranked fifth nationally in the Golfstat Division III Top 25.

• New Head Basketball Coach Caleb Kimbrough leads Tigers to six-game winning streak to conclude 2019 and enter 2020, including a victory over nationally ranked Guilford College.

• Tigers soccer earns the No. 1 seed in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference Tournament and breaks the school record with a 14-game unbeaten streak.

• Rugby becomes the Challenge Cup Champions of the National Small College Rugby Organization Cardinals Conference.

• Indoor/outdoor track is added to the varsity sport offerings.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• The Rhetoric Program celebrates its 40th anniversary. (technically 2018)

• The legendary Anita Garland retires after nearly 40 years as dean of admissions.

• The Wilson Leadership Fellows Program completes its inaugural year.