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Eureka College was founded by abolitionists from Kentucky who were members of a religious movement known as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and were committed to providing young people a broad, liberal education. These pioneers believed in an education infused with values as a basis for leadership. Chartered by the Illinois Legislature in 1855, Eureka was the first college in the state and third in the nation to admit men and women on an equal basis. Eureka College was designated by the National Park Service as a Campus Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places in June 2010.

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We're recognized as a top college in Illinois for vocations like teacher education, nursing, communications, and criminal justice, and we're adding new courses for emerging careers like early childhood and sports management. A Eureka College education prepares you for more than just your first job: it equips you to become a leader in your field and community.

Maroon and Gold: November 2025

November 05, 2025

Greetings

"Quality is never an accident. Is the result of intelligent effort."

John Ruskin

Eureka excellence, what is it? According to Ruskin quality is never accidental. It is the result of intelligent, strategic, and sustained effort. It is not perfection nor is it flawless. It is the perpetual pursuit of superior results. In my view, the excellence that Eureka College exhibits is in its faculty, students, and its alumni.

This past homecoming weekend, alumni excellence was on display. The alumni celebration was over capacity with a room full of people celebrating the outstanding quality that exists among Eureka alumni. Of course, we all know about President Ronald W Reagan the 40th president of the United States, he is one of the greatest alumni to ever graduate from Eureka. Also, there are thousands of incredible alumni who graduated from Eureka, whose last name is not Reagan. In this issue of Maroon and Gold, you will see some of the names of the people who were recognized along with the award winners who are doing fabulous work around the country and throughout the world. We are proud of them and are thankful that they maintain their Eureka ties. I look forward to celebrating the wonderful work that they will continue to do in the future.

Speaking of President Reagan, another way we will be celebrating Eureka excellence (#eurekaexcellence) is combining the Run with Reagan and the Fall of the Wall events. Ronald Reagan broke many barriers starting when he attended Eureka College, long before he asked Mr. Gorbachev, “To tear down this wall”. The Run with Reagan 2025 features runners who run in memory of the legacy of President Reagan while celebrating his boundary breaking work as a radio announcer, an actor, television personality, and a politician. By registering for the race, clicking here to make a gift to support runners or a gift to support students, you are helping athletes in the Cross Country program and providing Reagan Fellows with a platform to succeed.

Eureka excellence means that we are all (faculty, staff, students, alumni, board members) are intentionally investing in the future of the next great group of alumni – the current students. There has been a great response to the Fall Appeal 1855 mailing. On December 2, we will launch Giving Back Eureka, which will replace Giving Tuesday and start the season of Giving Back (year-end). It is as Ruskin said, quality is never accidental. It is intentional and purposeful. I encourage you, during the season of giving back throughout the end of the year, to be intentional and make a commitment to the next group of great Eureka alumni like so many of those who we celebrated at the Alumni Celebration by being engaged. I thank all of you who I’ve had the opportunity to meet and who are committed and giving to encourage Eureka excellence. Let us push hard into the end of the year to continue to move forward to raise the excellence of Eureka to the next level.

As I end this thought on Eureka excellence, I have to talk about the advancement team. We have assembled one of the best teams on the campus and in this region and it’s been my pleasure to lead these outstanding individuals in a collective effort to engage partners raise support and promote the overall well-being of Eureka College. One of our very best team members is moving to her next chapter of her professional career, Monica Coleman ’05. She didn’t just serve in the role of director of Grants and Foundations; she founded the office and developed the system. In the last 4 years she, in collaboration with faculty members and staff members, secured over $9 million dollars in grants and foundation support. Monica is not only a valued team member, but a dear friend and the advancement team salutes her as she moves to the next level of excellence in her following role. If you know Monica, please send her an email. Call her to recognize what she contributed to her alma mater during her tenure.

Cheers,

ARTO

Dr. Arto Woodley

Maroon & Gold Events

Run with Reagan -Fall of Wall- November 8

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Homecoming 2025

It was such a joy to see so many of you at Homecoming this year! We had a fantastic turnout, with plenty of activities to enjoy and meaningful moments to reconnect and show our Eureka pride. Enjoy these photos from the games and festivities.

Men's Soccer

Women's Soccer

Tailgating

Alumni Celebration

We are proud to celebrate our alumni who are making a meaningful impact in the world. This year we honored our Golden E’s, recognized the accomplishments of recent graduates, and celebrated those who have excelled in their distinguished careers — all with a record-breaking number of family and alumni in attendance to cheer them on.

Steve Peters '73
Alumni Board President's
Award for Service

Tearalla Herbert '81
Alumni Board President's
Award for Service

Margo Hodges '89
Alumni Outstanding Achievement

Russell Page '09
Alumni Outstanding Achievement

Aries Pickett '05
Award of Merit

Christina Nixon '02
Award of Merit

Leah Bohlmann, '16
Outstanding New Alumnus

Jordan Morris, '18
Outstanding New Alumnus

Abbi Stuaan '07
President's Servant Leader Award

1855 Steering Committee
Alumni Board President's
Award for Service

Accepting the award and pictured above: Eileen Setti '93 and Vince Vega '19 pictured with Dr. Jamal Wright, President of Eureka College. Also on the committee, not pictured, are Valerie Ware '81 and Siji Moore '06.

Golden E's: Class of 1975
Pictured L-R: Calvita (Frederick) Sowell, Debra (Carr) Davis-Moody, Martita (Arnold) Orange, Terry Roche, Lynne (Rio) Roche, Mel Weith, Diane (Snowden) Hayes, Chere (Cravens) Peters, Sherry (Lindstrom) James, and Joseph James

News from 'neath the Elms

Student journalists and contributors from The Eureka College Pegasus report on the news around campus and beyond.

Editor-in-Chief Leah Smolen discusses mandatory attendance and graduation badge policies for the new school year

Associate Editor Ronnie Valverde explores study abroad at Eureka

Addison Byers looks at the new pre-medical club for students on campus

Morgan Oginsky profiles the men's and women's soccer seasons

Madison Farris introduces the new Red Devils men's volleyball program

Hope Walter talks to out-of-state professors about adjusting to life in the Midwest

If you want more campus news, check out our growing online archive at pegasus.eureka.edu.

Red Devil Spotlight

Ronald Temple '64 - A History Maker

Ronald Temple

Education administrator Ronald J. Temple was born on September 10, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois. A graduate of Marshall High School in Chicago, Illinois he received his B.A. degree in 1964 from Eureka College, in Eureka, Illinois, and his M.A. degree in 1965, and later his Ph.D. degree in 1985, both from the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In 1965, he began his career teaching at Lyons Township High School and Junior College in La Grange, Illinois. Temple was hired by the University of Cincinnati as assistant dean of student groups, becoming the university’s first black senior-level administrator in 1967. In 1969, he founded and served as the first president of the United Black Faculty Association as well as the University of Cincinnati’s first American urban history instructor. In 1971, Temple was promoted to serve as special assistant to University of Cincinnati president Warren Bennis where he campaigned for increased state support for the university. That same year, he was appointed to the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education where he served for four years until 1975. Temple was then promoted to dean of the university and served in this role for ten years from 1975 to 1985.

Then in 1985, Temple became president of Wayne County Community College in Detroit, Michigan and over a five year period worked to reduce the college’s $2 million deficit. He was then hired as the third president of the Community College of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania where he served from 1990 to 1993, focusing on improving the college’s vocational training programs and partnerships with area businesses. Temple served as chancellor of Chicago City Colleges from 1993 to 1999 before becoming chancellor of Peralta Community College District in Oakland, California where he served from 1999 to 2003 before retiring.

Temple was appointed to serve on the National BSA Executive Board in 1994 and on the Program Group Committee. He later served on the Chicago Area Council Executive Board. Temple was also a recipient of the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo Awards in 1998.

Ronald J. Temple was interviewed by The HistoryMakers on July 12, 2018.

Temple passed away on November 26, 2020.

Celebrating Newlyweds Vince and Caitlin

Congratulations to Vince Vega '19 and Caitlin Anderson ‘19! They married on September 20, 2025. Best wishes to this incredible couple as they embark on their new life together.

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It's easy to join! Simply make an online recurring monthly gift of $18.55 or more to the Fund for Excellence, General Scholarships, or the Reagan Scholarship Fund.

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