Middlebury College

Nearly two centuries ago, on a cold November day in 1800, Middlebury College transformed from a vision into reality. The College emerged from the fertile roots of the Addison County Grammar School, a center of knowledge and enlightenment that had opened its doors for the first time in 1797. This new chapter in the realm of higher education was spearheaded with the tenacious efforts of Jeremiah Atwater, Middlebury's first president. Within days of obtaining the charter, Atwater set the ball rolling, marking Middlebury as the premier operating college or university in the picturesque state of Vermont.

Our maiden student, the determined Aaron Petty, graduated in August 1802. His graduation was a significant milestone that marked Middlebury's first-ever commencement ceremony. While it had a faint essence of Congregationalist affiliation, the vision for the College was more of a town's aspiration than a clerical mandate. This made Middlebury more of "the Town's College" than a religious school.

Out of the noble fraternity of our foundings fathers, two names are profoundly etched in Middlebury's history - Seth Storrs and Gamaliel Painter. Storrs was the creative mind who birthed the idea of the college, and Painter was an early and generous benefactor. Our graduates are reminded of Painter's generosity at each graduation, as they receive a replica of his cane, a tradition that dates back to the time when Painter's original cane was bequeathed to the college.

As a college that values diversity, Middlebury was proud to facilitate the graduation of Alexander Twilight in 1823. Twilight not only left his mark at Middlebury as the first black graduate but also across America. He ascended to the pedestal of being the first African-American elected to public office, joining the Vermont House of Representatives in 1836.

In 1883, Middlebury took another giant stride toward inclusivity. The college trustees decided to open the doors to women students, making Middlebury one of the pioneering all-male liberal arts colleges in New England to champion coeducation. May Belle Chellis, the first female scholar to graduate from Middlebury, accomplished this feat in 1886. Her torch was carried forward by the brilliant Mary Annette Anderson, who etched her name in Middlebury's history as the first African-American woman to be elected to Phi Beta Kappa in 1899.

Middlebury's unwavering commitment to expansion and development resulted in a century of sprawling physical growth that began with the turn of the century in 1900. From the first three buildings of the Old Stone Row, the campus saw the addition of architectural marvels like the Egbert Starr Library, Warner Hall, McCullough Hall, and Voter Hall amongst others. The college's commitment to progressive education was witnessed in the 1914 pedagogy, biology, and sociology courses that extensively covered the notable subject of eugenics.

A fascinating thing about Middlebury is that we embrace the traditions of the past while propelling into the future. The college discouraged traditional fraternities in the early 1990s, favoring less ritualized social houses. Moreover, the college founded the first undergraduate Environmental Studies program in the United States in 1965 - a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability.

In recent years, Middlebury has continued to grow and prosper. We received our most generous gift yet in May 2004 when an anonymous donor bestowed a $50 million endowment to the college. The college saw further physical expansion with the addition of new libraries, dorms, academic buildings, and athletic facilities. In 2005, Middlebury broadened its horizons with an affiliation agreement with the Monterey Institute of International Studies in California.

As time passed, Middlebury geared up to play a vital role in the battle against climate change. In 2016, the college made a pledge to attain carbon neutrality. To achieve this, a biomass gasification plant was constructed along with several solar and wind installations, aiming to lessen reliance on traditional fuel sources and cut carbon emissions.

Middlebury has seen its share of controversies too. Notable amongst these was an incident in March 2017 when political scientist Charles Murray was prevented from speaking at the campus. The incident led to passionate discussions on the essence of free speech, with measures in place to ensure non-recurrence of such incidents.

In January 2019, Middlebury reconfirmed its commitment to environmental consciousness with the endorsement of the Energy2028 Plan. This plan aims to divest from the fossil fuel industry, shift towards renewable energy, reduce energy consumption, implement an internal carbon tax, and rejuvenate environmental education initiatives on the campus. The storyline of the college's growth and evolution continues till today, with each chapter peppered with memorable milestones. Middlebury College stays true to its roots while embracing the challenges and opportunities of the future, all the while nurturing the bright, young minds