Valparaiso University

Imagine, it's 1859, a flock of 75 eager students waiting to unravel their academic journey at a new establishment that the locals of Valparaiso have worked hard to set up. They've put together $11,000 as a heartwarming nod of endorsement for the Methodist Church to step forth and shape these aspiring minds. This was among the first few coeducational institutions in the country, where the tuition cost as little as $8 per term with three terms annually.You couldn't believe the living costs either, just around $2 per week!

Now let's leap a bit into the future. 1873 to be exact. The financial troubles led to a temporary closure, but it found a savior in Henry Baker Brown. The institution was revived and renamed the Northern Indiana Normal School and Business Institute. By 1900, it took another leap becoming Valparaiso College, reaching its zenith as a university only six years later. You see, Brown was a visionary. He spotted the colossal potential a medical school acquisition brought and scooped up the American College of Medicine and Surgery. Smart move, right?

Probably the biggest testament of Valparaiso's seeming 'infinite reach' came in 1907 when student enrollment soared, second only to Harvard University, no less! Despite their humble origins, the students here didn’t just study; they played too. The first intercollegiate athletic game commenced in 1916 in the form of a basketball match against the Chicago YMCA Training School. Bet you those games were exhilarating to watch.

Valparaiso weathered many storms, be it World War I, the 1917 bankruptcy or the grim building fire of 1923. But then along came the 20th century's Roaring Twenties, bringing a massive, reassuring lifeline - none other than the Lutheran University Association. This association of stalwarts walked a lonely path looking to build an academic institution, standing tall independently without any denominational shackles. They bought Valparaiso in 1925 and still operate it till this day with fostering and fruitful ties to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Now let's cruise through the late twenties where accreditation from the esteemed North Central Association of Colleges and Schools painted a new growth curve. 1930 was another milestone year, welcoming the conception of the Valparaiso University Guild. This body emerged as a much-needed unit to aid students, help in philanthropy, and kickstart the Alumni Association 4 years later. They also began a novel initiative of cooperative education program with Purdue University in 1938 and started the Department of Art 3 years later. These were the kind of strides that made Valparaiso a force to reckon with in the academic world.

Then there came the charismatic leader, O.P. Kretzmann, ascending to the University's presidency in 1940. He held the reins steady and firm for a remarkable 28 years, marking this tenure with revolutionary changes lasting till the present-day. Kretzmann's key strategic moves like developing an Honor Code in 1943, facilitating the Chapel of the Resurrection's establishment in 1959, initiating the nuclear physics lab in the 1970s are what Valparaiso fondly remembers him for.

Our story naturally turns westwards to the 21st century, where milestones like the introduction of the Lilly Fellows Program in 1991 and the men's basketball team's sensational Sweet Sixteen run mark the University's towering legacy. As it surged into a new millennium, the influence spread far and wide, from Phi Beta Kappa's 2004 chapter to the 2013 solar furnace and research facility establishment.

Now hold up. All is not rosy at Valparaiso. Struggles began surfacing from 2015, affecting student enrollment and retention. This culminated in a drastic hit following the COVID-19 pandemic, causing financial stress and the painful decision of discontinuing numerous undergraduate programs and faculty positions. Coupled with the Indiana Attorney General's 2021 investigation into alleged Chinese propaganda promotion, Valparaiso seems caught in a vortex of controversy and economic stress.

In this rich journey, Valparaiso University has shown resilience in the face of adversity. It has weathered storms, faced controversies and soldiered on, upholding its commitment to education. This spirit continues to inspire the next generation of young minds, instilling in them the belief that, no matter the odds, they can rise, adapt and conquer their dreams.