College of St. Benedict

The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University have strong enrollment numbers again this year. Their combined enrollment is 3,906.

Members of Minnesota College Republicans are protesting a ban on bottled water at the College of St. Benedict's. This fall the college in St. Joseph became the first school in the state to ban the sale of bottled water in campus vending machines, cafeterias and sporting events.

The College of St. Benedict has been awarded two grants totaling nearly $800,000. The money comes from the National Science Foundation, and will support the school's chemistry department.

The class of 2015 has arrived on the campuses of The College of St. Benedict and St. John's University.

When the sisters arrived in St. Joseph they began to plan a college that girls could attend to become teachers. By 1905, the plans were finalized and the development phase began, and the first of the buildings on campus were contracted for in 1911. Then in 1913, the college opened its doors for the first time with a small but dedicated staff.

You can't buy a bottle of water at the College of St. Benedict. They've become the first college in Minnesota, and only one of nine in the country, to ban the sale of plain, plastic bottled water.

Hundreds of aspiring future basketball superstars will be competing in St. Joseph over the next two weekends. Pacesetter Sports is hosting the 2011 Minnesota State Youth Championships at the College of St. Benedict, and other area courts.

The City of St. Joseph has a new sewer agreement with the College of St. Benedict and the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict. The City Council unanimously approved the agreement during last (Thursday) night's meeting.

The College of St. Benedict is moving ahead with a couple multi-million dollar projects. One is the addition of a $55 million academic building. Sue Palmer is the Vice President for Finance and Administration. She says it will be built just to the south of the Haehn Campus Center, on a space that's currently a parking lot. It will house the psychology, economics, computer science, and math departments.

Young women from around the state will be in St. Joseph this weekend, competing to be a finalist for the next Princess Kay of the Milky Way. The Midwest Dairy Association will name the 12 finalists on Sunday, during a luncheon at the Gorecki Center at the College of St. Benedict.