Cherry Starting in Chicago on December 18, 2024, President C. Andrew McGadney and colleagues set out on a tour to launch the College’s first comprehensive campaign in more than 20 years. With visits to 10 cities around the country, the Knox community of alumni, parents, and friends, came together to celebrate Knox’s past and future.
On May 2, 2025, the Venture Boldly tour returned home to Knox and Galesburg to celebrate both Knox’s historic past and bold future, as well as the historic partnership with its hometown. Hundreds of members of the Knox and Galesburg communities participated in celebrations both off and on the Knox College campus.
Venture Boldly Galesburg included two events—A Bold Future for Knox & Galesburg: A Conversation with the City and College that was held over the noon hour in the Community Room in the newly renovated Galesburg Public Library, and the Venture Boldly Celebration, featuring food, music, conversations, presentations, music and a drone show, in the evening on South Lawn of Old Main. Both were open to members of the Knox and Galesburg communities.
A Bold Future for Knox & Galesburg
With more than 80 community members in attendance, this standing-room-only event focused on a conversation on the future of community and college relations. Galesburg mayor and Knox professor Peter Schwartzman—who brought along a Knox College hat and a Galesburg hat to represent the “two hats” he wears in the community—moderated the conversation, which featured Knox College Vice President Brad Nolden, Vice President and Chief of Staff Heather Bumps, Galesburg City Manager Eric Hansen, and City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz. All shared their visions for a better partnership between Knox and Galesburg.
Increased communication and interaction between the two communities was the focus of the dialogue as community and college leaders expressed desires to strengthen bonds between the City and the College. Bringing more students to Knox and keeping them in and around Galesburg after receiving their degree, revitalizing the currently under-utilized Standish Park as a way to better connect Knox and Galesburg were two important talking points of the panel. Discussions of improving East Main Street, public transportation, job opportunities, and ways to encourage local start-up businesses were ideas presented to increase community appeal.
The group also fielded questions from the gathered audience. Issues ranging from improved housing to embracing international and non-local students, as well as ways to increase collaborations between the community and college including opportunities for students to pursue internships, relationships, and partnerships with local businesses and community members. Mayor Schwartzman concluded the event by encouraging more public forums between Galesburg and Knox leaders to continue dialogue and begin the process of putting ideas into action.
Venture Boldly Celebration
As the sun set over the Knox Campus, hundreds of Knox students, alumni, faculty, staff, and Galesburg friends joined together on the South Lawn of Old Main to celebrate the Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign.
The evening began with food and conversation under the tent, with music provided by the Cherry Street Combo. Attendees, many of whom traveled from out-of-state to attend the festivities, visited with each other, took photos and enjoyed the evening’s program which included an introduction from Chair of the Board of Trustees John Lawler ’88, who welcomed attendees to the event and highlighted the transformational education Knox provides–one that he especially appreciated as a first-generation college student. He also highlighted the importance of the College’s immersive programs, one of Knox’s most unique offerings that provide students with transformative experiences that enhance and enrich their Knox education.
Professor of Modern Languages Robin Ragan shared that the ability to take her students on trips where they help provide needed Spanish translation skills is due to generous support from Knox. “All of this is possible because of Knox's financial support, and the community's moral support. So I thank you for all that you do and all you have done to keep immersive learning alive and relevant,” Ragan shared.
Ragan was joined by senior Dayana Gonzalez Lopez, who shared the powerful impact the experiences she had traveling with Ragan had on her, particularly as the daughter of immigrants. Ragan and Lopez were followed by Assistant Professor of Political Science Thomas Bell and junior Reese Miller, who both spoke about the Chicago summer immersive course, Life, Work, Community, and Culture in the Second City.
“Each and every experience that Knox has cultivated for me has made me not only a better student in the classroom, but also a better athlete on the football field, a better brother of Beta Theta Pi, and a better person that will go on to represent and advocate for this institution by wearing the purple and gold for the rest of my life,” shared Miller.
Assistant Professor of History Jessa Dahl ’10 and senior Navaeh Andrade followed to share their experiences with Japan Term, one of Knox’s longest running immersive programs. Andrade shared that Japan Term “gave me friendships, creative inspiration, personal growth and memories that I know I will carry with me long after college,” a sentiment that Dahl, who participated in Japan Term as a student, shared. “Without Japan Term, there’s a good chance I would not be here, right now, part of reviving the program,” said Dahl.
After a video highlighting Knox athletics, and some hype from the College mascot, Blaze, Head Football Coach Aaron Willits ’08 and senior Aleene Ramirez took the stage to speak about the importance that Prairie Fire athletics has on the student experience.
“Born and raised just 45 minutes north of here, a first generation college student from Aledo, Illinois, I can say that Knox College changed my life,” said Willits. Ramirez followed by noting that she “will always be grateful for the opportunity I was given to not only play the sport I love, but to create community and connection along the way.”
Director of the Galesburg Underground Railroad Freedom Station Owen Muelder ’63, P’96 took the stage after the Galesburg premier of the Venture Boldly campaign video (narrated by Muelder’s daughter, Caitlin Muelder ’96, and her husband, Scott Ferrara). Introducing President C. Andrew McGadney, Muelder shared his appreciation for Knox’s 20th president. “Many of us faced with something difficult spend too much time thinking only about the problem, but Andy views problems as opportunities. This is a remarkable quality; particularly in a college president. In short, Andy McGadney is the right person for Knox at the right time,” he said before President McGadney took the stage.
After thanking both the attendees, including members of the Board of Trustees and Alumni Council, President McGadney took a moment to thank members of the Venture Boldly Campaign Cabinet for their support. McGadney then shared his excitement for returning home to Galesburg after traveling to 10 Venture Boldly events around the country before asking the crowd, “How do you take a great college and make it even better?”
“You make strategic investments. You think and act boldly. And you launch the largest comprehensive campaign in Knox College’s history,” he shared.
McGadney highlighted examples of investments that have built momentum and interest in Knox: The opening of the new Knight Living & Learning Facility at Green Oaks, a record-setting fall 2025 class, and updates to residence halls and other buildings on campus. He concluded by sharing his vision for the College’s future growth–the foundation for the Venture Boldly campaign—that included more investments in student success, faculty support, and partnerships with Galesburg.
To date, nearly $112 million dollars has been raised against a campaign goal of $175 million. Donations and support for the Venture Boldly comprehensive campaign fund the College’s most pressing needs, as well as short and long-term strategic priorities that support students' success and outcomes, faculty teaching and research, and mission of the College.
President McGadney was followed by the Knox College Choir, who led more than 500 attendees in the traditional singing of the Hail to Alma Mater. Guests were then directed to the sky above the South Lawn to watch a drone show that honored Knox and Galesburg, past and present. The cover band Hey Jimmy closed the evening with dancing and fun. See photos on Knox College’s Flickr page.
While Venture Boldly Galesburg was the last launch event for the campaign tour, stay tuned to the Venture Boldly website for more information about progress toward goals, upcoming events, and ways to stay involved.