As the final hours of 2024 tick away, we look back on a year of growth, achievement, and remarkable community at Patrick Henry College. 2024 has been filled with stories that highlight the Lord's blessing and favor. We've seen the creation of a new academic program and seasoned programs winning championships. Against declines in higher education trends, PHC opened a new dorm last spring and enrolled a record freshman class last August. We have celebrated several alumni accomplishments this year as well.
In this New Year's Eve reflection, we revisit the top news stories that shaped the year at PHC—articles that illustrate what God can do with a few who are committed to faithfully preparing the next generation of leaders for Christ and for Liberty!
So, whether you’ve followed along all year or are just discovering these stories, join us in celebrating the moments that made 2024 a year to remember. Here’s to looking back with gratitude and looking forward with anticipation as we head into a new year of opportunity and growth at Patrick Henry College!
Students fight for life
[Enjoy this powerful recap of the 2024 March for Life event in Washington, D.C.]
To be pro-life is to champion the dignity of every human being in every stage of development and in every condition of life. To be pro-life is to combat the lie that a person's age, or socioeconomic status, or ethnicity, or origin, or position, or title or anything else in any way apportions their value.
It has been two-and-a-half years since Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—when the states reclaimed legislative power on the abortion issue. For the pro-life community at PHC, the job is not done. Dobbs was a victory, but not the final victory.
Last winter break, students from Patrick Henry College campaigned with Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. Read the story.
Also, on January 19, more than 40 students headed to Washington, D.C. to march for the sanctity of life. Click the graphic above to view that message or click to read the story.
PHC's 6th graduate to clerk for the Supreme Court
Patrick Henry College alumnus Chris Baldacci has been selected to clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas for the 2026 term. Baldacci is PHC’s 6th graduate to serve as a clerk for a justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Read the story.
PHC announces the launch of a new theology major
The administration at PHC recently approved the school’s newest major: Theology and The Bible. The program becomes available in the fall of 2025. Dr. Graeden Zorzi, Professor of Theology, and Dr. Matthew Roberts, Professor of Philosophy, spearheaded the new major’s curriculum development. Read the story!
PHC's first-ever graduate to be elected to the House of Representatives
Rep. Evans is PHC’s first-ever graduate to be elected to the House of Representatives. Read the story!
Homecoming was a highlight of the year
A picture is worth a thousand words! Our alumni returned to their old stomping grounds once again this year, bringing the PHC community together and enjoying fun activities. We captured a few of our favorite Homecoming moments. View the slideshow here!
Dr. James on how the culture has “deinstitutionalized” marriage
In her Faith & Reason lecture “Marriage: Divine Design, Demonic Attack—The Normative Goodness of Manhood, Womanhood and Marriage,” Dr. James explained how the culture has “deinstitutionalized” marriage by labeling it a social construct. “Today, at a popular level, most people assume that marriage is all about the personal happiness of the individuals concerned.” Read the story.
An amazing new dormitory opens
“My jaw dropped to the floor upon entering,” sophomore Emily Coit said. She and her wingmates were the first through the door for Shiloh’s March 15 open house. “It felt like I was walking into a luxury apartment!”
Read the story and watch a walk-through video here.
PHC Student Olivia Green speaks at the Supreme Court
Senior Olivia Green spoke at the Alliance Defending Freedom rally held outside the Supreme Court on March 26 regarding the hearing of Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. Green spoke against the lie that abortion access is the ultimate sign of women's empowerment. Read the story.
PHC's academic program ranks highest among Protestant colleges in the nation
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) recently listed Patrick Henry College among only nine institutions—of the 1,134 they evaluated—to earn an "A+" rating in accordance with their What Will They Learn?® rating system. Read the story.
PHC's Cyber Strategy team wins the Cyber 9/12 competition!
Congratulations, S.I. students! PHC’s Cyber Strategy team won the New York regional Cyber 9/12 competition. In this cyber competition, hosted by the Atlantic Council, PHC students finished in this virtual contest ahead of Air Force Command and Staff College and the West Point Military Academy in the final round. Read the story!
PHC launches The Imago Dei, a free video course online
If Christians want to find a path forward through many of the controversial issues facing the church and society today, we’ll find that path by looking again at what it means that God made us—all of us—in His own image.
Launched in June, Patrick Henry College announces its very first free, online video course, The Imago Dei. This course examines the idea that human beings are created in the image of God. If we’re made in God’s image, that changes how we should live. It helps us think wisely about the most controversial issues of our day.
Another record year for the nation's premier forensics program
Forensics is training in the art of advocacy and hones a student’s skills in research, critical thinking, and communication. From the Latin term forensic, which means “of a forum or place of assembly,” forensics competition prepares students to excel in the public arena by teaching them to think deeply, speak articulately, and write persuasively; skills which will enable them to be effective ambassadors for Christ as they engage our culture with compassion and integrity.
At Patrick Henry College, we focus on three main styles of presentation: civic debate (argumentation concerning current events and issues impacting society), moot court (appellate legal advocacy as before the Supreme Court), and mock trial (trial advocacy, with students portraying witnesses and attorneys in a trial setting).
The 2023-2024 season
God’s goodness surrounded the Patrick Henry College forensics program this year, enabling our students and coaches to achieve remarkable success as they used their talents for His glory. We are thankful for the investment of our coaches—many of them alumni—as they guided our students in developing godly character and winsome communication. We celebrate His care and give Him the glory for the blessings He bestowed. The program continues to grow in both size and impact. PHC trained and developed over 130 competitive orators in a single year, the largest forensics program in the nation.
Last year the Moot Court Program fielded 45 in-house teams and 18 travel teams, Mock Trial fielded 4 in-house teams and 3 travel teams, and our Debate Program fielded over 30 competitors in various in-house and travel teams.
Civic Debate: 1st place win
Debaters Hannah Bruck, Eden Mackie, and Josiah Todd won 1st place in the Transatlantic Dialogues International debate competition in Paris, France on June 24. “Their performance in the final round was the best I had seen them perform over the course of the year to date,” debate coach Ryan McDonald (APP, ’16) said. Three PHC freshmen were declared the Novice Division Champions at the Social Justice Fall Championship. Additionally, PHC took 2nd and 1st place at the Miami Oceans Debates. PHC debaters also brought home the gold in the IPDA Online National Championship!
Moot Court: #2 team in the nation
Patrick Henry College finished the season ranked as the #1 collegiate moot court team in the nation. PHC teams earned 13 bids to the new middle level of the National Championship (“Preliminary Nationals”); one more than the maximum allotment of 12. Our Pre-Nats teams earned seven spots to the National Championship, three more than the maximum of four allotted per school. In the National Championship Oral Advocacy competition, all four teams advanced to elimination rounds. Calvin Huh and Trinity Klomparens earned 1st place in Brief Writing, and Ainsley Stellman and Jason Chahyadi earned 2nd place for Oral Advocacy.
Mock Trial: 2 All-American Awards
Patrick Henry College’s Mock Trial team earned a spot at Nationals for the 4th year in a row! PHC’s Amber team took 10th place in its division. In all, individual competitors won 22 awards. Caleb Knox won an All-American Attorney award and Joshua Revoir won an All-American Witness award.
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Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.