POSSIBILITIES

THE HEART OF THE HILL

by Dr. Susanna L. Baxter, 26th President of LaGrange College

As a new fall semester begins, our campus is coming alive once again with the energy of returning students. I so look forward to the vibrancy and enthusiasm they bring after the quiet summer months. With all of our residence halls slated to be full, the Hill soon will be busy and bustling with activity.

The contrast to my arrival five years ago couldn’t be more striking. Then, at the height of the COVID pandemic, most gatherings weren’t possible. As a new president, I was so distant from those I was wanting to be in relationship with. I remember watching students from afar as they moved in one at a time. I found that the only way to interact was to stand in Glover Garden and speak to students as they walked by on their way to class. If I met with a group of faculty, we would gather outside, six feet apart with masks. It sounds like a terrible sci-fi plot now.

At LaGrange College, real relationships are at the heart of who we are. When students connect with faculty, coaches and staff, the magic of transformation happens. Through engaging classroom discussions, mentorship and hands-on experiences, our students thrive in a close-knit community that nurtures them today—and propels them toward a bright future.

Our caring community is the key that unlocks student potential. Thank you for being a part of the LC family that makes such transformation possible.