King's College (Pennsylvania)

King's College was founded in 1946 by Congregation of Holy Cross priests and brothers from the University of Notre Dame.^[4] The original mission of the college was to educate the sons of local miners and mill workers who lived in the Northeastern Pennsylvania region.^[5] The college's Administration Building indicates the links to the coal mining industry: Built in 1913, it was designed by Daniel Burnham of Chicago to serve as the headquarters of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company.

The institution's chapel, The Chapel of Christ the King, is located on West North Street. It features a 4,200-pound (1,900 kg) anthracite altar, highlighting the relationship between the coal industry and the institution. It was created for King's in 1954 by renowned African-American sculptor and Wilkes-Barre resident, C. Edgar Patience.^[6]

In June 1972, massive flooding occurred in downtown Wilkes-Barre. Rains from Tropical Storm Agnes caused the neighboring Susquehanna River to overflow and flood most of the campus.^[7]

The campus covers nearly 50 acres in downtown Wilkes-Barre (adjacent to the Susquehanna River). Situated at the center of the campus, Monarch Court is the site of many campus community activities. The court includes a brick-paved area that encompasses a large King's Block K, also in brick, at its center. Each of the bricks surrounding the K is engraved with the names of students, alumni, and local businesses.^[8]

The Richard Abbas Alley Center for Health Sciences is home to academics programs such as Physician Assistant Studies, Athletic Training, and Exercise Science. It also includes student residences, an art and cultural display center, and a Chick-fil-A restaurant.^[9]

Many of King's athletic teams train and compete two miles from campus at the Robert L. Betzler Athletic Complex, a 33.5-acre athletic facility that includes McCarthy Stadium, a field house, and fields for baseball, softball, men's and women's soccer, football, and field hockey.^{[citation needed]}

King's College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education with specific programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education, Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistants, and the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education.

King's grants bachelor's degrees, a Master of Science (M.S.) degree, a Master of Education (MEd) degree, and a five-year physician assistant studies program leading to a master's degree.

King's College has more than fifty student organizations. King's 28 NCAA Division III teams include men's baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track and field, and wrestling. Women's sports include basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. It also offers rugby and cheerleading as club sports. Intramural sports include basketball, flag football, indoor soccer, racquetball, and dodgeball.

Other co-curricular activities include academic clubs in almost every department: the King's Players (theater), Cantores Christi Regis (choir), Campus Ministry, The Crown (student newspaper), the Regis (yearbook), and The Scop (literary magazine).

The institution offers traditional dormitory housing and apartments. Traditional student housing options include Esseff Hall (female freshmen only), Holy Cross Hall (male freshmen only), and Luksic Hall (a co-ed residence hall). Apartments include Ryan Hall (a four-story co-ed building), Flood Hall (co-ed), and O'Hara Hall (a three-story co-ed).

King's College athletics teams are nicknamed the Monarchs. The university competes in the MAC Freedom Conference of NCAA Division III.

King's teams include men's baseball, basketball, football, ice hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, and wrestling. Women's NCAA sports include basketball, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

It also offers rugby and cheerleading as club sports. Intramural sports include basketball, flag football, indoor soccer, racquetball, and dodgeball.

Notable alumni