Centenary College students thankful for their school
This holiday season, many are reflecting on thankfulness, and at Centenary College of Louisiana, students shared why they are thankful for their school.
"I am thankful for Centenary because of the endless opportunities it has given me to further my career," said Haylee Roberts (’26) of Watonga, Okla.
Centenary College itself has much to be thankful for. The College is concluding a year-long celebration of its bicentennial. Founded in 1825, for 200 years Centenary has been preparing global citizens to leave productive lives of vitality and purpose. It is the oldest higher education institution in the state of Louisiana, and the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River.
Bossier City native and political science major, Chana Williams (’26) is thankful for Centenary. "I am thankful for being [Centenary’s] bicentennial year homecoming queen and for the amazing staff and faculty,” she said. “They are unlike any other!"
The 10:1 student-to-faculty ratio and personalized educational experience at Centenary is one reason College Raptor highlighted Centenary College as a “2026 Hidden Gem.” Centenary was the only Louisiana higher education institution recognized. College Raptor also cited Centenary’s longevity, its beautiful campus, and its strong pre-health programs like biology. Currently, Centenary has a 94% medical school acceptance rate.
Once again, Centenary was just named the number one baccalaureate college in the United States for the percentage of undergraduate students who study abroad. The Institute of International Education’s (IIE) annual Open Doors Report is based on a survey of approximately 3,000 accredited colleges and universities in the United States.
The SB Choice Awards named Centenary the Gold Medal Winner in the College category for the second year in a row, and the College is also on the 2026 list of “Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News and World Report. U.S. News also noted that Centenary’s cost of tuition is significantly lower than the national average, and Centenary was named a Top Performer for Social Mobility, which assesses graduation rates for students receiving Pell Grants. More than half of Centenary students qualify for Pell Grants, and 100% of first-year students receive merit aid.
“I am thankful for Centenary because it has introduced me to so many wonderful people on campus, especially my teammates and my sisters in Zeta,” said senior Adriana de la Fuente (‘26) from Baton Rouge, La. One of her Greek sisters also expressed her thankfulness. "I am thankful for Centenary because it brought me closer to a lot of friends,” exclaimed Amelia Jones (’27), a psychology major. Centenary has a thriving Greek community along with more than 50 other organizations to help students to find their social home.
Centenary College celebrated making more room for more students in August when it opened the new Bicentennial Village. The four-building apartment-style residences opened just six months after breaking ground. The project poured $6 million dollars in the local economy and created much-needed new space for the growing college.
More good things are ahead as Centenary looks forward to starting its third century.
“I am always thankful for the hard work of our faculty, staff, and students that makes Centenary such a special place,” said Dr. Christopher Holoman. Centenary’s president. “This year, I am particularly grateful for our alumni and friends that have helped us celebrate the bicentennial and the college’s important place in the community as Shreveport-Bossier’s college.”
The College will wrap up its bicentennial activities on December 6, with “Spotlight Centenary.” The once-in-a-lifetime event celebrates Centenary’s legacy as well as looks forward to the future. The evening promises a night of dinner and dancing in the Gold Dome, followed by a spectacular drone show. The Centenary College Choir will perform a special piece commissioned for the bicentennial and composed by Centenary alumnus and faculty member, Dr. James Eakin. Alumnus and former Harlem Globetrotter Herb “Flight Time” Lang (’98) will be the emcee.