Calumet College of St. Joseph June 2026 update

Traditionally, in April, we have held our annual scholarship gala to raise funds for student scholarships. This year, we did something a little different. As readers of the Messenger have seen, we have been renovating the 7th floor of the Schmidt building. This used to be the executive lounge for Standard Oil but had been pretty much abandoned. Our first use of the newly renovated space was the Soiree on 7, on April 29. This was a much smaller event than the scholarship gala but was a very nice event. The panoramic view from the 7th floor provided a scenic backdrop to the successful event.  

On May 6, we held the debut of the space for our faculty and staff with a little reception. We toasted retiring president Dr. Amy McCormack and our new president, Dr. Ron Tulley. All were impressed with how nice the new space looked. 

There is a mural of a modern-day St. Joseph the worker and Jesus that was painted on the exterior wall of a stair well visible from the 7th floor space. The mural captures the industrial landscape of the region as well as lilies and a dove, which are traditional symbols of St Joseph. 

Our 64th annual Commencement Exercises were held on May 9. This year, we awarded four associate degrees, 130 bachelor’s degrees, and 50 master’s degrees. Our own Bishop Robert McClory, bishop of the Gary Diocese, was the commencement speaker and received an honorary doctorate of Humane Letters. He began his commencement address acknowledging the Missionaries the Precious Blood, and his connection to the C.PP.S. – Frs. Bob and Tom Conway were his uncles. He then posed a question to the graduates about their mission. He asked them to reflect on the why they do what they do. Reflecting on the largest segment of our graduates, the Public Safety and Public Administration programs, he noted the call to service that is at the center of their lives. He then challenged all to think about their mission,  which drives them to do what they do. 

The day following graduation, our St. Gaspar’s Honor Society students began their annual travels. A total of 14 students and five faculty/staff/guests left for Argentina. They will spend 10 days touring and learning about Argentina. 

This summer, there will be a number of construction projects going on. Our turf athletic practice field, fitness and floral/fauna park, Alumni Park, and parking lots will be built and/or refinished. This is in addition to the summer camps for kids, which will be held in June and July.  We will have more to report on these in the August edition of the Messenger. Needless to say, it will be a busy summer.