With countless great stories across the North Central College campus and the wider Cardinal community, we’ve created a new way to share them.
Welcome to 1861, the North Central College Podcast
Join us on this journey. Let’s see where it leads. A liberal arts education is about examining diverse perspectives, asking questions, and engaging in dialogue, so we’ll aim to have conversations that will get you thinking — inspire and challenge you. Maybe even smile ... or laugh.
Whether you are a current or prospective student, faculty or staff member, alum, friend or fan, we hope you enjoy a bird’s-eye view of what makes North Central College special.
Lauren Benson ’27 is a biology major, member of the Cardinal women’s volleyball team and first-generation college student who has found her home at North Central. She credits athletics for teaching her time management, teamwork and perseverance — and she channels those skills into student leadership roles and campus-wide service work.
From early team bonding to connecting with faculty, Lauren reflects on personal growth and preparing for the future, including applying for grad school to become an occupational therapist. Her advice to new students: “Do what you’re passionate about — what you get out of college is what you put into it.”
