The Catholic College of the South
Belmont Abbey College faculty member, Dr. Clark Summers, was recently quoted in a Washington Examiner article titled, After Venezuelan strongman’s ouster and Iran strikes, is Cuba the Trump administration’s next target? Read the full article to hear Dr. Summers’ thoughts on the matter.
By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment
Belmont, N.C. (April 21, 2026) – Belmont Abbey marks its 150th anniversary with a year-long celebration beginning on its Founders’ Day, April 21, which commemorates the arrival in 1876 of the first monk and students who came to establish a monastery and college in North Carolina. From that until now, the abbey and college have not only helped found and invigorate the life of the Catholic Church in North Carolina but have also played a leading role in higher education in the South.
“For 150 years, Belmont Abbey College has formed generations of students to think critically, lead faithfully, and serve others with purpose. Since 1876, we have remained dedicated not only to preparing students for successful careers but also to forming lives rooted in truth and virtue,” said Dr. Jeffrey Talley, President of Belmont Abbey College. “As we celebrate this milestone, we remain committed to our founding mission and to the graduates who carry that mission into the world each day.”
Today, Belmont Abbey College is the region’s only Catholic private liberal arts college. The college has more than 17,000 alumni and currently serves over 1,700 students through 30 undergraduate and 7 graduate programs. This year, Belmont Abbey College announced the highest total enrollment in its history — 1,741 students for Fall 2025, a 3.2% increase over last year. Belmont Abbey continues to earn national recognition for academic excellence. It is ranked number two for Best Undergraduate Teaching among Regional Colleges in the South for the second consecutive year in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report rankings. The college also rose 10 places to number 12 among Regional Colleges in the South, placing it in the top 10% percent of institutions in the region.
With exciting new initiatives, including the American Semester in Washington, D.C., which offers students opportunities for internships, academic coursework, and firsthand experience in the nation’s capital, Belmont Abbey continues to expand opportunities for student formation and professional development. The Honors College remains a cornerstone of the academic experience, offering a rigorous and transformative program for high-achieving students interested in the Great Books. A vibrant athletic program also plays a vital role in campus life, competing at the NCAA Division II level as members of Conference Carolinas. Belmont Abbey College has earned national and regional recognition, including multiple conference championship titles and the Messick award for overall sportsmanship 37 times in the past five years.
The college has formed servant leaders who bring the excellence and virtue of Christian leadership to their employees, colleagues, parishioners, and communities. Through its Benedictine tradition of prayer and work, the Abbey continues to form students through a liberal arts education rooted in truth, goodness, and beauty.
The first monks devoted themselves both to building up the church and founding a college, laying the foundation for a mission that endures today. Early leaders such as Father Herman Wolfe, Bishop Leo Haid and Father Felix Hintemeyer began this work. Through the years, others such as Saint Katharine Drexel whose generosity helped establish and sustain the Abbey and college, and the men and women of the college community have continued and developed this legacy of service.
“Beginning with our first abbot, Bishop Leo Haid, who was responsible for the Catholic Church in the entire state of North Carolina, Belmont Abbey has played an active role in the Church in the Southeast,” said Abbot Placid Solari, the current Abbot of Belmont Abbey. “Together with the Sisters of Mercy, the monks began Catholic education in North Carolina and established monasteries and schools also in Florida, Georgia and Virginia.”
Unique in American Catholic history, Belmont Abbey existed as an independent diocese from 1910 until its incorporation into the territory of the Diocese of Charlotte in 1977. The Abbey plays a significant role in the Charlotte Diocese by providing the academic formation for the seminarians of the Saint Joseph College Seminary and the academic formation for candidates for the permanent diaconate in the Dioceses of Charlotte and Raleigh. Belmont Abbey regularly hosts diocesan events on its campus, including the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage, as well as vocational discernment retreats such as Duc in Altum, and Quo Vadis Days. Our students regularly assist in leading youth tracks at the diocesan Eucharistic Congress and serving in the Bishop’s Youth Pilgrimage. Over the years, numerous alumni have gone on to serve the Church as bishops, priests, deacons and consecrated religious.
Throughout the college’s 150th year, Belmont Abbey College will host a series of special events designed to bring together students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the surrounding community for celebration. The celebration will kick off with a campus-wide celebration honoring the founding monks and the college’s Benedictine legacy. For more information about Belmont Abbey’s 150th anniversary celebrations, please visit www.bac.edu/150.
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Bolton
P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu
By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment
Belmont, N.C. (April 9, 2026) — Belmont Abbey College is pleased to announce the Dr. Michael P. Reidy Athletics Hall of Fame class of 2026 on the 150th anniversary year of Belmont Abbey College. Nominated by members of the Belmont Abbey College community and selected by all living members of the Hall of Fame and coaches past and present, this incoming class includes four distinguished alumni and one team. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, October 1, 2026, honoring individuals and a team whose achievements embody the Abbey way and the college’s tradition of excellence and virtue.
This year’s inductees include:
Interim Director of Athletics Paul Lyon emphasizes the significance of the event, noting that each inductee reflects the character, achievement, and Benedictine values that define Belmont Abbey Athletics.
“This Hall of Fame class represents the very best of Belmont Abbey Athletics,” said Lyon. “Each inductee has not only achieved excellence in competition, but has also demonstrated the integrity, leadership, and commitment to community that defines the Abbey way. We are proud to honor their lasting impact on our college community.”
Belmont Abbey has long been committed to an athletic program rooted in excellence and virtue, dedicated to forming young men and women into blessings in the lives of others. The Hall of Fame stands as a testament to this mission, honoring those who exemplify these ideals and inspiring future Abbey Crusaders to follow in their footsteps.
The Hall of Fame ceremony celebrates not only records and championships but also the personal excellence, leadership, and service demonstrated by these honorees—hallmarks of the holistic education Belmont Abbey College has provided since its founding in 1876.
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Bolton
P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu
By Sarah Bolton Leave a Comment
Belmont, N.C. (March 16, 2026) – Belmont Abbey College announces the launch of the American Semester at the Belmont House, a newly developed academic and formation program in Washington, D.C., designed to prepare students for principled leadership and policy engagement.
Open to college sophomores, juniors, and seniors, the American Semester Experience allows students to immerse themselves in specialized coursework on Catholic social teaching while completing full-time internships with congressional offices, federal agencies, and policy organizations. Located just steps from the U.S. Capitol, the Belmont House serves as Belmont Abbey College’s formation center, bringing community, faith, and truth to public service. Undergraduate initiatives stand as the cornerstone of its leadership development efforts.
Dr. Jeffrey Talley, President of Belmont Abbey College, notes, “The Belmont House exemplifies our mission as a Catholic Benedictine College which is to order the hearts and minds of students to Christ as they serve in the world as competent professionals. In a city where decisions shape the lives of millions, our students learn to act with conscience, courage, and conviction.”
The Belmont House stands at the intersection of Catholic teaching and public service, offering a unique foundation for those called to lead and creating vibrant Catholic communities within Washington’s high-pressure political environment. In that regard, American Semester students participate in a lecture series curated for them as well as in public discussion series directed to wider, public audiences. Emmett J. McGroarty, Executive Director of Belmont Abbey College’s House on Capitol Hill, shared, “Through our collaborations and discussion events, we facilitate meaningful professional opportunities for students. We’re excited that the American Semester is open to students from across the country. In extending this hospitality, we draw on 1,500 years of Benedictine tradition of seeking truth and building the Mystical Body of Christ.”
Hannah Martin, a current Belmont Abbey College senior participating in the program in Washington, D.C., through an internship with Clare Boothe Luce Center for Conservative Women, shared, “The Belmont House experience has shown me what it looks like to live my faith in public service. Between my internship at the Luce Center and the formation we receive here, I’ve learned that Catholic teaching isn’t just theoretical and that it can guide how we approach real policy decisions that affect people’s lives.”
“The Belmont House functions as a trusted resource where Catholic social teaching shapes public discourse,” McGroarty adds. “It is a place where future leaders are formed to bring moral clarity and faithful witness to the public square.”
To learn more about the American Semester or to apply, please visit https://belmontabbeycollege.edu/belmonthouse/american-semester/.
About Belmont Abbey College: Founded in 1876, Belmont Abbey College is a private, Catholic baccalaureate and liberal arts institution. Our mission is to educate students in the liberal arts and sciences so that in all things God may be glorified. Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition and the Benedictine spirit of prayer and learning, we welcome a diverse body of students and provide them with an education that will enable them to lead lives of integrity, to succeed professionally, to become responsible citizens, and to be a blessing to themselves and to others. Our beautiful and historic campus is conveniently located just 10 miles west of Charlotte, N.C., and is currently home to more than 1500 students. For more information, visit belmontabbeycollege.edu.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Sarah Bolton
P: 704-461-7016 E: sarahbolton@bac.edu
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