In case you missed it: BW's top 10 stories of 2025

A look back at the Baldwin Wallace moments that inspired, celebrated and connected our community this year.

As 2025 comes to a close, Baldwin Wallace reflects on a year filled with extraordinary achievements, inspiring stories and community pride. From national accolades and groundbreaking research to alumni accomplishments and student success, BW had much to celebrate.

This list highlights the BW stories that sparked the most engagement across our website and social media throughout the year. The ones that Yellow Jackets everywhere clicked, shared and celebrated most.

In case you missed them, here are 10 of the most-read BW stories from 2025 that captured the attention and spirit of our community in 2025.

1. A half-million-dollar boost for BW research

The U.S. Department of Energy selected Baldwin Wallace to develop solutions for the future of marine and ocean renewable energy. The $500,000 grant is powering student innovation and sustainability through research and collaboration.
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2. Berea ranked among America's safest college towns

Research.com named Berea one of the safest college towns in the United States. The recognition highlights BW's secure, welcoming community with big-city opportunities just minutes away.
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3. BW women's basketball secures NCAA tournament spot

The 2025 winter athletics season was one to remember, with women's basketball earning a trip to the NCAA Tournament and Yellow Jackets celebrating standout performances across multiple sports.
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4. Two BW majors sound just right for a dream career

Martin Mann '24 paired music performance and engineering at BW to create a unique career path. Today, he applies that blend of skills at BABICHacoustics, shaping environments where sound matters.
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5. BW Rising campaign far exceeds goal

Thanks to the generosity of alumni, friends and supporters, BW raised nearly $2.5 million to strengthen student experiences and academic opportunities across campus.
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6. Berea named one of Ohio's most beautiful college towns

WorldAtlas.com recognized Berea for its charm, culture and opportunities, highlighting BW's location as one of the best settings for learning and living in the state.
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7. From Berea to Broadway

Playbill named BW among the top colleges and universities with the most alumni performing in the 2024–25 Broadway season, underscoring the excellence of BW's nationally recognized Conservatory of Performing Arts.
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8. Entrepreneurial graduate opens vintage shop near campus

Just months after graduating, Noah Mowery '24 turned his side business into a full-time venture with the opening of The Thrifting Tree, located a block from BW's campus.
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9. Undergraduate publishes in international science journal

It is an extraordinary achievement for any researcher to publish as a first author in an international scientific journal, and even rarer for an undergraduate. Skyanne Melton '25 earned this distinction with her publication in Plant Ecology.
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10. BW earns fifth straight Billboard honor

For the fifth year in a row, Baldwin Wallace was recognized by Billboard as one of the nation's top music business schools. The honor celebrates BW's exceptional faculty, students and industry partnerships that make the program thrive.
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Looking ahead

As BW marks 180 years of learning and leadership, the achievements of 2025 reflect the university's continued growth and momentum. From classrooms to concert halls, labs to local businesses, the Baldwin Wallace story continues to inspire new possibilities in the year ahead.