Benedictine University

Varsity Sports — Eagles

History & Fun Facts

• •History Benedictine University, also called BenU, was founded in 1887 as St.
• •While the school was called a college from its founding, it did not begin offering post-secondary courses until after it moved from Chicago to rural Lisle in 1901.
• •It became fully accredited in 1957 and, as the area around it transitioned from rural to suburban, it grew substantially.
• •Also in 1957, the institution's high school component began operating independently of the college and is now called Benet Academy.
• •The college became fully coeducational in 1968, though the first female, Joan Hewitt, graduated in 1953.