Hampden-Sydney College Celebrates
250-Year Tradition of Building Men with Character
Hampden-Sydney College is celebrating 250 years. The 1,300-acre campus is located about one hour from Richmond.
Founded in 1775 and one of only three all-male colleges remaining in the U.S., Hampden-Sydney College is rich in history, tradition, and a strong sense of community. A plaque on the school’s front gate reads: “Come here as youth so that you may leave as men.”
Ranked the #3 Private College in the South in the 2025 Wall Street Journal/College Pulse Ratings, Hampden-Sydney College has a long-standing code of honor that all incoming freshmen must sign. It reads: “A Hampden-Sydney man will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do, and he will behave as a gentleman at all times and in all places.”
“It's a very special place,” says Dr. Larry Stimpert, who has served as the College’s 25th president since 2016. “Character development is important here. When the college opened its doors in 1775, the first president penned our mission, which is to form good men and good citizens. We care a great deal about what kind of man and what kind of citizen we are producing.”
Hampden-Sydney ranked #2 in character development according to the 2025 Wall Street Journal College Pulse Rankings, and #3 in career preparation among all U.S. colleges for setting graduates up for success.
Dr. Larry Stimpert, Hampden-Sydney president since 2016.
Fine arts at Hampden-Sydney include music, theater, and visual arts. Students can enjoy regular performances.
“All of our students take rhetoric in their freshman year; our guys become incredibly effective communicators. They’re great writers and speakers,” says Larry, adding, “The brotherhood that exists here among the students is also remarkable. The way I describe the brotherhood is with the proverb, ‘as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’ And I think our guys really do work to bring out the best in each other.”
“All of our students take rhetoric in their freshman year; our guys become incredibly effective communicators. They’re great writers and speakers,” says Larry, adding, “The brotherhood that exists here among the students is also remarkable. The way I describe the brotherhood is with the proverb, ‘as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’ And I think our guys really do work to bring out the best in each other.”
Perhaps no one knows that better than Curt Straub, TowneBank senior vice president and commercial banker, who has been instrumental in the bank’s growth in the Richmond market since 2015 and in H-SC’s moving its assets to TowneBank.
Larry explains, “We have a great relationship with our alumnus Curt Straub. He saw an opportunity for us to move our relationship to TowneBank at a time when our longstanding bank told us ‘You’re too small for us,’ despite having a branch here in Farmville. We thought, ‘Wow, we're one of the major employers in the county!’ But it was the perfect moment for Curt to develop a relationship with us, so it has been great. We couldn't be happier, and my sense is that TowneBank is pleased to have us as a member, as well.”
Students majoring in science have access to labs and personal attention from professors.
“This was one of my most exciting wins last year,” shares Curt, who majored in Economics at Hampden-Sydney. “Since I went to school there in the 1990s, they have produced a lot of bankers. We’re thrilled that a school of their caliber would pick Towne as their main bank, and it’s an honor for me personally to help my alma mater continue to plan for a successful future.”
With just under 1,000 students enrolled and a graduation rate that is eight percent above the national average for men, Larry explains, “We’re growing, but in a very careful way. We want every student who starts here to finish here in four years, so we are selective in whom we admit. We want students who have intellectual talents to thrive here, but we're also looking for guys who have great leadership potential because that's another big part of what we're about, preparing leaders. TowneBank is allowing us to renovate our facilities so that we'll be able to accommodate a larger student body.”
Funding from TowneBank aided in a full historic renovation of Venable Hall, the second oldest building on campus, originally constructed in the 1820s, to preserve the building's architectural integrity while adding modern amenities. It has also helped renovate the Kirby Field House, which, aside from the Commons, is probably the most used building on campus, according to Larry. “These renovations are really important to the future of the college, and we are so grateful for the help that TowneBank is giving us.”
Commencement is a joyous time at Hampden-Sydney College which is ranked #2 in character development and #3 in career preparation.
Hampden-Sydney celebrates its 250th anniversary during the 2025-2026 academic year and has had two years of special activities leading up to that milestone. “Our Founders Day is November 10, so that will be a very special celebration, and everything will culminate in May 2026,” says Larry. “Our partnership with TowneBank is helping us ensure that Hampden-Sydney will thrive for another 250 years.”
For more information, visit HSC.edu.