Our History

Spring 2004: A small group of men at The King’s College begin meeting together for a small-group Bible study led by Chris Pasquale. They choose to name their group after the great English statesman Sir Winston Churchill.
Fall 2004: The first group of six freshmen, including 2008 graduates Aaron Huthwaite and Moses Sanchez, enter what is now known as the House of Churchill. Chris Pasquale is now the President, Dr. Harry Bleattler is the Advisor, and David Leedy is the “Coach,” his first of several leadership roles in Churchill.
2004-2005 Churchill competes in the House competition for the first time.
2005-2006 Eight new members join the House, including future president Noah Clark and current members John Wagner and Caleb Oakes. Chris Pasquale is again President. He is joined in leadership by Helmsman Moses Sanchez, Chamberlain David Engle, and Scholar Aaron Huthwaite. Dr. Darian Lockett steps into the role of Faculty Advisor and Duane Moeller serves as Student Development Advisor.
Summer 2006 New President Noah Clark establishes the House mission and values.
August 2006 The House of Churchill returns only seven upper-classmen, but the ranks are bolstered by the arrival of 11 first year students.
September 2006 Churchill gets its first taste of victory in the House Competition when its performance of Unser Kampf (“Our Struggle”) stunned the audience and judges at the Drama Competition. The unity exhibited by the House in achieving this goal laid the foundation for future success.
October 2006 A group of first year students initiate Amicitia in Urbs (“Friendship in the City”), weekly gatherings in which the House of Churchill invites the ladies of The King’s College into our homes for coffee and community. We provide the cappuccino and entertainment, and the women bring baked goods.
  Dr. Lockett brings his Band of Brothers DVD collection and the House takes over Classroom 1 until 2 a.m. to watch it.
November 2006 The Men of Churchill (including the advisors) lay down their razors to participate in “No-Shave November.”
  Members of the House of Churchill follow the example of their namesake by wearing blue and white polka-dotted bow ties. The tradition of “Bow Tie Tuesdays” begins.
2006-2007 House Leadership includes Noah Clark as President, John Wagner as Chamberlain, Tyler Schick as Helmsman, Caleb Oakes as Scholar, and Bryan Nance as Vicar. Dr. Darian Locket continues to serve as Faculty Advisor and David Leedy returns to the House as Student Development Advisor.
February 2007 Churchill crushes their opponents by sweeping the House Basketball Tournament. Following the tournament, the Churchillians roll out a keg to serve root beer floats and ice cream sundaes to the rest of the student body.
  Churchill defeats the House of Lewis in their annual football rivalry on an ice-covered field on Roosevelt Island. Nick Swedick is injured, but turns down girls’ efforts to sooth his pain because “girls aren’t his thing.”
May 2007 The House holds a celebration to thank Dr. Lockett for his service to Churchill and The King’s College upon his departure to his new home in California.
August 2007 A small, but scrappy group of four freshmen join the House of Churchill.
October 2007 Churchill defeats Lewis in the annual “Dead Englishmen Bowl.”
December 2007 The Men of Churchill find their studiousness is rewarded when they claim the House GPA title.
2007-2008 Noah Clark serves a second term as President, John Wagner moves into the role of Helmsman, Andrew Schatz serves as Chamberlain, and Will Swartz as Scholar. David Leedy is the Student Development Advisor and the men ask Dr. David Innes to join Churchill as Faculty Advisor.
February 2008 Churchill has its first retreat at the Swedick house. Highlights include glorious amounts of home cooking, a hot tub with a TV, and Schatz getting bit in the butt by a horse.
  Losing their first game of the tournament, the Churchillians fight their way back through the loser’s bracket to clinch the basketball championship.
  The Men of Churchill served as counselors at a Student Venture camp as part of their City Engagement Project serving New York high school students.
March 2008 Churchill carries out the final phase of its City Engagement Project, as “The NYC Subway Marathon” raises $17,000 for New York City Student Venture. This success highlighted the efforts of the entire House and the leadership of Stephen Peterson and Moses Sanchez.
May 2008 Churchill wins the Interregnum trophy for their excellence in debate, public speaking, and art.
  Churchill’s achievements in the NYC Subway Marathon are recognized as they win the City Engagement Competition.
  After sweeping the last four competitions of the year, Churchill is crowned House Competition champions for the 2007-2008 school year.