We may say it every December, but 2012 was another big year for Gettysburg College.

Over the last 12 months we saw Gettysburg “go Hollywood” when we filmed a movie on campus and welcomed one of the best filmmakers in history to town. The College and our students, faculty, and alumni also earned countless accolades and honors, and the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War has once again directed the nation’s gaze towards our town as we approach the 150th anniversaries of two historic moments that happened here.

Here are the top 12 Gettysburg College moments from 2012 (plus a well-deserved honorable mention) in reverse order:

Honorable mention

Okay, okay, so, we couldn’t pick just 12 stories! Let’s call this the bonus 13th pick as we head into 2013. We’d be amiss if we didn’t mention this inspirational story coming out or the Office of Experiential Education and the Gettysburg Recreational Adventure Board (GRAB).

In March a group of students on a GRAB spring break trip heroically helped rescue a woman after she suffered an 80-foot fall off a cliff.

Top moment #12

Every August, the College welcomes a fresh group of Gettysburgians. During Orientation there are numerous opportunities for our new community members to get to know each other and Gettysburg.

Top moment #11

Gettysburg College students have countless opportunities to explore career options through the Center for Career Development’s career immersion trips.

Top moment #10

The environmental studies department offers students an interdisciplinary look at some of the most important issues facing our world today. The department’s students and alums are tackling those challenges head on.

Top moment #9

John Jaeger, a 1965 graduate and trustee of the College, pledged a record $5 million gift to the general endowment. The Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation, and Fitness was named in his honor.

Top moment #8

Gettysburg is routinely named one of the top colleges for study abroad opportunities. Burgians have studied abroad and immersed themselves in cultures throughout the world. We love learning about intercultural experiences so much that we wrote about them several times this year!

Top moment #7

English Prof. Chris Fee, known widely around campus for his engaging teaching style and his first-year seminar on homelessness, was selected as one of the Princeton Review’s Best 300 Professors.

Top moment #6

On the cusp of May’s Commencement, we took a look at the Class of 2012 by the numbers.

Top moment #5

Sarah Calhoun, a 2000 grad and entrepreneur, was invited to attend the Business Leaders' Forum on Jobs and Economic Competitiveness at the White House late last year. We caught up with her to find out more about her nonprofit, Red Ants Pants, which creates work wear for women.

Top moment #4

On Nov. 19, iconic filmmaker Steven Spielberg delivered the keynote at a ceremony commemorating the 149th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The event, cosponsored by the College, also featured remarks by Pres. Janet Morgan Riggs ’77.

Top moment #3

During his first year on campus, Kurt Mathisen got involved with numerous organizations on campus, from the Honor Commission to the Center for Public Service.

Top moment #2

In 2012, Gettysburg College once again earned high acclaim in national rankings, from the Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” to U.S. News & World Report’s top 50 national liberal arts colleges.

Top moment #1

Back in February, when Bullets basketball player Cory Weissman ’12 returned to the court for one extraordinary moment following his recovery from a stroke, nobody imagined the year would end with on-campus filming of a movie chronicling his struggles and triumphs. But that’s exactly how things played out.

Hollywood stars swarmed campus in October for filming of 1,000 to 1: The Cory Weissman Story, due for release in 2013. The month of filming included countless opportunities for students and faculty to get involved, use of College locations for sets, and a pep-rally style kick-off event with Weissman and the stars.

So what’s next for 2013?

We have no doubt that there are already a lot of great things to look forward to in the coming year. Millions are expected to descend upon our town to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address. We’ll finally get to see 1,000 to 1…and maybe even recognize a few familiar faces on the screen. Our community members will continue to do great work. And who knows what else might be around the corner.

Until then, best wishes for a happy holiday season and New Year. See you in 2013!

Founded in 1832, Gettysburg College is a highly selective four-year residential college of liberal arts and sciences with a strong academic tradition. Alumni include Rhodes Scholars, a Nobel laureate, and other distinguished scholars. The college enrolls 2,600 undergraduate students and is located on a 200-acre campus adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania.

Contact: Nikki Rhoads, senior assistant director of communications, 717.337.6803