computer suites, laundry facilities, and quiet study rooms elsewhere in each building. Cottey has had several prior dormitories, including Rosemary Hall (est. 1903) and Missouri Hall (1928–1940). Main Hall was also used as a dorm from 1884 to 1939. International experience In 2000, the college established a spring trip abroad for second-year students and other eligible students. Since the first trip, international experience trip in 2000, each second-year class has traveled to one of several destinations: Paris, London, Barcelona, Madrid, Rome, or Florence. For each European destination, the cost of airfare and hotel stays have been paid by the college. Alternative trips to destinations including Japan, Peru], Thailand], Guatemala], New Zealand have sometimes incurred additional fees. Athletics The Cottey athletic teams are called the Comets. The college is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the American Midwest Conference (AMC) since the 2022–23 academic year. The Comets previously competed as an NAIA Independent within the Continental Athletic Conference from 2018–19 to 2021–22. Cottey competes in nine intercollegiate varsity sports: basketball, cross country, eSports, flag football (added in 2020), golf, softball, track and field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. History When intercollegiate athletics were re-introduced to the college in the 1998–99 academic year, the Comets competed in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). Notable alumnae Jetta Carleton '33 – author of The Moonflower Vine (1962), a New York Times Bestseller Dora Dougherty Strother '41 – Women Airforce Service Pilot, one of the first two women to pilot a B-29. Ruby Kless Sondock '44 – First woman justice on the Texas Supreme Court Francine Irving Neff '46 – Treasurer of the United States, 1974–1977 Marilyn Harris Springer '51 – Best-selling author of the Eden series and Hatter Fox. Carol Littleton '62 – Film editor, nominated for an Oscar for E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Judith P. Morgan – Painter Judith McCulloh – Folklorist, ethnomusicologist, and university press editor References Further reading Campbell, Elizabeth McClure. The Cottey Sisters of Missouri. Parkville, MO: Park College Press, 1970. Cottrell, Debbie Mauldin. "Mount Holyoke of the Midwest: Virginia Alice Cottey, Mary Lyon, and the founding of the Vernon Seminary for Young Ladies." Missouri Historical Review, vol. 90, no. 2 (Jan 1996), pp. 187–198. Stockard, Orpha Loraine. The First 75 Years: Cottey College. Troesch, Dr. Helen DeRusha. The Life of Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard. Wayside Press, Inc., 1955. External links Official website