If you've been paying attention to the sensational stories that typically make headlines - like the recent media attack on Carrie Prejean, Miss California 2009 and a student at San Diego Christian College - you may not be aware of the less splashy, more positive news about Christian colleges across the country. Read on to discover what you may have missed.

Top online university
Liberty University, a Christian college in Lynchburg, VA, has long been known for its political and social conservatism. But these days, Liberty's greatest headlines aren't a result of campus happenings - they're derived from the cyber world. According to the 2009 Online Education Database rankings of accredited online education programs, Liberty University is one of the top 10 online universities nationwide. The conservative Christian college is ranked sixth in the country for online universities.

Liberty, which has been offering distance learning programs for more than 20 years, enrolls nearly 28,000 online students in more than 35 online degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. Liberty even offers distance education to students in grades 3 through 12 through Liberty University Online Academy.

Who would have thought that a campus-based Christian college would be dominating cyberspace?

Best food in the nation
When you think about the culinary capitals of the country, which locales come to mind? New York and California would be tops for sure. How about a little town called Wheaton, IL?

It may sound unlikely that the Midwest would be celebrated for its culinary creations, but it's a fact: Wheaton College, an academically competitive Christian college in Wheaton, IL, was named the school with the best food in the nation in the 2009 edition of the Princeton Review's "Best 368 Colleges."

At Wheaton, gourmet dishes are created by master chefs with input from a committee of students. The collaboration results in cuisine that goes far beyond traditional cafeteria fare. As a Wheaton alumna, I can personally attest to the delectable dining hall food. Were it not for a rigorous swim team training regimen, I probably would have packed on the "Freshman 15" and then some.

Master of debate
If you've never heard of Patrick Henry College, you must be a newbie in the world of debate. In fact, students at this tiny Christian college in Purcellville, VA, are tops across the board. This year, Patrick Henry, which caters to homeschoolers, won the award for Outstanding Delegation at the Model United Nations Conference. The award is the highest one given at the conference, and it was presented to the top 14 colleges out of 325 competing worldwide.

And this Christian college is no one-trick pony. Patrick Henry College has won the American Collegiate Moot Court Association's national championship three times in the last five years, and it holds national titles in the National Educational Debate Association. A debate powerhouse, the school also provides the setting for the recent Christian independent film "Come What May."

It's a persuasive argument in favor of this little Christian college, wouldn't you say?

When you look beyond the sensationalism, you'll find that Christian colleges are quietly making their presence known in every corner of the world.