What do you know about NCMC?

by Steve Maxey, Director of Public Relations & Development

It is an exciting time at North Central Missouri College. In the past two weeks of our visits, we have charted the course of the College to where it is today. And I am proud to report we are very much alive and growing! The 78-year history has most likely brought about more growth than anyone every anticipated and much of that is due to the steps made in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s to become a community college.

Enrollment for the college in 1966 when it moved from the third floor of the 9th Street location was 175. Following the relocation of the college to its current site, the enrollment climbed to 320 followed by 476 in the next three years. Thirty years later, the enrollment figure in 1999 reached 1320. In the past seven years and under the leadership of current College President Dr. Walter Nolte, the college has seen a 35% increase in student population. Preliminary figures for the fall semester just started indicate a 3-4% increase over this time last fall with data incomplete on outreach classes and dual credit enrollment. We expect to have this very soon and will report that exciting news as quickly as possible.

As noted the College moved to the Main Street building formerly known as Central School in 1966. Twenty years later, the anchor building of the new campus was renamed the Geyer Administration Building, more commonly known as Geyer Hall in honor of Dean Emeritus E.D. Geyer. Other buildings soon became a part of the growing campus including Hoffman Hall in honor of Alice May Hoffman and her daughter Jeanette Hoffman Robison; Freeman Hall – a former furniture store in recognition of contributions from the Herbert O. Freeman estate; Barnes Hall honoring the many gifts of Larry D. and Connie Barnes; and a former bank building in downtown Trenton presented to the college by Rosemary Layson Peterson which is now used for offices of the Workforce Development Board administered by the College.

The campus was growing and additional residential properties were acquired to provide parking and future expansion for the College. Additional buildings came in the next few years and included the purchase of a former paint store which now houses the College Bookstore, acquisition of an insurance building with contributions from the Mrs. W.W. Alexander and named the Alexander Student Center and the donation of the Ritze Dental Clinic from Dr. Michael Ritze which was once occupied by his father and now houses the administrative offices of the Adult Basic Education program.

You may wonder about the area served by the growing college, where the students were coming from and how all of that came about. On July 1, 1986 a junior college district became a reality following the endorsement by voters and the college was officially separated from the R-IX School District. This followed a very active and dedicated campaign with a 79% margin of victory. A very first board of trustees was elected comprised of Frank Hoffman, Russell Joiner, Stan Lowrey, Mark Whiteaker, Scott Forman and Betty Frances Hall. It is interesting to note that at this time, Lowrey, Whiteaker and Miss Hall still remain dedicated trustees for North Central Missouri College. Today the college serves a 16 county service region while students come from throughout the state as well as across the country and there area few international students who attend NCMC.

The name North Central Missouri College was also a part of the exciting 80’s and was actually approved at a July 1988 meeting of the Trustees. From many choices, the name was selected and continues to be the proud namesake for a growing community college.

The college has seen a positive past and none can be more positive than the years under the guidance of College Presidents Dr. James Selby and Dr. Walter Nolte. Among the physical accomplishments have included the development of a College Foundation and an aggressive Partners in Growth campaign that saw tremendous campus expansion. A committed college and community embraced the challenge and with the leadership of campaign chairs Frank Hoffman and Larry D. Barnes and the direction of both Selby and later Nolte and Development Director Jack Derry, a new campus came to life. In the end, the college became the proud home of two residence halls honoring Dr. and Mrs. William Ellsworth and Dr. and Mrs. James Selby, the Ketcham Community Center named for the generosity of Lloyd and Margaret Ketcham as well as a multitude of other contributors to be mentioned later, the Bert & Rose Hoover Memorial Quadrangle and the Thomas and Edna Rehard Plaza.

Additional new enhancements in the years that followed included the Happy Face Preschool building that is now the home for the College Art classrooms and initially developed through the kindness of Marilyn Whisler and Dr. and Mrs. David Witten, the purchase of the local cinema for classroom space, and the Everett and Hazel Frey Administrative Center from property purchased from Larry Barnes. Most recently have been a tire company for classrooms and storage, phase two of Hoffman Hall for science and technology and lastly, the establishment of the Dorris Rider Art Gallery honoring the generosity of Dorris and Allan Rider.

Many more contributors will be recognized in the weeks to come but to sum up this brief visit, the success of a college comes from the support of its alumni and friends. Hundreds of individuals have become partners in a proud and growing community college – right here in Trenton, Missouri as history continues to unfold.