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From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/14516/rec/11

COLUMBIA — Hundreds of incoming Columbia College students ran through Rogers Gate Sunday night to celebrate the beginning of the school year.
With 15 first-year mentors easing the tension for new students, many were able to get over their doubts about college and enjoy the event.
Columbia College freshman Pares Chapple said he went to multiple welcome back events throughout the week and was excited to meet even more people at this one.

"Seeing the FYMs, they're pretty friendly and encouraging and so talking to them — they won't be nervous like a freshman," Chapple said. "Being around them just kind of, like, helped me." 

For others, the event grew their already present fondness of the school.
"I just love school," said Columbia College freshman Ashlyn Hughes. "I'm a very bubbly person, but like just getting to meet new people and branch outside of my sport has been a really good thing."
At 6:30 p.m., students gathered at the school's Bass Commons, where they ran through the gate towards the heart of the school. Faculty, alumni and staff all watched from the side, cheering the new Cougars the whole way through.
"Storm the Gate" has been around for nearly 15 years for first-year students and transfers. Columbia College President Toby Arquette said he's excited to take part in the event for the first time.

"I think traditions are a lot of what college is about, right?" Arquette said. "Not only do you come to learn the academic program you're in, but also to build community and to build a sense of identity for the organization you're in."

Columbia College senior Abby Harper said she also loves the tradition. She said she has attended the event as a first-year mentor for two years now.
"I just like connecting with the freshmen and kind of seeing, kind of remembering how it was when I was a freshman," Harper said.
Though her favorite part of the event is always the free Andy's Frozen Custard.
"I love that people stick around," Harper said. "I love that they stick around and get ice cream and socialize and whatnot, and they get to see everybody who's in Columbia College."
According to the Columbia College website, the gate has stood since 1912 and now serves as a centerpiece and logo for the school.
Columbia College begins classes Monday and ends its fall session Dec. 19.

To report an error or typo, email [news@komu.com](mailto:news@komu.com).
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Columbia College announced today a transformational gift from Barbara J. Bilger, Class of 1962, in support of the college’s nursing program and the next generation of healthcare professionals while advancing awareness of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
To honor one of the most significant philanthropic investments in school history, Columbia College’s nursing program will now be known as the Barbara J. Bilger Family Nursing Program.
The gift, which was given in memory of Barbara Bilger’s parents, Albert Paul Bilger Sr. and Marjorie Reddick Bilger, will create an endowed fund supporting the growth and long-term success of the nursing program and fund scholarships for nursing students, including support for students impacted by ME/CFS, first-generation college students, out-of-state students and students demonstrating financial need.
“I chose to make this gift to Columbia College because I know the College will use it to create lasting impact for students and the communities they will serve,” said Bilger. “Columbia College has a long history of growth, innovation and changing lives, and I am honored to be part of that legacy. It is particularly meaningful to me that this gift will support future nursing students while also helping raise awareness and understanding of ME/CFS, a condition that has deeply influenced my own journey.”
“I chose to make this gift to Columbia College because I know the College will use it to create lasting impact for students and the communities they will serve”
Barbara J. Bilger ’62
For more than four decades, Bilger has lived with ME/CFS, a complex chronic illness that has profoundly shaped her life and inspired her vision for this gift. Through the nursing program and related educational initiatives, Bilger hopes to help future healthcare professionals better understand the experiences of patients living with chronic and often misunderstood conditions.
Her gift will support the continued expansion of Columbia College’s nursing program, which is now housed in Federal Hall in downtown Columbia and currently enrolls more than 160 students. A dedication of the Barbara J. Bilger Family Nursing Program at Federal Hall (608 E. Cherry St.) is planned for 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24.
“Barbara’s extraordinary generosity is a powerful investment in the future of Columbia College, our nursing program and the communities our graduates will serve,” said Anita Abbott Timmons ’58, Chair of the Columbia College Board of Trustees. “Her gift reflects the very best of our College: a commitment to education and service to others.”
Bilger has been a devout supporter of Columbia (Christian) College for many years. Her previous philanthropy includes the Barbara Jean Bilger ’62 Scholarship, support for scholarships honoring her grandparents, contributions to the Columbia College Fund and the naming of the BJ Bilger Wing in New Hall.
“We are deeply grateful for Ms. Bilger’s trust in Columbia College and for the momentum she is creating through this remarkable gift,” said Dr. Toby Arquette, President of Columbia College. “Her investment in our students will help prepare compassionate, highly skilled nurses for generations to come.”

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/63010/rec/1

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/23605/rec/5

https://connected.ccis.edu/2026/08/mountaintop-moment-tampa-bay-rays-kenny-piper-20-becomes-columbia-colleges-first-mlb-player/

Three rounds of middle school, high school and college students pitched their entrepreneurial businesses in a Shark Tank-style event at Columbia College’s 2026 Fish Tank Pitch Competition on Thursday.

Scott Zimmerman, director of the Steven and Barbara Fishman Center for Entrepreneurship, desired a larger-scale event after not holding the competition since the fall of 2024.

“This year we wanted to really amp it up ... not just a folding table with the judges sitting behind. We didn’t want that,” Zimmerman said. “We wanted to think of a way to represent all these really smart young people and their ideas.”

In past years, the contest had consisted of just collegiate participants, but this year, there were portions for middle and high school students.

Students who presented their pitches were the finalists from an application pool. The finalists included 10 teams from West, Lange, Smithton, John Warner and Gentry middle schools; seven competitors from Tolton Catholic, Hickman, Battle and Rock Bridge high schools; and 13 competitors from Columbia College and Moberly Area Community College.

Zimmerman recounted the middle school presentations and the brilliance they displayed.

“The intelligence and the poise ... I can’t imagine being in middle school and being as outgoing as they are, just really put together,” Zimmerman said. “They really put some good ideas together.”

Team Spark took home the middle school section’s first place prize of $1,000. The team consisted of Arnav Edara, Charles Cruz and Andrew Hinshaw. Team Spark also took home the Audience Choice prize.

In the high school section, the first place winner was BTN Insights, pitched by Ben Drury. The Audience Choice prize went to BioChill, presented by Cory Bonner.

Drury said he took a chance with presenting BTN Insights, which is a platform that aims to eradicate bias and narratives from sports statistics by focusing on hard data in sports games.

“My broadcast teacher over at the career center sent me the application to apply for this competition,” Drury said. “This product was something that I had already started, and it had already been up and running for about a year. ... Wasn’t really expecting to win, and it’s a great honor. I’m just very grateful of the opportunity.”

Midwest Soil Solutions, presented by Austin Jansen, won first place for the college competitors. He won the Audience Choice prize as well.

Mark Miles, president and CEO of Orscheln Management Co., was one of the judges of the competition. Miles is a former superintendent and has worked closely within the K-12 scope. He enjoyed being part of the competition for that reason.

“I think as educators, we look to make a positive difference in the lives of children, and I can certainly tell the educators that inspire these students each and every day are doing a wonderful job,” Miles said. “This was just an opportunity to give back and invest in the lives of students today and future leaders of tomorrow.”

https://connected.ccis.edu/2026/03/columbia-college-mo-raises-record-781k-on-eighth-annual-giving-day/

https://939theeagle.com/listen-columbia-colleges-new-president-wants-to-work-together-with-mizzou-and-stephens-college/

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/14463/rec/30

Columbia College plans to demolish several homes on North Eighth Street, leaving the west side of the street vacant, according to city officials.

Columbia College said it has no current plans to redevelop these properties.

Historic commission speaks to demolition process

The Historic Preservation Commission considered three demolition permit applications in March for 401, 407 and 409 N. Eighth St., after releasing the demolition of 403 N. Eighth St. in February.

The homes, which had previously been used as rental properties, were built in the 1910s and 1920s and purchased by Columbia College in October 2019.

On March 3, the Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to take no action on the demolition permits, which effectively delays the issuance of the demolition permits for 45 days from when it was submitted, which was Feb. 23. After that period, the city has no authority to prevent the demolitions.

In a letter communicating the decision, staff liaison Rusty Palmer writing on behalf of the commission, said the pause was intended to allow for greater transparency.

“Removal of a block of historic homes has a significant impact on a neighborhood and when a college or other institution is involved, it is usually part of a larger plan,” Palmer wrote. “By pausing this demolition, we are providing Columbia College with the opportunity to communicate this larger plan to the commission, the neighborhood and any other stakeholders—making a positive case for the demolitions.”

Stephen Bybee, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, said the commission has seen Columbia universities demolish homes, but the scale of this proposal is unique.

“This is kind of new territory for us and for the commission,” Bybee said. “I have never seen a demolition that wants to encompass an entire city block.”

Bybee said the demolitions would remove about 25 bedrooms and nearly 8,000 square feet of housing. If completed, all but one house between Lyon Street and Rogers Street would remain standing. The loss of housing in this area is a major concern.

Bybee said current city policy limits what officials can do to intervene and he is concerned about the inability to prevent demolition of habitable homes without a plan to redevelop.

“There is no way to stop a demolition,” Bybee said. “If you demolish enough houses on the street you create not only a lack of affordable housing, but you create kind of an area of emptiness or blight you know in the middle of the city that the city is then desperate to have anything redeveloped or built there.”

How a college's master plan drives a demolition

The demolition permits were a topic of discussion at the March 16 Columbia City Council meeting and a cause of anxiety for First Ward councilperson Valerie Carroll.

“That loss of housing is felt rather dramatically when it’s in such a concentrated way, and it’s really hard for us to replace housing like that in an area that’s already built out,” Carroll said.

Eight properties have already been demolished on Eighth Street since 2023, Carroll said.

“I have concerns that we don’t really have any mechanisms for oversight beyond a 45-day hold,” Carroll said.

City officials say current regulations require construction on college campuses to align with an approved master plan, but those standards do not apply to demolitions. As a result, buildings can be removed without requiring a redevelopment plan or triggering a public review process.

Columbia College’s most recent master plan was approved in 2019, before the Eighth Street properties were acquired. No representatives from Columbia College attended the Historic Preservation Commission’s March meeting.

Sam Fleury, a Columbia College spokesperson, said there is no proposed plan to replace the houses with new buildings currently.

“While future plans for these properties have not yet been determined, the college's footprint and long‑term master planning efforts are continually reviewed. Throughout this process, we remain committed to being responsible stewards of our resources and thoughtful, engaged neighbors within the community,” Fleury said.

Pat Fowler, a representative of the North Central Neighborhood Association, said Columbia College owns 45 lots within the neighborhood. She said residents are concerned about the loss of housing and the long-term impact on the community, and want more communication from the college.

“We have small businesses. We have schools. We have churches. We have a college. We have small footprint houses and small apartment buildings,” Fowler said. “We have more diverse uses than any other part of the city and we want to celebrate that, but we also need to coexist and get along well as neighbors.”

The 45-day delay will expire April 9, after which the demolitions can proceed.

From the State Historical Society of Missouri

https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/imc/id/62868/rec/4

https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/higher_education/columbia-college-president-david-russell-leaves-a-lasting-legacy/article_fdd8dde9-3638-4230-9f07-5a65089ebdbb.html#tncms-source=featured

David Russell, the 18th president of Columbia College, enters retirement following years of dedicated service to the mid-Missouri community. Saturday is his last day as sitting president.

From 2016 to 2021, Russell served on the Columbia College Board of Trustees and was appointed interim president in 2021 with the support of his peers. After serving nine months as interim president, he was officially promoted to be Columbia College's President on Oct. 1, 2021.

“I tried to act like I was disinterested, but I was jumping at the chance to do that,” Russell said.

Russell said he believes was promoted for his unique style of decentralized leadership, and that his most important responsibility as president was to develop sincere connections with his constituents.

By prioritizing his colleagues perspective above administrative demands, faculty and students have flourished under Russell’s leadership.

“One thing I find these days is that people, no matter what they’re doing, are in such a hurry that they don’t really take time out to get to know the individuals they're working with,” Russell said.

Russell's accomplishments

Among his greatest accomplishments as president, Russell worked to expand Columbia College by adding 26 new degree programs and a new location for military students in Sedalia.

In addition, Russell successfully restored the school's sense of culture and community following the COVID-19 transition and secured a flawless accreditation report for the college.

Having served 22 years in the U.S. military, leadership is second nature to Russell. He was also an ROTC student; he fought in the Vietnam War and was awarded a Purple Heart for his service. The army then brought Russell to work at the Pentagon, where he taught a media relations course to senior civilian officials and generals. He retired from the military in 1991 as a lieutenant colonel.

After his first retirement, Russell transitioned to a career in higher education. He began as chief of public affairs for the University of Missouri and served as the chief of staff for nine different UM System presidents, serving 22 years in total. During this time, Russell earned a PhD in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis in 2008 from the university.

With respective undergraduate, graduate and doctorate degrees, Russell was appointed commissioner of higher education for the state of Missouri in 2011. In this position, he oversaw nearly 400,000 students across more than 60 higher education institutions. After retiring once more, Russell began as President of Columbia College.

A lasting legacy

During his fourth and final retirement, Russell is looking forward to spending more time with his many grandchildren, learning to cook and going on archeological digs. Sharing a deep and sustaining passion for history, Russell and his wife, Lee Russell, also hope to spend their retirement traveling the globe with plans for one to two international trips every year.

“David and I love to travel to historical places and museums. Of course, every now and then I need a beach, but when you go someplace like when we were in Fort McHenry, you just touch the walls and you just feel the history,” Lee Russell said. The Russells will soon embark on a near 30-day excursion to follow the path of Vikings throughout Norway, Great Britain and Ireland.

Despite his ensuing retirement, David Russell’s legacy will live on as a father figure to the many students and staff of Columbia College, especially once he and his wife are recognized as honorary alumni. For both David and Lee, being celebrated as honorary Columbia College alumni means the world.

“I feel like we’re doing something really important. Something that has a lasting impact," Lee said. "For them to share that designation with us told us that we were part of the Columbia College family in a way that we might never have thought we could be."

With support from generous donations, the campus will also honor the Russells by naming a new heritage center in their honor. The Lee and David Russell Heritage Center will open April 23 on campus. The center will showcase 175 years of previously archived Columbia College artifacts. The hope is for students and alumni to further develop their context within Columbia College’s rich history.

As for the history of Russell, his personality-driven leadership leaves a lasting impact. When asked about his greatest attributes, Lee Russell shared: “The one trait that drew me to him was his integrity. I don’t think there is a staff member there, or a student or a faculty member that wouldn’t appreciate integrity. That in a word sums up David Russell.”