Mr. Ron Leftwich, chairman of the C-SC Board of Trustees, shared that the board members wish Dr. Palmer success in his new position and appreciate his service to the College.聽 Mr. Leftwich said, 鈥淒oug鈥檚 forward vision has advanced 乱伦社区 and developed plans that will help the College for the future.鈥�

Under Dr. Palmer鈥檚 leadership, the college accomplished the launching of the agricultural business management degree, achieved full 10-year reauthorization of accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission, and established the permanent home for the Tri-State Development through a significant donor.

A search for 乱伦社区鈥檚 28th president will begin shortly.

Elbe will address nearly 200 graduating 乱伦社区 students who are receiving either undergraduate or graduate degrees. His speech titled 鈥淎chieving your Dreams鈥� will reflect on Elbe鈥檚 educational journey, leadership path, and lessons learned. As a long-time coach, Elbe hopes to inspire the audience with personal lessons and offer a challenge to achieve one鈥檚 dreams best.

During the ceremony, C-SC will award Elbe an Honorary Doctor of Education (honoris causa) to commend him for his years of service to the educational community. Elbe shared, 鈥淚t will be my privilege to address the Culver-Stockton graduates during this momentous occasion, and I could not be more humbled and honored to receive the Honorary Doctor of Education.鈥�

鈥淭his is a life course,鈥� McBride said, 鈥淲e are asking college students to go out of their comfort zone to connect with someone who has lost a loved one.鈥� While the conversations may present new experiences for the students, the project’s outcomes far outweigh the hesitations. Jared Henderson, a senior at C-SC, has chosen to represent a fallen firefighter because he serves as a volunteer firefighter in his community. Henderson said that he knows the project and walk are 鈥渋mportant to the families.鈥� He shared, 鈥淭he Fallen Officer Project lets them know that their family member hasn鈥檛 been forgotten- it represents and honors them.鈥�

The walk will be held on the Richeson Track at Ellison-Poulton Stadium on the campus of 乱伦社区 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2022. The cost to participate is $25, and registration is open to the public.聽 All proceeds go to Supporting Heroes and Whose House Our House Foundation, an organization committed to bridging the gap between law enforcement and inner-city youth. To sign up for the Fallen Officer walk or donate to the project, visit . For additional information about the Fallen Officer Project, please contact Seth McBride at smcbride@culver.edu.

C-SC President Dr. Douglas B. Palmer is enthusiastic about the new Vice President position for Economic and Workforce Development because it signals the College鈥檚 commitment to sustainability and growth of the region. 鈥淲e are very pleased to have Leslie leading the conversations and connections as we work toward a strategic approach to our region鈥檚 economic health and vitality,鈥� states Palmer.聽 鈥淎s we searched for the Executive Director to lead the Tri-State Development Summit, we determined that a focused leadership position that drew upon the resources of the College would further allow for deeper engagement in developing public and private collaborations that would assist in establishing and accelerating regional impact and growth.鈥� Payne鈥檚 experience in business development, combined with higher education fundraising, will be valuable tools when creating partnerships for the Tri-State Development Summit, an organization that represents 36 counties throughout Missouri, Illinois, and Iowa.

The excitement of Payne鈥檚 appointment is shared by Mr. Thomas A. Oakley, philanthropist and founder of the Tri-State Development Summit, who strategically housed the Summit at 乱伦社区. Oakley shared, 鈥淚 had worked with Leslie Payne for several months with no thought that she would consider the role of Executive Director of the Tri-State Economic Development Summit.鈥� He noted that the 鈥減osition will require a unique set of qualifications to restore and rebuild the Summit organization from top to bottom.鈥澛� With Payne鈥檚 appointment beginning April 1, 2022, Oakley looks forward to Payne鈥檚 leadership of the Summit. He said, 鈥淚 am thrilled, beyond words, that she will lead our effort, recognizing she definitely has all the necessary skills to do the job in a truly outstanding way!鈥�

Hannibal Regional Economic Development Council (HREDC) Executive Director Corey Mehaffy shared his congratulations on the new appointment and said, 鈥淎 dedicated person steering the collaborative working relationships among our communities will be incredibly beneficial for our tri-state region as we collectively focus on drawing attention to the resources and opportunities that this area has to offer to businesses, organizations and investors. The Tri-State Development Summit, led by Leslie, will be an important partner to all of us in this region, and I鈥檓 very pleased to have her leading this important effort.鈥�

Payne shared, 鈥淚 am honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the first Executive Director of the Tri-State Development Summit and the first Vice President for Economic and Workforce Development at 乱伦社区. Our region is rich with resources and options for collaborative and strategic relationships to address the needs and take advantage of the opportunities for building a strong regional economy and workforce.鈥�

C-SC students receiving a degree in nursing are invited to participate in the ceremonial pinning, which will be facilitated by Blessing Rieman College of Nursing and Health Sciences on Friday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at The Crossing in Quincy, IL. Additional commencement week activities include Honors Day Convocation and Trustee Reception for Seniors.

Honors Day is set for Monday, May 9, beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the Alexander Campbell Auditorium of the Robert W. Brown Performing Arts Center. This is a Convocation to recognize the academic achievements of C-SC students from the past year and honor the excellence of faculty and staff. Following the College-wide recognition event, each division presents awards at separate ceremonies for the Fine, Applied, and Literary Arts Division, the Business, Education and Law Division, and the Applied Liberal Arts and Sciences Division.

For immediate questions regarding commencement, please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@culver.edu or 573-288-6000, ext. 6330.