The trustees also:

• Recognized Dr. Carol Fisher Mathieson, professor of music emerita, for her 45 years of service.
• Acknowledged the hard work and diligence of the employees of Culver-Stockton in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Took a moment to remember the life of Robert F. Stone ‘71 of Hoffman Estates, Ill., a longtime trustee who died in March.
• Thanked R. Kent Clow ‘78 of Olathe, Kan., for his service to the Board of Trustees. Clow retired from the board in May.

Thompson, the 26^th president in Culver-Stockton’s 167-year history, is retiring on June 30. She has led the college for six years and was the first woman president of the college.

A resolution passed by the trustees noted that Thompson has “served the College with distinction, integrity, honor and success throughout her term.” Ronald W. Leftwich ’64 is the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

The title of “emerita” (or “emeritus” when given to a male) often is given to a person retired from professional life but permitted to retain the rank of the last office held as an honorary title.

The resolution praised Thompson for leading the “Culver-Stockton: Changing Lives!” comprehensive campaign that was designed to raise $25 million during an eight-year timeframe but far exceeded its goal, raising nearly $35 million and accomplishing most of its goals two years ahead of schedule. She also was congratulated for keeping enrollment numbers consistently strong. Total enrollment has topped more than 1,000 students for five consecutive years.

The resolution lauded Thompson for her efforts to support Culver-Stockton’s 12 plus 3 academic semester calendar and its emphasis on experiential education. Thompson also led the fundraising efforts for the Carolyn L. and Robert W. Brown Residence Center, a $3 million facility that was completed in 2017, and an experiential learning center to be built as an addition to the Gladys Crown Student Center, as well as renovations to nearly every other building on campus.

Dr. Douglas Palmer, who has served as provost, vice president of academic affairs and dean at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, since 2015, will begin his duties as Thompson’s replacement on July 1, 2020.

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CANTON, Mo. — The George R. and Mary Frances Nichols Foundation recently made a $10,000 gift to �������� to be used toward the purchase of uniforms for the marching band, which will debut in the fall of 2020. C-SC has not had a marching band in what is believed to be at least 50 years.

The foundation also has pledged to give an additional $5,000 next year for the uniforms.

“The Nichols Foundation truly believes in the student experience, and it has been so generous to assist us with facilities and provide scholarship support for our local students,” said Dr. Kelly M. Thompson, president of the College. “We are so grateful for their generosity in support of the marching band and our music program.

Beverly Dunn ’65 of Canton, a niece of the Nichols’, is one of three directors for the foundation along with her daughter, Kelly Patrick ’91 of Carthage, Ill., and her son, Patrick Dunn of St. Louis. Mrs. Dunn said she was familiar with the success that marching band director Ryan Christian ’03 enjoyed during his 15 years conducting the bands for the Lewis County C-1 School District before coming to C-SC.

“I knew (Christian) was the right choice to start this program at Culver-Stockton,” Mrs. Dunn said. “I’ve always loved music, and I’m thrilled to help get the band started again.”

George and Frances Nichols were lifelong members of the Canton community, and they owned and operated two John Deere dealerships in Lewis County — Lewistown Implement Co. for 10 years, and Nichols Implement Co. in Canton for 50 years. They established an endowed scholarship when they retired from their business in the 1980s, and they created a not-for-profit foundation in 1999.

Frances Nichols died in January 2004. George Nichols died in February 2007.

As well as offering support to many causes throughout Lewis County, the foundation has made several significant gifts to ��������. The most recent were a $25,000 donation toward the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center that opened in February 2017, and another $25,000 donation to the Carolyn L. and Robert W. Brown Residence Hall that opened in September 2017. The baseball field at C-SC also is named Nichols Field.

The foundation also annually selects at least two students from both Canton High School and Highland High School in Ewing to receive $500 scholarships that are renewable for eight semesters of college. The students must attend an institution of higher learning in Missouri and maintain at least a 2.0 grade-point average while taking 12 hours of classes.

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CANTON, Mo. — The Bank of Monticello recently made a $2,500 donation to �������� for its Student Scholarship Fund. One hundred percent of the gifts to the Student Scholarship Fund are used to provide scholarships and grants for C-SC students. More than 90 percent of C-SC students receive financial aid from the college.

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Commencement originally was scheduled for Saturday, May 16, but it was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ceremony now will be a part of homecoming weekend, which begins Friday, Oct. 23 with the Alumni Honors Banquet and the Blue and White Mixer.

Thompson said she discussed with the Senior Leadership Group a number of proposed dates for a rescheduled commencement.

“Then we decided to survey our seniors and ask what they thought, and more than half of them agreed that they would love to come back for homecoming weekend,” Thompson said. “It’s always such a wonderful weekend with the parade and the football game.”

Thompson added that their survey revealed that more than half of the students would bring eight people or more to the Oct. 25 ceremony.

President-elect Dr. Doug Palmer, who begins his duties on July 1, 2020, said he will allow Thompson to be “president for the day.” She will confer the degrees and congratulate students as they come across the stage.

“Clarke and I will do everything in my power to be here for that weekend,” she said.

The Senior Dinner for the Class of 2020 will be on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 24 in the Dining Hall at the Gladys Crown Student Center. A dedication of the Wildcat Plaza is scheduled for that night as well. The plaza, located between the Gladys Crown Student Center and the Carl Johann Memorial Library, will serve as a gathering area for students. A groundbreaking for the plaza is scheduled for the end of June.

Funds for the plaza were raised as part of the annual senior class challenge, which was created in 2011 by Ron Leftwich ‘64, chairman of the Board of Trustees, and his wife, Susie. The Leftwichs match every dollar donated by the senior class toward a gift to the College. The wildcat statue that was the gift of the Class of 2017 will be the centerpiece of the new plaza.

Thompson, the 26^th president in Culver-Stockton’s 167-year history, is retiring on June 30, 2020. She has led the college for six years and was the first woman president of the college.

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The announcement of the gift from an anonymous donor was made during a press gathering Thursday afternoon in Pepsi Hall at the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Recreation and Wellness Center on the �������� campus.

The Center for Experiential Learning will be built as an addition to the south side of the Gladys Crown Student Center. Approximately half of the $1.25 million cost for construction of the center has been raised.

The center will highlight the seven types of experiential learning — creative expression, leadership, simulations, service learning, travel, research and innovation and professional experience — that are the cornerstone of Culver-Stockton’s educational experience. It will provide resources on experiential teaching and learning for faculty and students, and it will provide a showplace for experiential learning achievements.

The center also will be the host of an Experiential Education Academy offered by the National Society for Experiential Education, a national resource center based in Mount Royal, N.J. Seventy-five percent of the Culver-Stockton faculty is certified by the NSEE as of August 2019.

The gift also will enhance two endowments already established at C-SC.

More than 40 percent of students attending Culver-Stockton are first generation students. An endowed scholarship is providing funding for first generation students and is renewable for up to four years, providing the student remains in good academic standing.

The Endowed �������� Fund has been established for the president of Culver-Stockton to distribute at their discretion for financial support for a junior or senior student who can’t continue their academic career at C-SC due to unforeseen financial need (medical, economic or family financial difficulties) or other immediate needs of the college campus.

“I’m deeply honored and so touched being named in this gift,” Thompson said at Thursday’s press gathering. “I’m also very grateful to our donor and my dear friend for this extraordinary contribution to first generation student scholarships as well as scholarships for juniors and seniors. It has been so wonderful to get to know a true philanthropist who has a passion for changing lives through education.

“This donor’s generosity to the Center for Experiential Learning also has encouraged other donors to invest in the center, which will serve students for generations to come.”

Scott Johnson, a member of the Board of Trustees and the chair of the comprehensive campaign, “Culver-Stockton Changing Lives!”, reported Thursday that more than $21 million in cash and pledges has been raised, and more than 40 new documented planned gifts have been received that total nearly $10 million, bringing the total campaign to more than $31 million.

Johnson said more than $5 million has been raised for facilities on campus, more than $4.6 million has been received for the student scholarship fund, more than $2.6 million has been raised to provide additional resources for the education process and more than $8.5 million has been added to the college’s endowment.

Thompson is retiring at the end of the school year after six years as president. A search committee has been established to determine her replacement.

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The gift is being made by an anonymous donor. It will enhance two endowments already established at C-SC, and it also will go toward an ongoing capital improvement project on campus.

Thompson is retiring at the end of the school year after six years as president. A search committee has been established to determine her replacement. She will be available for comment after the conclusion of the press gathering.

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CANTON, Mo. — Quincy Grand Prix Inc., the nonprofit organization that organizes the Grand Prix of Racing each summer in Quincy, Ill., recently made a $5,000 donation to �������� for a scholarship in honor of Gus Traeder, a former trustee at the college.

The Grand Prix ran from 1970 to 2001 under Gus Traeder’s leadership. It was resurrected in 2018 under the leadership of Terry Traeder, Gus’ son and a member of the Board of Trustees at C-SC. Next year’s event, set for June 13-14, 2020, will be the 50^th anniversary of the first race in South Park.

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Freshmen students will check in at the Mabee Center at 9 a.m. and move into campus residences on Friday, Aug. 23.

The kickoff to orientation begins at the Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m. Friday, and matriculation begins on the steps of Johnson Residence Hall at 2:45 p.m. During that ceremony, bagpipers and a faculty procession lead the incoming freshman class across campus. The new students meet President Kelly M. Thompson at Johnson Hall and sign their names in the C-SC’s Matriculation Book. Ronald Leftwich ’64, chairman of the Board of Trustees, will present each new student with a penny to cast into the fountain on the quad with their wish for their college careers.

Students will take part on Saturday, Aug. 24 in the Everybody Doing More (formerly known as Extreme Dome Makeover) service project. The 10^th annual event starts at 10 a.m. when students march down the hill into Canton. Groups of approximately 15-20 students will work at 10 locations around Canton, while nearly a third of the students will be working along the riverfront removing sandbags. The project will end with lunch for the students at various locations.

Other EDM sites are:

Lewis Street Playhouse, 405 Lewis. Project leader is Dell Ann Janney.

Community Garden, 6^th and Clark. Project leader is Sharon Upchurch.

Happy Time Preschool, 300 S. Fourth. Project leader is Brenna Phillips.

Canton Christian Church, 512 College.

Work will be done at four private homes as well.

Returning students will move in Sunday, Aug. 25. A “Welcome Back” barbecue and concert will be at 5 p.m. in the courtyard of the Gladys Crown Student Center. Classes will begin Monday, Aug. 26.

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Pictured from left are Luke Rothweiler, vice president and branch manager of United State Bank; Kelly M. Thompson, president of ��������; and Chuck Gnuse, president and CEO of United State Bank.

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Thompson told the Board of Trustees at a meeting on Friday morning, then informed faculty, staff and students at a campus-wide meeting afterward in Merillat Hall.

Thompson, the 26^th president in Culver-Stockton’s 166-year history, joined the campus community in 2014 from Barton College, another Disciples of Christ institution. Among the accomplishments during Thompson’s tenure include a 30 percent enrollment increase, the building of a new fully-funded residence hall, the addition of women’s lacrosse and Esports, and master’s programs in education and athletic training.

During Thompson’s tenure, the College has differentiated itself in higher education by nationally certifying the faculty in experiential learning pedagogy. Renovations have been completed in nearly every residence hall and academic building, and plans are in place for the Dining Hall renovation this summer.  The College has raised nearly $20 million as part of its comprehensive campaign, “Culver-Stockton Changing Lives!” 

Thompson is the first female president of ��������. She has served as the chair of the Council of Presidents for the Christian Church Disciples of Christ from 2016-19; recently was a Council of Independent Colleges delegate to the U.S. & Mexico Presidents’ Summit in Chicago, and will serve as chair of the Council of Presidents for the Heart of America Conference during the 2019-20 academic year.

“What I take greatest pride in is our students of promise and our amazing faculty and staff at ��������,” Thompson said. “They truly embrace the opportunity for a quality education and are leaders on campus and in the community. I know our students are going to do great things in their positions in business, healthcare, education, entrepreneurship, the ministry and so many other areas. Our experiential learning sets them apart from other college graduates.”

Thompson believes her last year will be the most exciting year yet.

“We have much to accomplish and so much momentum,” she said. “I’m eager for us to engage in a new strategic planning process and continue to position the College as a national leader in experiential education. I can’t wait to get started.”

Ron Leftwich ’64, chairman of the Board of Trustees, announced a national search for Thompson’s replacement will begin this summer, with plans to have a new president in place by July 1, 2020.

“Kelly Thompson has provided leadership and recognition at the national level,” Leftwich said. “She personalized every area of the College and is so proud of everyone’s successes in and out of the classroom.  She has accomplished great things. There is not an area on campus that has not been positively impacted by her leadership. I hope we can make this next year the best yet.”

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