North Central Missouri College (NCMC) marked the commencement of construction for the Doctor Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center on April 10. The celebratory event took place on the Trenton campus, close to where the new facility is being erected.
Kim Washburn, Co-chairperson of the Transforming Lives, Empowering People Campaign Committee, announced that while the initial fundraising goal was about $6 million, contributions have exceeded $10 million to date. She emphasized that “future” is the word that best encapsulates the significance of NCMC to her.
Washburn is confident that the student center will significantly enhance student life at NCMC.
NCMC’s Vice President of Student Affairs, Doctor Kristen Alley, detailed the evolution of student centers in the United States. Beginning in the 1920s and 1930s, institutions recognized the need for spaces beyond dormitories and libraries to fully support student needs. Despite facing demographic changes, student centers have adapted, taking on more programmatic roles and becoming hubs for recreational activities, protests, news dissemination, and communal support.
For contemporary students, Alley explained, student centers are vital for exploring opportunities, fostering leadership, building a sense of community, and helping students feel part of something greater.
Alley expressed excitement about NCMC’s inclusion in the history of student centers. The new center will promote lifelong learning and cultural engagement, host student organizations, and feature amenities like a food pantry and a lactation room.
Doctor Lenny Klaver, President of NCMC, highlighted the significance of naming the student center in honor of former President Doctor Neil Nuttall, viewing it as a fitting tribute. Klaver’s motivation for establishing a student center stemmed from his son’s inquiry about such a facility upon his arrival at NCMC. He proudly noted the project’s financial health, attributing it to successful fundraising, state allocations, and donor generosity.
The Doctor Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center is under construction on the block bounded by Main and Chestnut Streets and 12th and 13th Streets in Trenton, just south of Geyer Hall.
