Columbia College’s Robert W. Plaster School of Business welcomed middle and high school students to its Voices of Leadership summer camp July 14-18 in New Hall.
Each afternoon of the camp, attendees heard from successful leaders in mid-Missouri, who shared about the journey to where they are today and how they set a vision, build relationships and culture, and make tough decisions.
Voices of Leadership was one of several camps held this summer on the Columbia College campus.
“This was a great and truly inspiring week, and I am grateful for the community leaders who took time out of their busy schedules to invest in our campers,” said Jon Moberly, J.D., dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business and the camp director for Voices of Leadership. “Each day our 25 participants learned about examples of challenges and victories from difference-makers who epitomize strong leadership.”
Ric Ransom, Chief Executive Officer at MU Health Care, encouraged the campers to think about the intersection of activities they are both interested in and skilled at. He spoke about the career journey that led him to leadership roles at health care systems across the country.
“The path to leadership is not always linear,” Ransom said. “The path, at least in my experience, frequently involves setbacks, failures and disappointment. The thing that sets people apart who are able to continue to grow and succeed is not some fairytale that everything will go your way, but a healthy attitude and willingness to keep trying, keep pushing and not give up.”
Additional leaders who spoke at the camp included:
- Sarah Dubbert, Market President and Central Region Commercial Division Manager, Commerce Bank;
- David Nivens, President, COMO Companies;
- Adrian Plank, Missouri House of Representatives, 47th District;
- Ted LePage, Head Football Coach, Blair Oaks High School;
- Dr. Lester Woods, Chief Administrative Officer, Missouri Department of Transportation;
- Annelle Whitt, J.D., Founder, James & Annelle Whitt Entrepreneurial Development Foundation;
- Will Kava, Executive Athletic Director of Student Athlete Services, Mizzou Athletics; and
- Jenny Preiss, Executive Director, Missouri Girls Town.
Campers who opted to stay overnight on campus were placed in job shadow opportunities in the mornings throughout the week at organizations such as COMO Marketing, Williams Keepers, Questec Mechanical, Bank of Missouri, Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Regional Economic Development Inc., and MU Health Care.
Participant Ava Haynes said by attending Voices of Leadership, she learned the importance of asking good questions and making a positive first impression.
“Not only did I leave the camp with more knowledge, but clarity on how I believe my college experience will go,” said Haynes, a junior at Nixa High School in southwest Missouri. “I couldn’t be more grateful for the people I met and the relationships I built.”
In addition to Voices of Leadership, Columbia College also held the following interactive 2025 summer camps for sixth- through 12th-graders:
- CC Choir Fest, where students joined fellow vocalists and worked collaboratively with others who share the same love for singing;
- Nursing Camp, where students explored their passion for nursing and gained hands-on experience with state-of-the-art health care simulators;
- Bling It On: Silversmithing 101, where students learned the tools and techniques of the jewelry industry to create a one-of-a-kind, wearable piece of art;
- One Week, One Story, where students ignited their imagination for creative writing as a developing storyteller;
- CSI: Columbia College, where students investigated staged crime scenes with fellow campers to reveal untold stories;
- Colorshift and Storytelling through Costume, where students dived into the world of cinema and explored how color influences costumes and narratives; and
- The Fantastical World of Readers Theatre, where students became immersed in a magical theatre production.
Learn more about CC summer camps at ccis.edu/Events/Summer-Camps.
