Columbia College builds momentum with summer of alumni connections

At 29, Jared Reichel ’16 walked onto Columbia College’s campus as a freshman and immediately found a community that made him feel at home.

Twenty-five years after graduating, Trustee Tim Elliott ’01 is running a business in the same town where he earned his degree and watching with excitement as a new president charts the College’s future.

And for recent graduate Marci Lammers ’26, a scholarship became a lasting reminder that people she had never met were willing to invest in her success.

Their stories are different, but they share a common thread: The Columbia College community runs deep.

This summer, that community was on the move.

From Denver to San Diego, St. Louis to Kansas City and home to Columbia, Missouri, some 300 alumni and friends gathered at Columbia College Alumni Association (CCAA) socials to reconnect, celebrate the institution’s 175th anniversary and meet 19th President Dr. Toby Arquette.

The gatherings offered a powerful snapshot of the energy surrounding Columbia College as it heads into the 2026-27 academic year — backed by a network of more than 100,000 alumni strong.

“This summer brought together alumni, friends and members of the Columbia College community to share stories and celebrate the impact of a CC education,” Arquette said. “We look forward to building on this momentum and creating more opportunities for alumni to connect and engage with their alma mater.”

That spirit was on display Wednesday, Aug. 5, at The Kitchen Grill & Games in Columbia, when Reichel, Chair of the CCAA Advisory Council, encouraged fellow alumni to stay involved with the College through their time, talent and treasure.

Columbia College recently launched a LinkedIn Alumni Networking community and is hosting its first virtual Alumni Town Hall on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

According to an alumni survey, 97% of recent graduates would recommend Columbia College to a family member or friend, and 84% are working in their chosen career field or pursuing further education.

“There is true strength in community at Columbia College, and that has never changed,” said Reichel, an Army veteran. “I remember how loved I felt every day. When you go back now, you still feel it.”

Reichel invited fellow graduates to participate in an Alumni Service Day on Oct. 9 on the Columbia campus. One week later on Oct. 16, the College community will come together again for President Arquette’s Inauguration and the 2026 Homecoming Festival.

Elliott, who joined the Board of Trustees in July, said the enthusiasm surrounding the College is unmistakable as it begins a new chapter.

“We’ve got a very enthusiastic, great president,” said Elliott. “I am excited for his vision and the direction we are going.”

Lammers is among a new generation of alumni helping carry traditions forward.

A Presidential Award recipient for her career 4.0 GPA, Lammers earned a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from CC and now works in its Advancement Division.

A native of Pilot Grove, Missouri, she was originally drawn to the close-knit community she found at Columbia College — a community that extended well beyond her classmates and professors.

“As a recipient of the Mary Jones Green Lozier Scholarship, I realized there are people who are willing to invest in Columbia College students and want them to succeed,” Lammers said.

From coast to coast and back home in Columbia, this summer’s gatherings underscored a defining strength of Columbia College: its people.

Now, with a new president, a milestone anniversary, an engaged alumni network and a full slate of opportunities to reconnect this fall, the Cougar community is carrying the energy of summer into what comes next.