Columbia College Veterans Day ceremony celebrates 50-year partnership with military

Roger McKinney, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read

Fifty years ago in 1973, Columbia College began offering courses at Fort Sheridan, Ill., beginning what has become a long-term relationship with the military, veterans and those associated with the military.

The private college based in Columbia celebrated that anniversary Friday during its Veterans Day ceremony outside the Brig. Gen. Charles E. McGee House on campus.

The University of Missouri on Friday afternoon conducted a wreath-laying ceremony in the archway to Memorial Union to honor veterans, a tradition dating to 1926.

After Fort Sheridan came Fort Leonard Wood and now Columbia College is on more than 15 military bases, plus offering online courses anywhere military members may be, said Rob Boone, the college's associate vice president for strategic partnerships and projects.

Boone, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army, said around 50% of the college's student population has some connection with the military.

When Columbia College made its inroads into the military it was at the tail end of the unpopular Vietnam War.

"We saw an opportunity and we saw that a lot of people serving in the military needed help with an education," Boone said in an interview.

Wreaths representing the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force were placed on each side of a lectern.

Columbia College received the Silver Star Families of America's commendation award, that in the past has gone to actor Gary Sinise, Gen. David Petraeus and former U.S. President George W. Bush, said Jeremy Amick, the organization's public affairs officer.

He presented the award and a banner to Columbia College President David Russell, himself a veteran.

Amick, who received his bachelor's degree from Columbia College in 1999 and his master's degree in 2011, is a veteran of the Army and the Missouri National Guard.

“The award recognizes everything Columbia College does to support our veterans and our active-duty personnel," Amick said.

Military Times placed Columbia College at number 61 on its best colleges for veterans list, with MU at 65.

Columbia College was this highest-ranked Missouri private college on the list and the second-highest overall in Missouri.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on X at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's how Columbia College and MU honored military veterans