August: Briefly in the News

New History Exhibit
The Boone County History & Culture Center has a new history exhibit in its galleries. “Faces Found: Boone County Portraits 1886 – 1940” opened in March. The historic photography exhibit represents the work of four photographers during that 54-year span in one Columbia studio. Faces Found includes images of the famous and unknown, adults and children, white and black, Boone County’s elite and working class. The exhibit will remain open until November 10, 2019.

Jersey Mike’s Subs Opens Second Location
Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for their fresh sliced and grilled subs, opened a new Columbia location at 2001 W. Worley St. in April. To celebrate their grand opening, owner Sterling Sublett ran a fundraiser supporting Paxton Keeley Elementary and Our Lady of Lourdes Interparish School. Sterling is an exemplary Jersey Mike’s franchise owner who shares the company’s commitment to quality products and exceptional customer service, and who is dedicated to giving back to the local community.

Mizzou Urgent Care Moves
To better serve increasing patient volumes, Mizzou Urgent Care moved from the South Providence Medical Building to a new location at 3916 S. Providence Rd. In its new location, Mizzou Urgent Care will grow from six rooms to 12, with four dedicated to pediatrics. With the change in location comes a leadership change as well. For several years, Family and Community Medicine has been the departmental home for Mizzou Urgent Care, but Emergency Medicine will now manage the clinic.

“In less than five years, we’ve seen the number of visits to Mizzou Urgent Care more than double. To continue offering convenient, high-quality care in this and other clinics, it’s crucial we provide ample space and adequate staffing.” – Jonathan Curtright, CEO of MU Health Care

Columbia College Partners with McDonald’s
Columbia College and the McDonald’s Missouri Advertising Co-Op recently announced a unique partnership that will give more than 6,000 of the restaurant’s employees throughout 123 stores in the Midwest a discounted tuition rate. Students who take classes online or at one of the college’s locations nationwide will also have access to the Truition program, which offers a transparent look at the cost of college by eliminating all fees and providing books at no cost. The offer is available to employees who are looking to complete undergraduate and/or graduate degrees and is being offered in collaboration with McDonald’s Archways to Opportunity program.

Columbia College offers six class sessions lasting eight weeks each, allowing students to complete their degree quickly. Students can earn an associate degree in 20 months, a bachelor’s degree in 3.5 years, and a master’s degree in just 12 months. The college is very transfer-friendly, which may allow a student to graduate even earlier if they have previously attended an accredited college.

Midwest Special Needs Trust Offers Additional Grants
To assist local, low income individuals with disabilities, including families with children with disabilities, the Midwest Special Needs Trust Board of Trustees voted to increase funding of its charitable grant program by $150,000 to help serve those in the devastated areas of Jefferson City and Eldon, Missouri, following recent flooding and the tornado that struck the area in May. This includes parents seeking help for the eligible needs of their children with disabilities. There is an application process.

Centennial Investors Provides Additional Funding
In the past 16 months, Centennial Investors, the angel-investing organization in Mid-Missouri, has given five young companies infusions of needed capital. The five early-stage enterprises receiving backing are StoryUP, located in Columbia; Dynamize, founded in Columbia and now located in Denton, Texas; Mobility Designed, based in Kansas City; Viosera, located in St. Louis; and AdSwapper, based in Columbia.

MasterTech Named to Circle of Champions
MasterTech Plumbing, Heating and Cooling was recognized for its commitment to excellence with a spot in the coveted 2019 Circle of Champions by Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems, a leading supplier of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment.

Students Accepted into Prestigious Program
Four Columbia Area Career Center students were accepted into the prestigious ATSU-Truman Healthcare Academy that took place in June. The students admitted are Saveena Bhaskaran, Sumaya Nour, Dakota Salem, and Alexis Voigt, all from Battle High School. The health care academy, produced by Truman State University, offers an integrated curriculum to expose students to the methods and skills of a variety of health professions. Students learned about health professions through hands-on activities and stimulating discussions.