After blocking off a portion of Cherry Street for the celebration and against the backdrop of the historic Federal Building, Columbia College on Thursday dedicated the building and its nursing program as the Barbara J. Bilger Family Nursing Program to honor what college officials said represents “one of the most significant philanthropic investments in school history.”
A news release said the gift from Barbara J. Bilger, Class of 1962, was in support of the college’s nursing program and the next generation of healthcare professionals while advancing awareness of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), a chronic condition that Bilger is personally familiar with.
The gift, given in memory of Barbara Bilger’s parents, Albert Paul Bilger Sr. and Marjorie Reddick Bilger, created an endowed fund supporting the growth and long-term success of the nursing program and fund scholarships for nursing students, including support for students impacted by ME/CFS, first-generation college students, out-of-state students, and students demonstrating financial need. The gift amount was not disclosed.
“I chose to make this gift to Columbia College because I know the College will use it to create lasting impact for students and the communities they will serve,” Bilger said in a news release. “Columbia College has a long history of growth, innovation, and changing lives, and I am honored to be part of that legacy. It is particularly meaningful to me that this gift will support future nursing students while also helping raise awareness and understanding of ME/CFS, a condition that has deeply influenced my own journey.”
The Columbia College nursing program location had been split between Federal Hall and Brouder Science Center on the CC campus since 2016. The consolidation to Federal Hall has opened up much-needed expanded lab and classroom space for other degree programs, said college spokesman Kevin Graeler.
The dedication ceremony speakers included Dr. Christina Hoff-Vollrath, director and chair of the Barbara J. Bilger Family Nursing Program. In comments directed to Bilger, who was at her home in Texas, Hoff-Vollrath said Bilger’s generosity “gives us so much more than a beautiful place to teach and learn. You’ve given us the opportunity to shape the future of nursing, one student and one nurse at a time.”
She added, “We recognize that behind every diagnosis, every treatment, and every patient encounter is a person with a story, a family, fears, and hopes — someone who deserves to be heard, respected, and cared for.” Hoff-Vollrath then noted that the Columbia College Nursing Pledge “ends with a simple but powerful commitment: ‘Today, I commit myself to being the nurse my patients deserve.’”
“This is the kind of nurse we are committed to developing at Columbia College,” she said. “It is the responsibility we carry forward as we dedicate this beautiful new home for nursing education … And to our students: This is your home. I hope you walk through these doors each day knowing that we believe in you, that we will challenge you, and that we are invested in your future success as a nurse.”
CC Board of Trustees Chair Anita Abbott Timmons said Bilger’s connection to Columbia College spans more than six decades.
“Over those years, she has shared her philanthropy through various scholarships,” Timmons explained. “Today’s investment in nursing education is more than philanthropic; it is a legacy. A legacy which will have an enduring impact on countless lives.
Photo by Abigail Wade/Columbia College
College President Dr. Toby Arquette reminded attendees that the event caused the closure of a portion of Cherry Street for this, “so you know it’s a big deal.”
“Think for a moment about a time when you or someone you love needed a nurse. You may not remember everything that happened,” he said. “But you may remember the person who noticed something was wrong. Who explained what would happen next. Who pulled up a chair, looked you in the eye, and helped you feel less alone.”
Arquette added, “That is the work we are preparing students to do. Our communities need more of them. And meeting that need requires us to make room for the people ready to answer the call.”
He cited an American Association of Colleges of Nursing 2025 reports that found that nursing schools nationwide turned away more than 93,000 qualified applications to undergraduate and graduate programs. Limited faculty, clinical placements, and classroom space are barriers that remain, Arquette explained.
“The desire to serve is there. Our responsibility is to help turn that desire into preparation, and that preparation into practice,” he said. “There is room to build that future here.”
For more than four decades, the CC nursing program has been preparing students for the profession, with more than 160 students currently enrolled.
Arquette’s remarks at the dedication ceremony included a brief message from Bilger.
“I am truly honored that Columbia College has chosen to place my name and my family’s name on such a wonderful building. My family has always believed in the values of hard work, compassion, and caring for others. When I think about nurses and the nursing profession, those are exactly the qualities that come to mind. Because of that, having our name associated with this building and with the future of nursing feels especially meaningful and appropriate.
“I am deeply grateful that this is how our family’s legacy will be honored.
“First, to everyone who will work, teach, learn, and serve within these walls: Please do so with joy, kindness, and positivity. The work that happens here will change lives, and the spirit you bring to that work matters.
“Second, to every future nurse who passes through this program: When you meet a patient, greet them with a smile. Never underestimate the power of a smile. It can bring comfort, reassurance, hope, and dignity in moments when people need those things most.
“Just as importantly, remember that not every illness is easy to diagnose or understand. Some people live with chronic conditions such as ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, and other illnesses that may not be immediately visible or clearly understood. Please listen to your patients. Really listen. Hear what they are telling you. Believe that their experiences matter, and treat them with the same care, respect, and dignity you would want for yourself or someone you love.”
Bilger’s remarks concluded: “Healthcare is not only about medicine, but also our humanity.”
Bilger has been a long-time supporter of Columbia (Christian) College for many years, according to a college news release. Her previous philanthropy includes the Barbara Jean Bilger ’62 Scholarship, support for scholarships honoring her grandparents, contributions to the Columbia College Fund, and the naming of the BJ Bilger Wing in New Hall.
In a post-ceremony interview with COMO Business Times, Arquette continued the theme he emphasized in previous conversations, that the college, as it marks its 175th year, is also looking the future.
“One of the things we are trying to identify is what are those areas we should be known for in terms of education,” he said. “One space we want to plant our flag in is healthcare. Nursing is the beginning of that. This building is a commitment on the part of the board and the college to a long future, not just in nursing, but as we expand into other [healthcare] areas. This is an anchor program for us.”
Hoff-Vollrath noted that the days of an “us versus them” competitiveness among healthcare educators and institutions are a thing of the past.
“We need each other,” she said, adding that CC’s program partners with MU Health Care, Boone Health, Truman Memorial Veterans Medical Center, Moberly Area Community College, Central Methodist College, and others.
“We all have the same goal. Our goal is to produce exceptional nurses. Our hospitals need that,” she said. “I think we do it better when we do it together.”
