NCMC Foundation Announces Distinguished Alumni Class Of 2023

The North Central Missouri College Foundation has announced their Distinguished Alumni Class of 2023.

Dr. Jennifer (Collier) Blacksmith is a former NCMC Women’s basketball player who was part of the NCMC 2002 Division II Region 16 championship. After completing an associate’s degree at NCMC, she transferred to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice. She then earned a doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Missouri. She is now the Director of Behavioral Health with the Northeast Health Council.

Jackie (Persell) Soptic graduated from NCMC in 1989 and started in a part-time position at the Green Hills Planning Commission. She eventually became the assistant director of the organization. She retired from Green Hills after 33 years in 2022. She has also served on the Trenton City Council and has volunteered for several programs.

Barbara (Higdon) Spencer started her college career at Trenton Junior College and then transferred to Northeast Missouri State University. She retired in 2004 after a 29-year teaching career at Jameson and Trenton R-9. She also taught Composition and Speech at NCMC on a part-time basis for over 10 years. She retired in 2017.

The Distinguished Alumni Class of 2022 will be recognized during the Pirates Ball on March 25th at the Ketcham Community Center. The Pirates Ball is to honor distinguished alumni, Voyage Fund donors and all NCMC family and friends. The event is a fundraiser for the Voyage Fund, an annual giving campaign to raise unrestricted funds to help meet the unmet needs of the College.