By Sophie Gage, Maya Speece and Bob Holmes
Reminiscing. It’s a big part of homecoming class reunions.
And the 2025 Columbia International University Homecoming was no different as the classes of ’55, ’65, ’75, ’85, ’95, ’05 and ’15 returned to campus to celebrate their class reunion milestone years, meet old friends and discover what is new at CIU.
In the cafeteria, as the class of 1975 reminisced, they were asked how things were different when they attended as compared to now. They emphatically stated, “everything!”
The group recounted the days when no one had personal cellphones and everyone had to use a pay phone in the hallway of the dorms. In Chapel, everyone had to sit in alphabetical order and attendance was taken manually. The women back then were thankful for a rainy day so that they could hold hands with their boyfriend. An umbrella would hide the view of the couple holding hands which was not allowed.
Faith Hansen recalled how Christian Service Learning (CSL) was instrumental in helping her discover her career.
“CSL was great in helping me figure out if Bible Teaching was for me,” Hansen said. “We got to get out there and help people.”
Meeting on the Quad was the Class of ’85 where Cindy McAllister recalled how revered professor Buck Hatch helped her realize she needed to move on from a relationship. Not even a year later, she met her husband, which might not have happened if not for Hatch’s wise advice.
50 Years of Grad Life Council
Meanwhile, over two dozen former members of the Grad Life Council (GLC) gathered on campus and online to reminisce as they celebrated an organization that has brought together CIU graduate and seminary students for fellowship and encouragement for five decades. It was hosted by current Grad Life Council faculty advisor Dr. Ben Noonan, who narrated a history of GLC that began soon after the Robertson McQuilkin Building was completed in 1974, designed for graduate classes.
“GLC was born out of a need to foster community among a rapidly growing body of grad students,” Noonan said.
Among the former GLC leaders to review the history was Joe Copeland, a GLC president from the Class of ’79. He recalled how when meeting with Seminary Dean Dr. Terry Hulbert, he was informed that the women were complaining that the men were not dating them. The administration discerned that the problem stemmed from a CIU rule in place at the time that students should refrain from study on Sundays. Consequently, the guys were studying well into Saturday night for their Monday classes. The solution: Classes were only held Tuesday through Friday, freeing up Monday to study.
“By the time I graduated, there were a large percentage of engagements — and I was one of them,” Copeland said.
President’s Banquet
The annual President’s Banquet, cultivated an atmosphere full of warm reunions and memories from CIU’s past. Each meticulously decorated dinner table held a centerpiece of flowers framed by discontinued mailbox doors that students were historically assigned. Alumni were able to look through the miniature doors and take home their old mailbox cover (trying to remember which one was theirs!).
Among those speaking was one of the first graduates of the CIU Nursing program. Hanna Place, from the Class of ’25, was employed soon after graduation by Prisma Health in Columbia.
“I was told by so many people that nursing would be the hardest and worst years of my life,” Place began, “But God allowed me to not simply survive, but genuinely thrive within the (CIU nursing) program. And that is in no small way because of the consistency and intentionality that goes into every way this program is designed.”
CIU President Dr. Bill Jones then noted the necessity to continue to expand CIU academic programs so CIU not only trains “professional ministers” such as pastors and traditional missionaries, but also “ministering professionals” such as nurses.
After quoting the CIU mission statement of “educating students from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ,” Jones added, “We’re going to impact not just the nations, we’re going to have a huge impact on this nation, and I’m excited about that.”
Encouragement from Rob Morgan
Popular Christian author and CIU alumnus Rob Morgan (Class of ’74) encouraged alumni with a breakfast devotional on prayer, saying, “We are more effective now than ever … God never forgets a single prayer ” and adding that God can use anyone who is willing — no matter your age, you can be more useful to God now than ever before.
Advice for Current Students
Meanwhile, along with their wealth of stories from the past, many alumni had words of wisdom for current students of their beloved CIU. Kelly Faulk, of the Class of ’85 encouraged students to “involve yourself in things on campus, you won’t regret it.” While Ronny Wilson of the same class said, “Meet everyone you can, they might become the friends you have all throughout your life.”
(Photo: The CIU Class of 1975)
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