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In honor of North Central Missouri College’s centennial, NCMC will spotlight 100 inspiring stories throughout the academic year. These narratives will showcase the voices and journeys of our alumni, students, faculty, staff, donors, and the communities that have shaped TJC/NCMC’s legacy. Each story is a tribute to the people throughout history who make NCMC extraordinary.

Julie Hill Lehr
Attended 1976-1977
Spooky Memories at TJC Student Senate’s Haunted Dungeon

When the dead arise and ghosts haunt an ancient basement it’s time for a scary good time. One of my favorite memories of my time at Trenton Junior College (now NCMC) was the Haunted Dungeon our student senate put together in the fall of 1976.

The student senate needed to come up with a way to make money to fund activities for the full year. We discussed lots of ideas, but ultimately, we thought we would have the best luck with a Halloween haunted house… er dungeon. But where could we have it? All it took was a tour of the already spider web-filled TJC basement in a building built in 1918. It was perfect. Already scary, we could use the real spider webs already present as part of the ambience. Trenton hadn’t seen anything like this at that time so it was sure to draw attention. Plus, it wouldn’t be too scary which would invite families to attend.

The team decided on a basic frightening story and assigned roles to the students. We had a Dracula-like count in a real coffin, a werewolf, ghosts and lots of other creepy people to meet as the groups toured the dungeon. My job was ankle grabber, no makeup required. I stood behind a curtain and touched people’s ankles as they filed by. They were never ready for that unexpected experience. We had to buy a few props and supplies, but we were careful to keep the cost low. One of the awesome features was dry ice in small puddles of water – no fog machine for us. Students created most of the decorations and costumes from items we didn’t have to buy. The characters did their own makeup making the entire event very cost effective. We had high hopes for great revenue.

I don’t remember what we charged or how many nights we held the event. I do remember that those who dared to walk the haunted dungeon had a spooky good time. Planning ahead and working together brought about a successful event. The student senate made enough money to hold activities for the rest of the year.

Trenton Junior Colleges Holds Promise of Cost Effective Transition to a Four-Year University in 1977

It was 1976 and the country was busy celebrating the Bicentennial of the United States.

I graduated from Trenton High School with a solid plan to go to college and major in journalism. I was excited to be on my way to a promising career and a fabulous future ahead of me, but I had a few reservations. I knew that the University of Missouri- Columbia was a top journalism school, but it seemed incredibly big with a great deal of unknowns that scared me a little bit. The biggest was not having a known roommate. That worry hung over my head like a giant rock. Was I really ready to leave home and go to such a big school?

Back then, going to bigger college was like jumping off a cliff and hoping for the best. There was no orientation to make the transition easier. I and my parents went to Columbia and signed me up for my freshman year. It overwhelmed me. I started really considering what would be the best option for me. With a Regent’s scholarship in my back pocket that Trenton Junior College (TJC), would welcome providing me an almost free freshman year and giving me more time to prepare for that big jump to Mizzou, I decided to attend TJC and it turned out to be a wonderful decision for me that influenced the rest of my life.

I was able live at home, attend classes with many students I knew from high school but still meet new people, and have time to get a job and save money. When students registered to attend TJC, we indicated what we ultimately wanted to major in. I, of course, selected journalism. Just a few weeks after classes began, KTTN, Trenton’s local radio station, contacted me about a job. They got my name from TJC as a student interested in journalism. I was so excited. I interviewed for the job and they selected me!!

Because of TJC, that chance job influenced exactly what I ended up studying at the University of Missouri. It was still journalism, but broadcast journalism. I had always thought I wanted to work for a newspaper or a magazine, but my experience at KTTN created a real passion for broadcast.

I continued my classes at TJC and worked at KTTN throughout 1976 and 1977. I learned so much. I worked in nearly every aspect of small market radio, mainly writing commercials, but also working on air with their Dinner Date program. I did anything they asked me to do except make coffee. No one really wanted me to attempt that.

After my freshman year, I was ready to go to Mizzou. My sister Jennifer wanted to go to nursing school there and the issue of a roommate was solved. That saved our parents a little money because we could share many items and we already knew we would get along. My classes at TJC, where I got straight A’s, and my experience at KTTN made me confident that I could do well at the bigger school. I continued to work at KTTN every vacation and throughout the summers the entire time I was in college. As I studied, I realized the TV news was where I should place my emphasis. I graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Broadcast Journalism and stayed on to get my Master of Arts in Radio, Television, and Film in 1981.

Without my transition from high school to college, without the chance job I got working at KTTN because of TJC, I’m not sure my career would have had the same trajectory. I grew up a lot that year. TJC made a huge difference in my career and my life.

Editor’s Note: This article is about one of the Telegraph’s contributing writers, Julie Lehr. She attended college at NCMC, and as part of the college’s 100-year celebrations, they share stories from graduates of the past. This is the story that they shared from Julie.