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North Central Missouri College welcomed back its beloved groundhog, Tessie, during a Groundhog Day celebration held Monday, Feb. 2, at noon in front of the Neil and Susanne Nuttall Student Center on the main campus in Trenton. The event was revived as part of NCMC’s Centennial Celebration and drew students, employees, alumni and community members to witness Tessie’s first appearance in years.

President Dr. Lenny Klaver opened the celebration by welcoming attendees and reflecting on the significance of bringing back a cherished campus tradition. Trustee Diane Lowrey thanked those who assisted with planning the event, while Trustee Don Dalrymple, one of the original founders of NCMC’s Groundhog Day festivities, shared the history of how Tessie became a part of campus culture in the 1980s and 1990s.

Trenton Mayor Jackie Soptic issued an official proclamation declaring Feb. 2 as Trenton Tessie Groundhog Day, recognizing both the tradition and its place in NCMC’s 100-year history.

When the moment arrived, Tessie made her anticipated appearance through a mechanical pop-up engineered by Industrial Technology Instructor Rick Sharp and delivered her forecast. Tessie did not see her shadow, signaling an early spring for north Missouri.

Original founder Joanna Anderson provided a humorous interpretation of Tessie’s remarks, sharing the groundhog’s admiration for the growth of the NCMC campus since her last appearance. Tessie noted she was impressed by the many changes and developments across the college in recent years. The crowd laughed and reminisced about Tessie’s appearances in earlier decades. The staging and burrow were prepared with assistance from the NCMC maintenance crew.

Following the outdoor ceremony, attendees gathered inside the Nuttall Student Center for hot cocoa and cookies.

NCMC expressed appreciation to those who helped revive the Centennial event. Dalrymple, Lowrey and Anderson provided leadership for the program, while Sharp designed the mechanical pop-up. Rick Cole and the Digital Media crew assisted with sound and technical support, and the Maintenance crew helped prepare the staging and burrow. The NCMC Foundation provided funding through Centennial committee efforts.

“It was great to see the return of Tessie,” Klaver said. “As we celebrate our 100th year, bringing back this tradition gave us an opportunity to recognize the history and spirit of NCMC. I appreciate everyone who helped organize and support the event and contributed to reviving this historic tradition.”

As NCMC continues celebrating its centennial, individuals are encouraged to visit the Centennial website to explore college history, view archival photos and learn about upcoming celebrations.