The announcement of a $100,000 donation pledge to assist in a fundraising drive for Jefferson College’s new veterinary technology building allowed the Jefferson College Foundation to reach its goal of raising $1 million to help pay for the $3,022,900 project.
The pledge came from Randy and Debi Morgan of Barnhart, supporters of animal causes.
Debi is a dentist with a practice in Bonne Terre, and Randy is a mortgage banker with Guild Mortgage.
“We do a lot with Stray Rescue of St. Louis,” Debi said. “We foster. We donate. We sponsor their events.”
The Morgans say they like what they have seen of the veterinary technology facility on the Hillsboro campus.
The Morgans support other causes, such as BackStoppers and Warrior’s Wingman. BackStoppers supports the families of fallen police, fire and other emergency responders, and Warrior’s Wingman trains service dogs for veterans.
John Linhorst, the college’s vice president of finances and operations, said meeting the fundraising goal for the veterinary technology building was a significant accomplishment for the foundation.
“The $3,022,000 reflects the construction cost of phase I of the vet tech building project,” he said. “That phase was supported through a combination of Missouri’s MoExcels grant program, bond funds and $1 million in generous fundraising from our community and industry partners, facilitated by the Jefferson College Foundation."
Brockmiller Construction of Farmington was awarded the bid to build the 5,775-square-foot veterinary technology building by the college Board of Trustees in December 2023.
The college began holding classes in it in early 2025.