East Central College Foundation

06/04/2026

Between family commitments, work responsibilities, and the joys of being a mom and grandma, this alumna found time to pursue her bachelor’s degree!

Meet Ashlee Everhart, an ECC alum that studied in the Medical Assistant Program from 2016-2017. 🩺 Ashlee works as a medical assistant in a pediatric office, where she helps support patients, families, and providers. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in management with a minor in business administration with the goal of moving into an office management role in the future!

Her favorite memory of ECC was Falcon Fest. She said, "Our entire medical assisting class would go together, set up a booth, play music, and eat food. It was a lot of fun and a nice break from classes. Those days really stood out to me and made my time at ECC memorable." Fun fact: Falcon Fest is still a tradition at ECC! 💙

Ashlee is married and keeps busy with two children at home, two grandchildren, and a lively household filled with animals! 🐾 Outside of work and school, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, especially hiking with her family and dogs.

We wish Ashlee continued success as she works toward earning her degree. Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

06/02/2026

An ECC alum leaving their mark! 👏 Check out Brad's book, "Tell Me Everything," available locally at Neighborhood Reads in Washington.

06/01/2026

Congratulations to ECC Foundation Board Member, Tracy! 🎉

Congratulations, Tracy, on your 15-year workaversary with UBU! 🙌

Your dedication, expertise, and positive impact over the years have been invaluable. Thank you for your enduring commitment to United Bank of Union. We appreciate your effort every single day.

Please join us in congratulating Tracy on her milestone! 🎉

05/28/2026

The East Central College Foundation has named Kurt Unnerstall the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award in recognition of his leadership, community service, and longstanding contributions to the region through business and volunteerism. A Washington native, Unnerstall earned an Associate of...

05/28/2026

From student to proud parent, ECC continues to be a part of today's Featured Alum's story! ✨

Meet Amy Crow, a 1996 graduate from East Central College! Amy's academic journey continued after ECC with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education in Literacy. She taught in the School District of Washington for 25 years, spending the first six years of her career in special education and the last 19 years teaching first grade. When telling us about her time at ECC, Amy said, "I really enjoyed my time at ECC. ECC felt welcoming, supportive, and focused on helping me succeed. The smaller class sizes made it easier to connect with instructors, ask questions, and actually feel seen rather than lost in a crowd. I made life long friends that I still communicate with today, 30 years later."

Amy loves National Parks, and it's her goal to visit as many as she can. ⛺ On the weekends you will find her outside hiking, camping, or kayaking with friends and family. For her 50th birthday last year, she wanted to take on a physical challenge, so she climbed the Manitou Incline in Colorado. The hike featured 2,768 steps with an elevation gain of more than 2,000 feet in less than one mile!

We are proud to recognize Amy who's story reflects the lasting impact of ECC!

05/20/2026

Long before Kurt Unnerstall’s work could be seen in developments, subdivisions, athletic fields, streets, bridges, parks, and community projects across Franklin County, his path was taking shape at East Central College. Congratulations to Kurt on being named the recipient of the 2026 Outstanding Alumni Award!

Kurt earned an Associate of Applied Science degree from ECC in 1984 before continuing his education at the University of Missouri-Rolla, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. He later became president of KJU Construction, building a career rooted in hard work, service and a deep commitment to the region he calls home.

At ECC, he built the foundation for his future with the guidance of legacy faculty members including professors Alt, Hickey, Knudson, and Mahon, along with his baseball coach and lifelong friend, Tom Dill. Their influence helped prepare him for a career defined by service, expertise, and a lasting impact on communities throughout the region.

Kurt's connection to ECC has remained strong. He has offered volunteer advising and support for campus projects, donated space for ECC events, supported the Baseball Campaign, and is a Patrons of the Arts member. His community involvement extends to the Mercy Foundation Board, St. Francis Borgia Parish Council, St. Francis Borgia High School Athletic Association, Washington Knights of Columbus, and Washington Elks Lodge. He also is the current president of the SITE Improvement Association and chairman of the board for Heritage Community Bank.

Congratulations to Kurt on this well-deserved award and all of your accomplishments. Your leadership and contributions to the community continue to make a lasting impact!

05/19/2026

☀️ Rain or shine, the long-awaited Senior Expo and Health Fair is happening this Wednesday at East Central College!

Join us from 9 a.m. to noon in the Donald D. Shook Student Center gym for a free morning filled with helpful resources, wellness information, vendor booths, presentations, giveaways, and more.

Golf carts will be available to pick up attendees from parking lots and bring them to the Student Center entrance. 🚗

Whether you’re looking for health information, community resources, or just a fun and informative morning, there’s something for everyone 55 and older.

05/14/2026

As an ECC alum, volunteer, and accomplished professional, Joseph Purschke represents the power giving back and leading through service!

Joe grew up right here in Union, MO. He is a graduate of Union High School, East Central College, Missouri State University, and the University of Missouri–Columbia, School of Law. 🎓 For nearly two decades, Joe served the Union community as a practicing lawyer from 2000–2018. In 2018, that commitment to the community led to his election as Franklin County Associate Circuit Judge. He has served as chairman of the Union Fire Protection District, chairman of the Boy Scouts Osage District, and president of All Abilities Athletics. He currently is a member of the ECC Foundation Board, Knights of Columbus, and Union Lions Club. In 2013, he was honored with the ECC Outstanding Alumni Award.

Also serving as an assistant baseball coach for Union High School, he enjoys volunteering, working out, running, and collecting sports cards. He is a proud husband and father, and on the weekends, he can often be found at sports card shows or running 5Ks or 10Ks.

Joe said, "ECC was one of the best decisions of my life. I may not have realized it at the time, but it prepared me very well for a large university, law school, and the real world. My best memories were tutoring algebra students in the Math Lab with Lynne Rinne and Chris Manhart."

Continuing to make a difference at the college through service on the Foundation Board and ongoing support of our students and programs, Joe is someone we’re proud to have as part of our alumni family! ✨

05/09/2026

Calling all proud East Central College parents & grandparents!

We’re excited to announce our new parent and grandparent merch collection, now available at the ECC Bookstore in the Donald Shook Student Center. Stop by campus and get yours! 💙🎓

05/08/2026

IMPORTANT UPDATE 📣📣📣

The Pops Concert is moving from the Washington Fairgrounds to the Washington High School Gym tonight (5/8) due to the forecast! Please join us to cheer on these awesome musicians at 6 pm! Jimmy John’s will be on site with sandwiches, chips & drinks.