A generous grant from philanthropists Robert McNair and Janice Suber McNair ’59 is the source of the dramatic landscape changes that have been happening on the campus since July. On a visit to meet and spend time with Columbia College’s McNair Scholars last spring, Mr. and Mrs. McNair invited President Whitson to submit a proposal for landscaping upgrades. The approved plan emphasizes low maintenance plantings and native plants, and includes new irrigation in some areas. Perhaps the most dramatic change is at the College entrances and the addition of several tall palmettos, the state tree, to the central campus mall.

The McNairs are residents of Houston, Texas, but have been following the progress thanks to the slide show featured on the Columbia College website. “This wonderful gift has created so much excitement in our campus community, and we can’t wait to welcome the McNairs back to campus to see the results firsthand,“ said President Whitson.