Trustees’ ScholarNEWSLETTER

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY Spring 2013

Scholar joins Trustees’ law firm The Trustees’ Scholars Program receives

many accolades for the financial assistance it offers scholars, but often times the connections made through the program are just as valuable.

Just ask Allyson Walker Cunningham, class of 2009. Ally, who grew up in Columbia, Mo., said she might not have chosen to attend UMKC had she not received the scholarship. Once here, she enjoyed the culture, career opportunities, and network of the large and small corporations that Kansas City boasts.

During her time as an undergraduate, the Trustees’ program helped Ally connect with a variety of attorneys from all over, including Lathrop & Gage law firm, where she now works.

“They have consistently been significantly engaged in the Trustee’s program, participating at networking events,

hosting Trustee’s receptions, and being willing to sit down with any scholar who is interested in applying to law school,” Ally said of Lathrop & Gage. “Our CEO, Joel Voran, is now on the Trustee’s Board of Directors. Lathrop’s level of engagement made them stand out as a giant in the community when I was going through the Trustee’s scholar program.”

Ally returned to Colombia to attend law school at the University of Missouri, and after her graduation in May 2012, was offered a position at Lathrop & Gage practicing environmental law. Her focus is on regulatory work and litigation in environmental disputes, ranging from compliance orders to toxic sewer and nuisance claims. She has clients from across the nation. Her merit, diligence, and some critical networking while at UMKC helped to make it all possible.

As a Trustees’ Scholar, Ally Cunningham took note of Lathrop and Gage’s support of the program.

Trustee helps scholar connect with genetics expertsLast semester, Trustees’ Scholar Alaina

Shine met Trustee David Westbrook at a Scholar/Trustee lunch. After that meeting, David set up shadowing opportunities at Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he works. Alaina was able to meet with the head of the genetics department and several genetic counselors at the hospital.

With so few people working in the genetic counseling field, Alaina said she is grateful for any advice from and conversations with people working in the field. Alaina spends her summers working with children with special needs, and shadowing at Children’s Mercy has made her even more excited for her future career. Not only does she want to help children with special needs, but she also wants to assist their families.

Scholar works for a tobacco-free campusAs a Trustees’ Scholar, Amy Johnson

feels a responsibility to give back to the university that has offered her so many opportunities. For her, this translates into working to improve the wellbeing of the student body. Curtailing the use of tobacco products is a great way to demonstrate that we care about our future, she says.

According to Amy, the Department of Health and Human Services and the American College Health Association have recommended all American universities be tobacco-free. In response, this

year Amy composed a tobacco-free policy report for UMKC, which she presented to the Faculty Senate, the Health and Wellness

Center, and several other campus organizations.

Her efforts led the Student Government Association to establish a task force to examine the tobacco-free proposal. Amy developed a short survey this spring to help determine the student body’s opinion as the administration considers long-term decisions

regarding UMKC’s tobacco policy. Amy’s goal is for the campus to be tobacco-free by next fall.

Alaina Shine and Trustee David Westbrook at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Trustee connections help Scholar land new job Senior Scholar Kyle

Gruber has challenged himself while at UMKC. And he’s had Trustee help along the way. Now, his determination, combined with guidance and support from Trustees, has resulted in a job as a financial analyst at Hallmark after graduation.

Kyle said Zimmer Cos. CEO and Trustee Ellen Darling shared career advice with him, looked over his resume and passed it along to Trustee Steve Doyal, a Hallmark executive.

“Steve called someone in HR at Hallmark on my behalf and said I was a

Trustees’ Scholar,” Kyle said. “He then emailed me and told me what to expect from the interview process, which helped me feel better prepared.”

Kyle begins his new job in June. But first he will challenge himself in another way. He has been training all year to hike across the Grand Canyon with coworkers at Scottrade, where he has been interning.

He believes that being so determined to prepare for the trip will help him in the

professional world. “If I can stay focused and achieve this, I can achieve anything,” Kyle said.

Student raises money for Ronald McDonald HouseOn March 16, Jordan

Miles participated in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House through her sorority, Alpha Delta Pi. Jordan helped facilitate the games, took score and monitored the free throw challenge.

“Our 3-on-3 tournament, ‘Take it to the House,’ was an amazing event that incorporated a large group of people coming together to support an incredible foundation,” Jordan said.

The tournament raised around $4,000 for the Ronald McDonald Foundation and provided Jordan an opportunity to give back. Jordan Miles, center, with her sorority sisters at the

tournament.

Kyle Gruber competed in the Warrior Dash last spring and will now hike the Grand Canyon

Last summer freshman scholar Claire Peterson spent a life-changing 10 days in the Dominican Republic with a missions team.

For four years, she and her older sister had sponsored a child from overseas living in poverty. The girls decided that they wanted to take that one step further and go somewhere to help children in poverty. Through their research they found an organization in the Dominican Republic that needed help getting three schools organized and opened. Claire and her sister spent last year saving money for the trip. “We spent many months working extra hours, holding garage sales and even selling baked goods at our annual Maple Leaf Festival,” Claire said. “It was time-consuming, but we knew it would be worth it in the end.”

During the July trip, Claire painted, organized, cleaned classrooms and helped enroll children in school. She and her sister were so moved by their experience that

they decided to sponsor one of the children. “When we got home, we couldn’t remain unaffected by the world around us,” Claire said. “That trip taught us a lot, and with that we wanted to help at least one kid stay in school.”

Kate Tankel in Argentina.

Scholar changed by experience with children

Graduating Scholar earns Fulbright award Kate Tankel, a double major in K-12 Spanish education and Spanish language, has

received a Fulbright ETA (English Teaching Assistantship) Award for 2013-2014.The Fulbright Program, funded through the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of

Educational and Cultural Affairs, provides funding for graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. This competitive program requires applicants to undergo an extensive application process.

Kate, one of the three successful applicants who had to demonstrate native fluency in Spanish, will be teaching in Ecuador. After that year, she hopes to get a teaching job in or near Kansas City.

Kate’s passion for teaching and for the Spanish language were nurtured in her very successful semester study abroad experience in Argentina in Fall 2011.

Claire Peterson worked with kids in the Dominican Republic.

Kate Tankel in Argentina.

UMKC Trustees’ ScholarsScholars receive a full-ride (tuition,

housing, book allowance) scholarship provided by the UMKC Board of

Trustees and its community partners. Since the program’s inception in 2002,

59 Scholars have completed their undergraduate degrees at UMKC, and

nearly 70 percent of the program’s alumni live in the Kansas City area.

Teejay is tops in entrepreneurial action and moreFreshman scholar Terrance (Teejay) Hughes and a group of 19 other students this spring

took first place in their league in the Enactus Regional competition, in which 60 colleges showcased their impact on local communities using entrepreneurial action and applying business concepts.

“Going to the Enactus Regional competition was one of the best experiences of my college career yet,” Teejay said. “Not only did our team take first, there were tons of business people to connect with and opportunities to network with regional and global corporations. It was a tremendous experience to be on the presenting stage in front of the judges.”

UMKC’s Enactus team also received the 4.0 Club Award for “having quality education programs and establishing long-term sustainability within programs,” and the Club 44 Award for having more than 44 members. The team will now advance to the Enactus national competition May 21 at the Kansas City Convention Center.

“I can’t wait for nationals,” Teejay said. “If it’s anything like regionals, it will be a life-changing experience.”

Teejay hopes to take an officer position next year for Enactus. He is involved in several other clubs on campus, including his role as volunteer leader for the school’s honors program. This spring he took a group of 20 honors students to a local animal shelter, Unleashed Rescue, to be trained as volunteers. “It was the perfect chance to incorporate my love for animals and helping the community,” Teejay said.

2013 Media CommitteeWriter/editorsJosh Boehm (’13)Kathleen Brueggemann (’15) Terrence (Teejay) Hughes (’16)Claire Peterson (‘16)Bailee Slack (’15)

Linda Link and Kady McMaster, Staff Sponsors

John Whiteman, Designer

Teejay Hughes with a four-legged friend.

2013 graduating class of scholars

Josh BoehmSponsor: The UMKC Trustees

Josh is an urban planning and design and economics major. As a junior, he received an honorable mention in the J.C. Nichols Student Competition for his redevelopment proposal for Kansas City’s Marlborough neighborhood. This spring, he delivered a presentation on trail-oriented development at the National Planning Conference in Chicago. Josh has worked as a volunteer with Mission Adelante and Jackson County Family Court. He was named a 2013 Vice Chancellor’s Honor Recipient by the division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. After graduating he will work for BNIM, a local architecture and urban planning firm in Kansas City.

Lydia DeGarmoSponsor: The Atterbury Family Foundation

Lydia is working full time for H&R Block World Headquarters in the OCOE bookkeeping department as a tier 2 financial specialist and will continue working there after graduation. She will graduate with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance and a minor in economics. She will be receiving magna cum laude honors. During the last four years, she has been involved in the Chi Omega sorority, Relay for Life, the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, the UMKC Honors Program, Roo Crew, and Order of Omega. She has also worked at Swinney Recreation Center for two years.

Kyle GruberSponsor: The Hugh J. Zimmer FamilyKyle is a business administration major with an emphasis in finance. He has worked at Scottrade for more than a year, helping clients manage their financial investments. He was the communications director for the UMKC College Democrats, where he registered students to vote and helped encourage political awareness and activism among students. Kyle plans to stay in Kansas City to gain professional experience in the financial sector and give back to his community before continuing education in graduate school.

Brandon Scott RussellSponsor: Barbara Hall Marshall

Brandon is graduating summa cum laude with degrees in vocal performance and music education. He has been involved with the UMKC Opera Program, The Lyric Opera of Kansas City and other nationally recognized opera companies. He participated in the 2012 Houston Grand Opera Young Artist Vocal Academy, was a studio artist for the Opera Saratoga 2012 Summer Festival, performed as the lead tenor, Don José, in UMKC’s production of La Tragédie de Carmen, and won a 2013 Metropolitan Opera National Council Encouragement Award. After graduation, he will perform as a studio artist for the Wolf Trap Opera Co. in Virginia.

Kelli SchmidtSponsor: The UMKC Trustees

Kelli came to UMKC to pursue a degree in nursing. During her four years here she was an active member of Chi Omega, serving as the director of parent and alumni relations, vice president and president of the sorority. As president she traveled to Phoenix to participate in the sorority’s national convention. She is also a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and Sigma Theta Tau international, a nursing honor society. Kelli recently accepted a job at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, working in the pediatric ICU.

Katie SteeverSponsor: The UMKC Trustees

Katie is a pre-dental student majoring in chemistry. During her time at UMKC, she was involved in the Honors Program, serving on the Honors Student Advisory Council, as Oak Street Honors Wing Academic Assistant, and co-president of the Honors Program. She has participated in UMKC Pre-Dental Society and Smile Academy and volunteered with Operation Breakthrough, Harvester’s, Give Kids a Smile, and Kansas Mission of Mercy. She was accepted into the UMKC School of Dentistry through the reserved admissions program as a junior and will enter the program this fall.

Kate TankelSponsor: The UMKC Trustees

Kate is a double major in K-12 Spanish education and Spanish. She has participated in and served on the boards of many organizations at UMKC and in the Kansas City area, including volunteering as an ESL instructor and serving as the secretary of the School of Education Student Government. Kate spent a semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, enriching her cultural awareness and inspiring her to pursue teaching opportunities abroad after graduation. Kate will travel to Ecuador on a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship grant.

Sara TuckerSponsor: Bill and Linda French

Sara is a middle school mathematics education major. A participant in the Institute for Urban Education (IUE), she has worked as an intern and on community service projects. She was a student teacher at Argentine Middle School in Kansas City, Kan. Sara is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, and has been president for two years. She has also served on the National Pan-Hellenic Council and been president for three years. She was also vice president of the School of Education Student Government Association. Recently, Sara accepted a job with the Kansas City, Kan., School District.

Professional enrichment curriculumDuring the Spring 2013 semester, Scholars spent time bonding with each other while learning more about leadership and what it takes to succeed, helping others through community service, attending a ballet performance and spending time in a low-income neighborhood.

A mid-winter’s afternoon outingScholars spent some social time together in March at the spectacular Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, where they attended a performance of the Kansas City Ballet’s “A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream.”

William Whitener’s ballet was based on Shakespeare’s popular comedy. The performance included Kansas City Chorale singers, spoken excerpts from the play and Kansas City Ballet students.

Scholars learn secrets to success Very few students get the opportunity to be mentored by top-tier Kansas City business, civic and philanthropic leaders like the Trustees’ Scholars. During the March Enrichment Session, UMKC Trustees Steve Doyal, left, and Scott Smith, right, sat down with the scholars to discuss secrets to their success. Doyal and Smith shared the philosophies, values and decisions that guided them to their current levels of achievement.

‘The city you never see’In April, Scholars boarded a bus at Operation Breakthrough, a facility in Kansas City that serves children from the urban core. Operation Breakthrough’s CEO and co-founder Sister Berta Sailer led the scholars — along with some members of the Centurions program — on what she calls “The City You Never See Bus Tour.”

Operation Breakthrough parents boarded the bus at various stops to tell the Scholars powerful stories about their daily lives.

Donating time and muscle for the community A group of Scholars, along with members of the Centurions Leadership Program of The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, volunteered their time in March at Habitat Restore in Kansas City. Scholars worked in the warehouse loading lumber, sweeping floors and doing other chores.

Habitat Restore takes donations of building materials and furniture and sells them at a discount.