KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- The Kansas City community turned out in spectacular fashion to honor six individuals and businesses at the 18th-annual Mid-America Education Hall of Fame dinner.
More than 250 people attended the dinner Nov. 2, which was held in the Jewell Center on the Kansas City Kansas Community College campus. The KCKCC Jazz Combo provided the entertainment during social hour and dinner, and Lindsay Shively, weekend anchor for KSHB-TV in Kansas City, served as this year’s emcee.
“The 18th annual Mid-America Hall of Fame dinner was a tremendous success,” said Patrick McCartney, executive director of the KCKCC Endowment Association. “All of our inductee’s passion for education was evident in their acceptance speeches and was a great example of the impact they and all our previous inductees have had on students and their education. We appreciate the support of all our corporate partners and attendees for making this event a special evening and helping the Endowment as we continue to raise funds for scholarships at KCKCC.”
The Mid-America Education Hall of Fame was started in 1996 by the KCKCC Endowment Association as a way to recognize individuals, organizations and corporate supporters in the community who have made notable contributions to education.
This year’s list of honorees include Dr. Bob Van Maren, long-time superintendent of the Bonner Springs School District; Harry McDonald, a 30-year teaching veteran in the Blue Valley School District; Dr. Howard Shaw, a physician and hospital administrator who was named the Outstanding Community College Student in Kansas during his time at KCKCC in the 1980s; Greg Graves, chairman and CEO of Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell; AT&T, a company that has made a five-year commitment worth $250 million to address high school success as well as college and career readiness for students deemed at-risk and the 2nd Chance Scholarship Foundation, an organization founded by Matt and Jessica Brandmeyer that provides scholarships to high school graduates who have experienced adversity.
Hall of Fame inductees are selected based on a demonstrated commitment to education, their effort to improve the quality of life in the community through a commitment to education, increasing educational opportunities for others and supporting significant changes that have improved the quality of education.
“We are motivated in finding Hall of Fame inductees that dedicate their time and lives to educating others,” said Richard Rasdall, president of the KCKCC Endowment Association. “All of our inductees met and exceeded those criteria, and are helping to further the education of many students.”
For more information on the KCKCC Endowment Association or on the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame, call 913-288-7675 or email dfangohr@kckcc.edu.
CUTLINE: More than 250 people attended the 18th-annual Mid-America Education Hall of Fame event, which was Nov. 2 on the Kansas City Kansas Community College campus. Six individuals and businesses were recognized for the contributions to education.
