MCC Foundation Board Member honored by KC Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have selected CiCi Rojas, MCC Foundation Board Member, as the recipient of the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award, a recognition made possible through the support of Bud Light. The awards recognize the contributions of Hispanic leaders in each NFL market.

The Chiefs honored Rojas during a pregame ceremony on Aug. 26 at their Hispanic Heritage game.

Along with serving on the MCC Foundation Board, Rojas is Vice President of Community Engagement at

MCC mourns loss of former Blue River president

Malcolm Wilson, former president of MCC-Blue River, passed away on Saturday, July 30.

Malcolm was injured in a motorcycle accident last year, leaving him with debilitating injuries. Despite his injuries, he remained a beacon of hope and encouragement for all who visited with him, family and friends said.

Malcolm served as MCC-Blue River president from 2001-2007. He first came to MCC in 1983 to serve as dean of students at MCC-Penn Valley, then became director of student development in 1996. He served in that role until 1998 when he was named interim vice chancellor of student resources and development, a role he held until he was appointed president of Blue River.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, August 4, noon to 1 p.m. at the Heartland Church of Christ, 6120 NW Prairie View Road, Kansas City, Mo. 64151. In lieu of flowers, Malcolm's family has suggested contributions be made to the Malcolm T. Wilson Difference Maker Fund at the MCC Foundation.

Malcolm was respected as a man of integrity dedicated to the ideals of diversity. He will be truly missed by the many people whose lives he touched. To observe his passing, the MCC flag at each MCC campus has been be lowered to half-staff until the completion of his funeral.

MCC Foundation moves to the Administrative Center

The MCC Foundation, which was housed at the MCC-Penn Valley Campus, has recently made the move to the Administrative Center, located at 3200 Broadway.


The Foundation is directed by Vincent Anch, and has 2 full-time staff postions. Foundation employees can be reached at:

Vince Anch  Director  604.1411
Nancy McCallum  Program Specialist  604.1348
Lesli Shaver  Program Specialist  604.1338

The Metropolitan Community College (MCC) Foundation & Alumni Association was founded in 1975. The Foundation supports the mission of MCC: Preparing Students, Serving Communities, Creating Opportunities.

John Fierro, executive director of the Mattie Rhodes Center, was elected to the MCC Foundation board of directors in May.

Mattie Rhodes Center is a non-profit organization with a mission to “bridge cultures and communities through arts, mental health and social services and empower individuals and families through culturally competent, bilingual services in a respectful and compassionate environment.”

Fierro is involved in a number of other community organizations and initiatives, including serving as president of the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Board of Commissioners and as a member of the board of directors for the National Recreation and Park Association. He holds two masters degrees: one in public affairs from Park University and one in business administration from Rockhurst University. He also attended Harvard University.

Fierro is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and lives on the city's west side in the same neighborhood where he was raised.

MCC Foundation Gives Surprise Gift to Students in Need

A generous donation from the MCC Foundation is sure to bring smiles to the faces of some very deserving students this fall.

The foundation’s board of directors approved a measure last week that would provide $500 scholarships to a group of almost 200 high-achieving students who are struggling to pay their college costs. Foundation board president, Anita Maltbia, presented a $100,000 check to MCC officials and student ambassadors during the college’s board of trustees meeting on Thursday.

MCC Foundation Board President Anita Maltbia, second from right, presented a check for $100,000 made out to "Metropolitan Community College Students" at the MCC board of trustees meeting on June 16. Pictured with Maltbia are (left to right) Mark James, MCC chancellor; Duc Nguyen, student leader at MCC-Penn Valley and MCC-Maple Woods; Mehrnaz Shahlari, student ambassador at MCC-Penn Valley; Maira Cuevas, student leader at MCC-Blue River and MCC-Maple Woods and student advisor for the MCC Foundation; and David Disney, president of the MCC board of trustees.   

Financial-need parameters have been established for the scholarships but specific students have not yet been selected to receive the awards, said Cindy Butler, MCC's district director of financial aid. The students, who will be identified by the financial aid office, will have completed at least half of the coursework for an associate's degree and be in good academic standing with the college.

“These are bright students who are poised to do well in school and in their careers,” said Maltbia, who is also director of the

BCBS Helps Ensure Fiscal Health of MCC

Blue Cross and Blue Shield, MCC's health insurance provider, gave an unexpected donation to MCC this week in the form of a $2,500 check.

The contribution was presented by Carol Jones, BCBS senior account executive, to Chancellor Mark James during the MCC officers' meeting Tuesday.

A letter from BCBS President and CEO David Gentile said the contribution signifies the insurance company's commitment to partnering with MCC to enrich and advance Greater Kansas City.

"We know state revenue shortfalls have intensified pressure on your budgets and that you are forced to make difficult decisions," Gentile said in the letter. "We hope you'll use this money to secure educational programs, sponsorships, or other appropriate purposes as you and the foundation determine."

Stars shine brightly at MCC gala

More than 425 people attended MCC's second annual Five Star Gala on Thursday, raising tens of thousands of dollars for scholarships, academic coaching, emergency book funds and special projects.

The event, held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown-Muehlebach Tower, honored the Francis Family Foundation with the Five Star Award.

Known throughout the region for its commitment to creating brighter futures for all generations, the Francis Family Foundation has been a pioneer in education for young children, emphasizing the importance of moving beyond

Last chance to buy gala tickets

With MCC's second annual Five Star Gala right around the corner, seats are filling up fast. Don't forget to visit the gala web site to buy your tickets.

The gala, themed Creating Bright Futures, will honor the Francis Family Foundation for their commitment to early childhood education and their support of MCC. Gala co-chairs David Disney, Kathy Disney and Carolyn Watley cordially invite MCC employees to attend. Proceeds from the fundraising event benefit MCC students through scholarships, academic coaching, emergency book funds and special projects throughout MCC’s five campuses.

MCC Five Star Gala
Thursday, March 31
5:30 reception, 6:30 dinner and program
Downtown Marriott Hotel - Muehlebach Tower
MCC employee tickets ~ $100
MCC alumni and retiree tickets ~ $125
Regular tickets ~ $250

For additional information or to order tickets, visit the Five Star Gala website.

Janet L. and Richard D. Rees Veterinary Technology Scholarship awarded the MCC-Maple Woods Vet Tech program by

The MCC-Maple Woods Veterinary Technology program recently received a monies to continue to support vet tech students over the coming years. The Janet L. and Richard D. Rees Veterinary Technology Scholarship, endowed at $25,000, will be awarded in the one-time amount of $750 to one student each spring.

The scholarship will be awarded to a full-time student enrolled in the veterinary technology program with recommendation from a vet tech instructor or a counselor at a 2.8 or greater GPA.

The gift was awarded by Dick Rees in memory of his late wife, Janet. Janet had been a member of the HoAKC for 30 years, including serving as secretary and board member for the last 13. She dedicated much time and effort to involvement with several specialty clubs for Boston Terriers, her favorite breed. She also participated in dog shows with her own animals all over the country.

The Reeses were also a dedicated part of Goodin Heart of America Kennel Club Scholarship, which, along with awarding a $250 scholarship to a vet tech student each semester, also presents engraved stethescopes to each incoming student.

Dick and Janet Rees, pictured with MCC-Maple Woods President Merna Saliman, Dean of Instruction Mindy McCallum, Vet Tech Coordinator Chris Morrow, Natalie Short and Jessica Ramirez.

Artist to gift sculpture at gala

When representatives from the Francis Family Foundation are awarded MCC’s highest honor at this month’s Five Star Gala, they won’t be presented with a run-of-the-mill trophy or plaque; they will receive a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Kansas City artist E. Spencer Schubert has crafted a unique sculpture to be given as this year’s Five Star Award, a tradition that carries over from last year’s inaugural gala when renowned artist Rita Blitt crafted a metal sculpture to honor Henry Bloch and the Bloch Scholars program.

“With such an array of talented artists in Kansas City–many with a connection to MCC–we saw a unique opportunity to showcase that talent while providing our Five Star honorees with a truly one-of-a-kind token of our appreciation,” said Jackie Snyder, MCC chancellor emeritus, who, together with Foundation Director Vince Anch, hatched the idea to highlight local art in this way.

And this year, the artist and the honoree have a special connection that adds even more meaning to the sculptor's gift: Schubert himself has benefitted from the Francis Family Foundation’s benevolence. He is a graduate of the Arts Incubator, a local business incubator for artists that is partially funded by the foundation. Schubert says he is honored to give back to the organization through the gift of this original sculpture, which is based on the logo of the Francis Institute for Child and Youth Development that the Francis Family Foundation co-founded at MCC-Penn Valley.
Schubert holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in sculpture from the University of Kansas, where he launched an exhibition schedule that has taken him throughout the Midwest. Recent exhibitions include:

• Yankton River Walk, Public Art Exhibition; Yankton, South Dakota (2011)
• Art in R Park, Public Art Exhibition; Roeland Park, Kansas (2010)
• 64 Arts National Juried Exhibition, Buchanan Center For The Arts; Monmouth, Illinois (2010)
• Fall Group Show, Leopold Gallery; Kansas City, Missouri (2009)
• Solo exhibition, Goppert Gallery, University of St. Mary; Leavenworth, Kansas (2009)
• Small Works, Cocoon Gallery; Kansas City, Missouri (2008)
• Solo exhibition: avoidance, Plenum Space; Kansas City, Missouri (2008)

In addition to his fine-art sculpture work, Schubert owns E.S. Schubert Commercial Sculpture Studios, a 3-D fabrication studio in Kansas City’s West Bottoms industrial district. He has served as a guest lecturer for the sculpture program at his alma mater, KU, and has led workshops and panels on a number of arts-related topics. He has won several awards, including the 2008 ArtsKC Fund Inspiration Grant from the Metropolitan Arts Council of Kansas City.

To see a sample of Schubert’s work, join us for the 2011 Five Star Gala, where his original sculpture will be unveiled and presented to the Francis Family Foundation. Regularly priced tickets are $250 each and reduced-price tickets for employees are $100. The event, on Thursday, March 31, will be held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown–Muehlebach Tower. For more information about the gala or to purchase tickets visit the Five Star Gala web site.

Temporary changes to scholarship process

Plans are underway for a major process improvement that will make it easier for students to apply for MCC Foundation scholarships – a process that in the past has been difficult for students to navigate. The system enhancement will be implemented in 2012.

In the meantime, the scholarship process is temporarily being scaled back.

Temporary changes: For the 2011-12 academic year, the MCC Foundation will award the Bloch Scholars and the Fran and Wally Good scholarships and will grant renewals to students who remain eligible for scholarships they currently receive. Also, the process for requesting support from the Student Book and Emergency Fund will remain the same. While this represents a majority of the funding currently distributed by the MCC Foundation, some scholarships that have historically been managed by the foundation will not be awarded during this period. In a few specific cases, other scholarships deemed necessary by a campus will be administered by campus officials directly.

Permanent improvements: The streamlined scholarship-application process, which will be available for students enrolling for fall 2012, is designed to make the application process easier for both students and staff with the ultimate goal of awarding more scholarships. Further, the MCC Foundation has established a $250 minimum for awardable scholarships, another change designed to provide additional support for deserving students who need financial assistance. Currently, approximately one percent of MCC students receive MCC Foundation scholarships.

Rojas Joins Foundation Board

The MCC Foundation last month welcomed a new member to the board of directors: Cici Rojas, a prominent civic leader and advocate for the Latino community in Kansas City and across the U.S.

Rojas is the vice president of community engagement for Truman Medical Centers, where she oversees employee enrichment and training, health and wellness, community relations and strategic innovation. Prior to her work at TMC, Rojas served as president and CEO of both the Greater Kansas City and the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chambers of Commerce. She also was vice president of

Honoree, Chairs, Theme announced for 2nd annual gala

In preparation for the second annual Five Star Gala to be held this spring, the MCC Foundation has announced the event’s honoree, chairpersons and theme.

The gala’s theme, Creating Bright Futures, is a nod to the commitment and passion of the honoree organization--the Francis Family Foundation, the event chairpersons--David Disney, Kathy Disney and Carolyn Watley, and MCC.

The Francis Family Foundation has contributed more than $20 million to MCC and is the namesake for the Francis Institute at MCC-Penn Valley. Recognized nationally for its commitment to pioneering advances in child care and early childhood development, the Francis Family Foundation has been particularly supportive of MCC’s work to provide high-quality training and education for aspiring childcare providers.

David and Kathy Disney served as co-chairs for the inaugural gala in 2010, along with Jackie Snyder, and will serve in the same capacity this year, along with Carolyn Watley. David, who is senior vice president at J.E. Dunn Construction Company, is president of the MCC board of trustees and has served on the board since 2000. Kathy, who is a professional photographer, is a strong advocate for education and youth in our community. Carolyn, who is president of CBIZ, serves on the MCC Foundation board of directors.

MCC employees are cordially invited to attend the gala, which will be held Thursday, March 31, at the downtown Marriott Hotel’s Meuhlebach Tower. Employee tickets are available for the discounted price of $100 per person, which is less than half of the regular ticket price of $250 per person. MCC alumni and retirees may purchase tickets for $125 each. Proceeds from the event go to student scholarships, academic coaching, emergency book funds and special MCC projects.

For additional information about the event or to order tickets, visit the Five Star Gala website.

Reaching out to bring alumni in

Since 1990, more than 320,000 people have attended MCC. That’s a lot of alumni. That’s a lot of success stories.

To reconnect with these former students, MCC marketing has launched a campaign called 320 thousand that encourages people to get back in touch with MCC by visiting http://www.320thousand.com/. With a goal of developing a comprehensive database of former students in order to re-engage them with MCC, the campaign encourages people who visit the site to register online as alumni. Registrants will then receive invitations to attend MCC events, participate in volunteer activities, support the MCC Foundation and network with other alumni, among other opportunities.

The call is not limited to people who earned a degree or certificate from MCC, though, says MCC marketing coordinator Monica Stevens, who is managing the recruitment campaign. Nor is it limited to people who attended MCC within the last 20 years.

“We want to hear from anyone and everyone who has attended MCC – from the person who took a single class here in 1948 to the person who has earned several associate’s degrees while attending multiple MCC campuses,” said Stevens. “So many of our former students have great stories to tell and we want to hear those stories.”

If you are a former MCC student, visit the 320 thousand web site to see how you can become part of this growing network of proud alumni. And if you have family or friends who have attended MCC, send them a link to this article so they, too, can join the movement!

A season to give and to receive: MCC Foundation lands three major gifts

During a season marked by philanthropic generosity, the MCC Foundation is grateful for three very special gifts that arrived just in time to make the holidays a little brighter for MCC.

Between last week and this week, the foundation learned that it would receive three large contributions to MCC’s capital and major gifts campaign. Last week, officials from the H&R Block Foundation notified MCC Foundation Director Vince Anch that they would be giving a $32,000 contribution to the college. This week, the Victor Speas Foundation approved a $100,000 gift to MCC and the Gottlieb Foundation confirmed a $50,000 pledge.

These kinds of contributions, known in the fundraising world as major gifts, are hard to come by, especially in a lackluster economy. That’s why Anch and the fundraising team know they have a lot to be thankful for this time of year.

“It’s been a great month for the Foundation!” said Anch. “The team has worked hard for these gifts and we’re pleased to close out the year on such a high note.”

Foundation Makes Scholarships Easier to Find, Pursue

Throughout the year, the MCC Foundation works hard to manage scholarships, both by raising money to create and grow scholarships and by getting the word out about money that is available to students through these scholarships. Because dozens of scholarships go unclaimed each year, the MCC Foundation is celebrating National Scholarship Month with a campaign to raise the visibility of available scholarship money. Based on input and feedback from students and student services staff, the foundation has initiated several improvements to the scholarship-seeking process, including:

• Bettering the booklet: The online MCC scholarship booklet, which lists all of the available scholarships for any given semester, is scheduled to be available by the end of November, two months earlier than in years past. This will give students additional time to gather and submit the applications in time for the April deadline.
• Submission goes digital: In the fall of 2011, the application submission process itself will become automated so students will be able to apply online. This change will allow for earlier awarding, which will help students and their families make informed, timely enrollment decisions.

The MCC Foundation also has planned a number of activities and initiatives that celebrate MCC scholars, scholarship donors and the scholarships themselves, including:

• Thanks-a-thon: MCC scholars will gather on Friday, November 19 for the annual donor phone-a-thon, where they will spend the evening calling more than 500 scholarship donors to thank them for their contribution to MCC. The volunteer callers do not solicit donors for additional contributions during the call, and some even get to talk with the specific donor who contributed to their own scholarship, so the phone-a-thon is very rewarding for them. “We’ve received enormous amounts of praise for this activity on both sides of the phone,” said Jessica Ramirez, manager of community relations and fund raising at the MCC Foundation.
• Highlighting MCC scholars: Throughout the month of November, MCC scholarship recipients will be featured on The MCC Insider in articles that both recognize the scholars for their accomplishments and bring attention to various scholarships that are available.
• Adopt a Student: This spring, the foundation is launching the Adopt a Student program, which invites local business and civic organizations to support students in a fund-a-need format, allowing donors to choose the types of costs their contributions will cover. Using this proven fundraising technique, the foundation will help donors and prospective donors connect more closely with students in need. The foundation's scholarship committee, which includes business members, high school counselors and A+ program coordinators, has been instrumental in the development of the program.

So, be on the lookout for these and other changes that will help the MCC Foundation create opportunities for our students. If you are a student exploring scholarship opportunities, there are two ways you can get more information:

1. Click here to view the on-line scholarship booklet or follow this path on the MCC web site: Get Started --> Step 2 --> Scholarships
2. Schedule an appointment to see your campus financial aid officer

If you are an employee or community member exploring contribution opportunities, please contact Jessica Ramirez at 604.1458 or by email.

Here’s wishing you a happy and financially sound National Scholarship Month!

MCC Foundation Wants More Attention, Recipients for Scholarships

Foundation scholarships

Every year, dozens of available scholarships, representing tens of thousands of dollars, go unused by MCC students. That’s a lot of money! And the MCC Foundation would rather award it to deserving students than have it sitting in the bank. So, in honor of National Scholarship Month, the MCC public information department and the MCC Foundation are launching an awareness campaign to be sure students, faculty and staff are aware of this great, free alternative to student loans.
Watch The MCC Insider throughout November for information on MCC scholars and MCC scholarships. If you know of any current or prospective MCC students who could benefit from a scholarship, please share this information or encourage them to visit the MCC Foundation web page. Remember, if you want to email an MCC Insider article to a student, colleague or friend, you can do so by clicking on the envelope icon at the bottom of any story.

Inaugural MCC Gala a Success

The goal of this year’s MCC Five Star Gala was to honor Henry Bloch and raise funds to help support MCC students in providing scholarships, emergency book funds, and special educational programs. On both fronts, the gala was a success.

Over 400 guests attended, raising $160,000, of which approximately $40,000 will go towards scholarships and programs. The event also honored Bloch, co-founder of H&R Block, for his foundation’s efforts in establishing the Bloch Scholars Program at MCC.

The event was emceed by Mitch Holthus, the voice of the Kansas City Chiefs, and entertainment was provided by the Metropolitan Chorale of Kansas City. A light show highlighted the event on the side of the Marriott on 12th Street and an illuminated blue MCC ice sculpture was a lobby centerpiece. MCC alumni and Henry W. Bloch Scholars greeted and thanked guests for their support.

The Chorale, directed by Dr. Rebecca Johnson, includes the ensemble group Vox Luminese. They performed four numbers, including the world premiere of Spirit of Saints, written by award winning composer-in-residence, Ryan Main. Main presented Mr. Bloch with the sheet music as a special gift from the Bloch Scholars and MCC.

Guests enjoyed a video presentation of the history of MCC, and heard personal stories from past and current Bloch Scholars. The Bloch Scholars later joined Mr. Bloch on stage when he was presented the Five Star award, specially-designed and donated by artist Rita Blitt.