Subdistrict 3 Summer 2026 Report
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A Message from Trustee Washington
Dear community,
It is with great pleasure that I represent you as an elected member on the Metropolitan Community College Board of Trustees in Subdistrict 3, your community college in the heart of Kansas City.
爆料吃瓜网 (爆料吃瓜网) offers a variety of programs; degree-seeking, continuing and community-based education, designed to help students gain the skills, education and credentials needed to succeed in today鈥檚 workforce.
As healthcare remains an essential field, 爆料吃瓜网 has 11 associate degree and certificate programs in healthcare located at the 爆料吃瓜网 鈥� Penn Valley Health Science Institute, including 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 FIRST Bachelor鈥檚 degree program, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care. The program launched in the spring and its first cohort begins classes starting this fall.
爆料吃瓜网 is proud to play a critical role in the economic development of Kansas City鈥檚 workforce, including exploratory vocational career options for local middle and high school students at the 爆料吃瓜网-Penn Valley Advanced Technical Skills Institute. These programs, such as the Scouts鈥� Power Up Trades camp, in partnership with the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, introduce our youth to in-demand careers. The 爆料吃瓜网- Penn Valley Advanced Technical Skills Institute offers 10 associate degrees and certificates in areas of HVAC, industrial electrical, building maintenance and construction, and more.
I invite you to learn more about 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 community events, College for Kids summer programs or how 爆料吃瓜网 can help you reach your educational and professional goals. I am proud to represent you and serve Subdistrict 3, and I thank you for the opportunity to continue to do so.
Barbara Washington
爆料吃瓜网 Trustee-Subdistrict 3
Trustee Spotlight
Girl Scouts 鈥淧ower Up鈥� at Trades Camp
If it's summer, you likely encountered high-school-age Girl Scouts at 爆料吃瓜网-Penn Valley Advanced Technical Skills Institute (ATSI) in midtown. This summer marks the third annual edition of the Scouts' Power Up Trades Camp, an exploration of career fields traditionally dominated by men, such as welding and wiring. One of the fields covered in the camp was construction, and the project at hand was building doghouses. Pretty nice ones, in fact. Crews from both Fox 4 and KMBC 9 stopped by to see what was going on.
"If I was born back then," a Scout named Natalee told Channel 9, referring to days of yore covered in history class, "I could not do this stuff. I could not even learn how to do any of this. But luckily, things have changed."
KC Guarantee, a bold new vision for more affordable college access
爆料吃瓜网, Kansas City has launched KC Guarantee, a transformative initiative designed to make college more accessible and affordable by guaranteeing up to two years of tuition-free education for eligible students.
爆料吃瓜网 will pilot the KC Guarantee in three Kansas City area school districts 鈥� Center, Grandview and Hickman Mills 鈥� with plans to invite additional districts, institutions and regional partners in the future. Through the KC Guarantee, students will be guaranteed a paid path through college, positioning each student for a job or transfer.
鈥淲e are launching a bold promise to our students and our community,鈥� said 爆料吃瓜网 Chancellor and CEO Dr. Kimberly Beatty. 鈥淭he KC Guarantee ensures that cost will not be a barrier to education. This is about economic mobility, workforce readiness and transforming generations.鈥�
The KC Guarantee is made possible through powerful public/private collaborations, including a $1 million Jackson County (Mo.) Nonprofit Partnership Grant awarded to the 爆料吃瓜网 Foundation to support the pilot year. 爆料吃瓜网 will match that investment, creating a $2 million commitment to launch the program. The initiative was also seeded through a major philanthropic investment from Meta鈥檚 Kansas City Data Center, one of the 爆料吃瓜网 Foundation鈥檚 largest corporate partners this year. Meta and Great Jobs KC alongside 爆料吃瓜网 leadership played a foundational role in shaping the vision of the KC Guarantee.
鈥淲hen Meta comes to a community, we believe in investing in its long-term economic vitality,鈥� said Stef Seger, community development manager for Meta鈥檚 Kansas City Data Center. 鈥淭his partnership with 爆料吃瓜网 will transform access to education and help build a workforce pipeline that reflects the strength and diversity of Kansas City.鈥�
The goal of the KC Guarantee is to build a network of employers, donors, colleges and school districts offering their own guarantees to a next generation of educated and skilled workers for Kansas City.
Find out how to apply for the KC Guarantee
爆料吃瓜网-Longview opens state-of-art Automotive Institute and launches a new automotive program
Seven years in the making, 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 leadership envisioned modernizing the automotive
technology program to expand workforce training opportunities.
In its initial phase, the existing automotive High Technology building was renovated and the collision repair program was expanded. Now after more than a year since its ground-breaking, the new 爆料吃瓜网-Longview Automotive Institute combines its academic and corporate training programs entirely in one building, including its new diesel technology program.
The new program is equipped with state-of-the art equipment with ten bays specific to the needs of diesel motor and commercial vehicles, allowing for hands-on learning in this industry specific field. The first program cohort begins in the Fall 2026.
鈥淔or more than 60 years, 爆料吃瓜网 has set the standard for automotive training and education in our region, preparing more than 9,500 students for careers in the industry,鈥� stated Dr. Beatty, Chancellor and CEO of 爆料吃瓜网. 鈥淣ow with expanded capabilities, open-concept design and modernized teaching labs, 爆料吃瓜网 is in the position to further its impact even more.鈥�
The new renovated institute includes:
- Dedicated space for each of the three automotive programs
- A second-floor observation bridge overlooking 24 automotive work bays
- Expanded footprint for the Collision program
The project was led by architect firm DLR Group and general contractor McCown Gordon, in partnership with LM2 Construction. The Automotive Institute has an open architectural design inspired by modern auto dealerships.
Many of Missouri鈥檚 state and local elected leaders joined 爆料吃瓜网 staff, faculty and its
project partners at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 5, including Congressman Emanual
Cleaver, Missouri Speaker Rep. Jon Patterson, Rep. Keri Ingle of MO-District 35 and
Lee鈥檚 Summit Mayor Beto Lopez to name a few. 鈥ㄢ��
鈥淭oday dedication is a huge milestone for the City of Lee鈥檚 Summit. We take a lot
of pride in Lee鈥檚 Summit with workforce initiatives 鈥� we would like to be considered
the model for workforce initiatives,鈥� stated Mayor Lopez. 鈥淭his is a huge need for
our community and across the country, and to have that here in Lee鈥檚 Summit, Missouri,
we鈥檙e very proud of that, we will be a continued partner as long as I am mayor.鈥�
The 爆料吃瓜网-Longview Automotive Institute is the fifth and final building of the Path Forward Capital Campaign led by the 爆料吃瓜网 Foundation, and it completes the second and final phase of the campaign. The mission of the Path Forward Capital Campaign is to strengthen 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 workforce pipeline of local talent by adding scholarships, enhance programs and state-of-the-art facilities.
鈥淲e will continue to tackle the region鈥檚 economic and workforce challenges with new programs, new buildings and partner with employers to fill in industry and talent gaps,鈥� stated Dr. Beatty.
爆料吃瓜网 Welcomes the World Cup
爆料吃瓜网 leveraged the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026鈩� to increase awareness of the
college among an estimated 600,000 visitors who traveled to Kansas City.
The campaign included soccer themed banners, window graphics and yard signs along
Broadway Boulevard, a key route to the Liberty Memorial area, where the FIFA Fan Festival鈩�
was held. The campaign showcased 爆料吃瓜网's commitment to education, workforce development
and community engagement while positioning the college in front of local, national
and international audiences.
爆料吃瓜网 also extended its reach through digital channels with World Cup-themed social
media content across all college platforms and a soccer-themed promotional video featured
on the 爆料吃瓜网 website and social media. Together, these efforts created a highly visible
presence during one of the world's largest sporting events, helping introduce visitors
to 爆料吃瓜网 and the opportunities it provides throughout the Kansas City region.
The artwork displayed in the photo is on the Broadway-facing side of the 爆料吃瓜网 Administrative
Center, which underwent numerous improvements this past year. The upgrades included
greater accessibility for visitors and staff, a modernized board room, and a history
display celebrating the 111 year history of 爆料吃瓜网 as well as milestones during that
time for Kansas City and the United States.
爆料吃瓜网 Raises Record $462,000 at 2026 MLK Scholarship Luncheon
The 2026 爆料吃瓜网 Chancellor鈥檚 Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Luncheon drew a sold-out
crowd of about 1,200 guests to Union Station and raised a record $462,000 for student
scholarships and initiatives, surpassing the previous year鈥檚 total.
During the event, 爆料吃瓜网 Chancellor and CEO Dr. Kimberly Beatty shared additional details
about the KC Guarantee, 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 effort to expand access to higher education for students
across the region, while interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota presented a
$1 million check to support the initiative.
The celebration also marked the 50th anniversary of the 爆料吃瓜网 Foundation, which was
established in 1976.
Learn more about the 2027 event and sponsorship opportunities.
爆料吃瓜网 Celebrates First-Ever Bachelor鈥檚 Degree Program
爆料吃瓜网 announced the launch of its first-ever bachelor鈥檚 degree
program, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, marking a significant
milestone in the College鈥檚 history. This new program, designed to meet the growing
demand for skilled health care professionals, will be available to students in the
fall of 2026.
鈥湵铣怨贤�檚 new Respiratory Care program is not just about earning a degree; it鈥檚 about empowering students with the qualifications and experience needed to thrive in one of the fastest-growing fields in health care,鈥� said Dr. Kimberly Beatty, 爆料吃瓜网 Chancellor and CEO. 鈥淕raduates will enter a profession with excellent career prospects, thanks to a curriculum combining academics with hands-on training in 爆料吃瓜网's state-of-the-art facilities.鈥�
The new Respiratory Care Program suite is housed within the 爆料吃瓜网-Penn Valley Health Science Institute, which includes a 10,000-square-foot accredited health care simulation center. There, students will receive hands-on experience with advanced industry equipment used in today鈥檚 modern hospitals, including ventilators, noninvasive ventilation (NIV), percussion therapy, and more. This unique learning environment is designed to provide students with the tools and experience they need to excel in their careers.
The program鈥檚 launch is supported by health care institutions committed to improving health care education and advancing patient care. 爆料吃瓜网 extends special thanks to the following health care partners for their collaboration in designing and implementing the program:
- Children鈥檚 Mercy Hospitals & Clinics
- HCA Midwest Health
- Kansas City VA Medical Center
- Liberty Hospital
- NKC Health Hospital
- Research Medical Center
- Saint Luke's Hospitals of Kansas City
- University Health Medical Center
- University of Kansas Medical Center
Additionally, 爆料吃瓜网 plans to introduce an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, offering students additional options for educational advancement. 爆料吃瓜网 is actively working to provide a degree advancement pathway, as we have been encouraged by both HLC and CoARC to develop an option for currently registered respiratory therapists to return to 爆料吃瓜网 and complete their bachelor鈥檚 degree.
For more information on 爆料吃瓜网鈥檚 Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, visit mcckc.edu/RespiratoryCare.
Congratulations to the 爆料吃瓜网 class of 2026
爆料吃瓜网 celebrated the Class of 2026 during two commencement
ceremonies on May 21 at Cable Dahmer Arena, honoring nearly 1,900 graduates and recognizing
Distinguished Alumni whose contributions have made a lasting impact on the Kansas
City community.
This year's honorees included Councilwoman Lindsay French, a lifelong Northlander
and Kansas City's 2nd District At-Large representative, and MADE MOBB co-founders
Vu Nguyen and Mark Launiu, whose work has helped shape the city's culture and identity.
More than 1,570 graduates participated in the ceremonies before a combined audience
of more than 8,300 family members and friends.
The ceremonies highlighted inspiring student success stories. Afternoon student speaker
Havannah Jolly, a graduate of the 爆料吃瓜网-Penn Valley Health Science Institute, reminded
classmates that every educational journey is unique and worthwhile. Evening speaker
Qadria Qarizada, an 爆料吃瓜网-Blue River graduate, shared her experience as the first woman
in her family to earn a college degree.
In total, 1,877 students were candidates for graduation, earning 2,022 degrees and
certificates. The graduating class included 139 students with high honors, 453 honor
graduates, 117 Phi Theta Kappa members, 118 collegiate academy graduates and 43 military
veterans. Health Sciences was the most popular pathway awarded.
For the first time, students who completed Workforce and Economic Development (WED)
non-credit programs were invited to participate in Commencement, with more than 350
students earning WED certificates this year.