Subdistrict 3 Summer 2026 Report
Learn about all of MCC's annual community events
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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.
Metropolitan Community College (MCC) 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’s workforce.
As healthcare remains an essential field, MCC has 11 associate degree and certificate programs in healthcare located at the MCC – Penn Valley Health Science Institute, including MCC’s FIRST Bachelor’s 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.
MCC is proud to play a critical role in the economic development of Kansas City’s workforce, including exploratory vocational career options for local middle and high school students at the MCC-Penn Valley Advanced Technical Skills Institute. These programs, such as the Scouts’ Power Up Trades camp, in partnership with the Girl Scouts of NE Kansas and NW Missouri, introduce our youth to in-demand careers. The MCC- 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 MCC’s community events, College for Kids summer programs or how MCC 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
MCC Trustee-Subdistrict 3
BOARD OF TRUSTEES FEEDBACK FORM
Trustee Spotlight
Girl Scouts “Power Up” at Trades Camp
If it's summer, you likely encountered high-school-age Girl Scouts at MCC-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
Metropolitan Community College, 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.
MCC will pilot the KC Guarantee in three Kansas City area school districts — Center, Grandview and Hickman Mills — 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.
“We are launching a bold promise to our students and our community,” said MCC Chancellor and CEO Dr. Kimberly Beatty. “The KC Guarantee ensures that cost will not be a barrier to education. This is about economic mobility, workforce readiness and transforming generations.”
The KC Guarantee is made possible through powerful public/private collaborations, including a $1 million Jackson County (Mo.) Nonprofit Partnership Grant awarded to the MCC Foundation to support the pilot year. MCC 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’s Kansas City Data Center, one of the MCC Foundation’s largest corporate partners this year. Meta and Great Jobs KC alongside MCC leadership played a foundational role in shaping the vision of the KC Guarantee.
“When Meta comes to a community, we believe in investing in its long-term economic vitality,” said Stef Seger, community development manager for Meta’s Kansas City Data Center. “This partnership with MCC will transform access to education and help build a workforce pipeline that reflects the strength and diversity of Kansas City.”
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
MCC-Longview opens state-of-art Automotive Institute and launches a new automotive program
Seven years in the making, MCC’s 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 MCC-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.
“For more than 60 years, MCC has set the standard for automotive training and education in our region, preparing more than 9,500 students for careers in the industry,” stated Dr. Beatty, Chancellor and CEO of Metropolitan Community College. “Now with expanded capabilities, open-concept design and modernized teaching labs, MCC is in the position to further its impact even more.”
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’s state and local elected leaders joined MCC 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’s Summit Mayor Beto Lopez to name a few.
“Today dedication is a huge milestone for the City of Lee’s Summit. We take a lot
of pride in Lee’s Summit with workforce initiatives … we would like to be considered
the model for workforce initiatives,” stated Mayor Lopez. “This is a huge need for
our community and across the country, and to have that here in Lee’s Summit, Missouri,
we’re very proud of that, we will be a continued partner as long as I am mayor.”
The MCC-Longview Automotive Institute is the fifth and final building of the Path Forward Capital Campaign led by the MCC Foundation, and it completes the second and final phase of the campaign. The mission of the Path Forward Capital Campaign is to strengthen MCC’s workforce pipeline of local talent by adding scholarships, enhance programs and state-of-the-art facilities.
“We will continue to tackle the region’s economic and workforce challenges with new programs, new buildings and partner with employers to fill in industry and talent gaps,” stated Dr. Beatty.
MCC Welcomes the World Cup
MCC leveraged the excitement of FIFA World Cup 2026™ 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™
was held. The campaign showcased MCC's commitment to education, workforce development
and community engagement while positioning the college in front of local, national
and international audiences.
MCC 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 MCC 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 MCC and the opportunities it provides throughout the Kansas City region.
The artwork displayed in the photo is on the Broadway-facing side of the MCC 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 MCC as well as milestones during that
time for Kansas City and the United States.
MCC Raises Record $462,000 at 2026 MLK Scholarship Luncheon
The 2026 MCC Chancellor’s 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’s total.
During the event, MCC Chancellor and CEO Dr. Kimberly Beatty shared additional details
about the KC Guarantee, MCC’s 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 MCC Foundation, which was
established in 1976.
Learn more about the 2027 event and sponsorship opportunities.
Metropolitan Community College Celebrates First-Ever Bachelor’s Degree Program
Metropolitan Community College announced the launch of its first-ever bachelor’s degree
program, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, marking a significant
milestone in the College’s 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.
“MCC’s new Respiratory Care program is not just about earning a degree; it’s about empowering students with the qualifications and experience needed to thrive in one of the fastest-growing fields in health care,” said Dr. Kimberly Beatty, MCC Chancellor and CEO. “Graduates will enter a profession with excellent career prospects, thanks to a curriculum combining academics with hands-on training in MCC's state-of-the-art facilities.”
The new Respiratory Care Program suite is housed within the MCC-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’s 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’s launch is supported by health care institutions committed to improving health care education and advancing patient care. MCC extends special thanks to the following health care partners for their collaboration in designing and implementing the program:
- Children’s 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, MCC plans to introduce an Associate of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, offering students additional options for educational advancement. MCC 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 MCC and complete their bachelor’s degree.
For more information on MCC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Respiratory Care, visit mcckc.edu/RespiratoryCare.
Congratulations to the MCC class of 2026
Metropolitan Community College 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 MCC-Penn Valley Health Science Institute, reminded
classmates that every educational journey is unique and worthwhile. Evening speaker
Qadria Qarizada, an MCC-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.