Kansas City, Kansas (1 April 2015) – Sporting Kansas City announced today that the club has partnered with global engineering and construction company Black & Veatch to launch a program aimed at enhancing interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among local students in grades 6-8.
“We’ve teamed up with Sporting KC to promote the value of a STEM education to young people,” said Lori Kelleher, Executive Director of Black & Veatch’s Building a World of Difference Foundation. “This program is another step forward in our quest to connect more kids to STEM. Doing this in collaboration with the iconic Sporting KC club and using the appeal of the world’s most popular sport is a great way to create a lot of enthusiasm.”
In 2015, Black & Veatch’s new growSTEM initiative, in partnership with Sporting KC, will include summer camps at Kansas City, Kansas middle schools. With appearances by Sporting KC players and engineers from Black & Veatch, each camp will offer a STEM-related curriculum highlighted by a challenge specifically focused on Sporting KC. Subjects will include the engineering elements in the design of Sporting Park, technology solutions for fan engagement and on-field data analysis and display of player performance.
“Embarking on this opportunity with a fellow homegrown company and local students is exciting. Local partnerships are part of our DNA and very important to our organization,” said Jamie Guin, VP of Corporate Partnerships for Sporting KC.
“We are looking forward to making a lasting impact in the lives of area youth through sports and STEM. Both of our organizations have a vested interest in the role that science, technology, engineering and math play in our day-to-day business operations.”
Jamie Guin, VP of Corporate Partnerships for Sporting KC
The partnership with Sporting KC builds on Black & Veatch’s global STEM partnership with the Museum at Prairiefire in Overland Park, along with the company’s many existing mentoring programs, and will be leveraged to drive volunteer efforts at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City.
“Black & Veatch puts STEM initiatives at the center of our philanthropic and community involvement efforts globally. They are vitally important to secure the next generation of professionals who will solve the engineering challenges of energy, water and communications in the future,” said Becky Schieber, Senior Manager, Charitable Programs at Black & Veatch.
Editor’s Notes:
- At the end of the program students with perfect camp attendance, their guardians and others involved with the growSTEM program will enjoy a grand finale night at the August 1 game at Sporting Park.
- The new growSTEM program will be introduced via kickoff assemblies, featuring a Sporting KC player, to promote the summer camps and encourage registration this spring.
- Middle school kick-off dates:
- April 9: Coronado Middle School, 1:30 p.m.
- April 14: Rosedale Middle School, 1:45 p.m.
- Camps will take place at Kansas City, Kansas middle schools on these days:
- 6th Grade: June 1-4 (girls only)
- 7th Grade: June 1-4 & June 8-11 (includes Sporting Park tour)
- 8th Grade: June 1-4 & June 8-11 (includes Sporting Park tour.)
About Sporting Kansas City
A charter member of Major League Soccer, Sporting Kansas City has twice been crowned MLS Cup champions (2000, 2013) and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions (2004, 2012) since claiming the team's first major trophy as Supporters' Shield winners in 2000. The team is owned by Sporting Club, a group of local Kansas City business and community leaders comprised of Neal Patterson, Cliff Illig, Pat Curran, Greg Maday and Robb Heineman. As a result of their vision and commitment, Kansas City is home to the world-class Swope Soccer Village and state-of-the-art Sporting Park.
About Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools
The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district with a clear focus on graduating students college and career ready. With approximately 21,600 students Pre-K through grade 12, it the largest school district serving Wyandotte County and the 5th largest school district in the state of Kansas. Students in KCKPS come from a remarkably diverse community, with roots around the globe. There are 65 different home languages spoken in the homes of district students, and more than 42 percent speak English as a second language. The district goal is that each student will exit high school prepared for college and careers in a global society, and at every level, performance is on-track and on-time for success.
Media Contact Information:
Black & Veatch Media Contact Information:
GEORGE MINTER | +1 913-458-8001 P | +1 913-972-8811 M |
MinterGA@bv.com | 24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 866-496-9149
Sporting Kansas City Media Contact:
Rob Thomson
(913) 387-3405 Office
rthomson@sportingkc.com
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2018 were US$3.5 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.
