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.”
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.
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 2014 were US$3 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.
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.
