The above images are from the 10th annual Gratitude Gala; the choir, the program, and the reception, respectively.
Metropolitan Community College Foundation
3200 Broadway
Kansas City, MO 64111
Tel: 816.604.1195
Annual Scholarship Reception
previously known as the "Gratitude Gala"
To show appreciation to donors for their generous support of student scholarships, the Metropolitan Community College Foundation (MCCF) Scholarship Committee hosts a grand Gala! This event brings together donors and scholars for an evening of recognition and celebration.
The 10th Annual Gratitude Gala was held at MCC-Penn Valley's Education Center. Two awards were presented to two Outstanding Student Advocates, Mary Northrup-MCC-MW and Richard Lara-MCC-PV. The Distinguished Alumni award was presented to Dr. Don Blim and the Outstanding Community Support award was presented to the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, Steve Roling, CEO, accepted the award.
Distinguished Alumni
R. DON BLIM, M.D.
Dr. Blim grew up in the shadow of the Kansas
City Junior College. His father, Miles G. Blim began teaching History
at the Junior College in 1921 and ultimately
became the President of the College and was the 1st President of the
Metropolitan Community College. Dr Blim
graduated from Southwest High School and then attended Junior College
prior
to entering the service in the latter part of
World War!! He served as a Sergeant in the South Pacific. After he
returned
from service he attended The University of
Kansas where he received his BA in '49 and his MD in '53. He practiced
Pediatrics
for almost 40 years and created Pediatrics
Associates, a 10 person Pediatric practice that continues today at Saint
Lukes Hospital.
After he retired from practice he served as the
Director of Medical Affairs and the Chief Medical Officer at Saint
Lukes for 10 years.
Dr Blim was active in organized medicine
where he served as President of KU Medical Alumni, the Jackson County
Medical Society,
Missouri local, state, regional and national
Pediatric Societies and as President of the American Academy of
Pediatrics.
He served on a National Institute of Health
Council, and was elected in '83 to the prestigious Institute of Medicine
of the N
ational Academy of Science and he continues
to serve on the IOM. Locally he has served on the Board of the Community
Blood Center,
the Board of Crittenton Children's Hospital,
the University of Kansas Advancement Board , the Legacy committee and
the Foundation Board
of the MCC . Dr Blim has been married to
Myrle Blim for 57 years, has 3 married children and 7 grandchildren. He
and his wife
recently moved to Tallgrass Creek in
Overland Park.
Outstanding Student Advocate
Mary Northrup is the Reference Librarian at Maple Woods. She began part-time in 1996 and became full-time faculty in 2001. Since 2002, she has been an advisor for Upsilon Xi, the Maple Woods chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. She calculates that she has participated in more than 150 meetings, events, and conferences for Phi Theta Kappa, and continues to enjoy mentoring these students!
Mary is also a writer, with two books and numerous articles for children, teachers, librarians, and writers among her publishing credits. She reviews children's books for Library Media Connection and media for EMRO: Educational Media Reviews Online. She is a member of the board of directors of the Missouri Center for the Book.
Richard Lara
has nearly nine years of service to MCC-Penn Valley and some 15 years of
experience in an
educational setting serving
students: 2-year, 4-year, commuter, residential, public, private and an
urban campus. - MCC, Avila,
UMKC, JCCC and Texas A&M University.
At each level of responsibility
has sought to aid students meet their educational and individual goals
by listening to their concerns
and finding solutions which best benefit the student. His peers have
stated, "I believe Richard
thinks that he is personally responsible for the students he advises,
and will
go out of his way to see that
they are successful while at PV." Another peer stated -"You are that
careful
balance between breaking the
rules, and being rigid about sticking to the rules. Instead, you
question
the rules, trying to find the
version that works in the favor of your students. You have a persistent,
creative, and persuasive
approach to trying to do right by your students..."
Richard represents Penn Valley
on district-wide and campus committees: Student Development Assessment,
Marketing, Web-Team Review,
Retention, First-Year Experience, Admissions, Scholarship and
Communication
Process Review.
A graduate from the University
of Missouri-Kansas City, Master of Arts in Higher Education
Administration.
And, Texas A&M University,
Bachelor of Sciences in Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences.
Special Award
Anita Maltbia was honored for her tireless commitment to the MCC Foundation and to the students we support. In addition to being the Gala's emcee, Anita is the chair-elect of the MCC Foundation board of directors and will become chair in July. She has served as the chair of the scholarship committee since its conception six years ago, and each year she helps plan the ACT Luncheon and the Gratitude Gala. Anita accepted the award in recognition of her support and dedication to the mission of the MCC Foundation.
Outstanding Community Support
Healthy people in healthy communities. That is the vision of the Health
Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City (HCF). HCF provides leadership,
advocacy and resources that eliminate barriers to quality health for the
uninsured and underserved in Kansas City, Missouri; Cass, Jackson and
Lafayette counties in Missouri and Allen, Johnson and Wyandotte counties
in Kansas.
Since it began grantmaking in 2005, HCF has awarded over $70 million to
agencies addressing health needs in the community. Specific priority
areas are healthy lifestyles, mental health and safety net health care.
For more information, visit www.healthcare4kc.org