Commemoration Day to honor UMKC’s past and future
The University of Missouri-Kansas City has been Kansas City’s university for 80 years — and that’s something to celebrate.
A week-long celebration of the university’s 80th anniversary, dubbed Founders’ Week, will take place Sept. 28-Oct. 5. Activities will include a Commemoration Day ceremony, a Regalia Run/Walk 5K, arts and culture events, and campus tours.
The Commemoration Day ceremony will draw civic, elected officials and UMKC alumni together to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of UMKC’s charter. Selected officials will re-sign the charter at 9:30 a.m., Oct. 1, in the gymnasium at UMKC’s Swinney Recreation Center. Chancellor Leo Morton will also deliver a “State of the University” address.
Although the ceremony will celebrate the university’s newest additions and advances, it will also be a time to reflect on how far UMKC has come. In 1933, UMKC, then the University of Kansas City, began its first classes with just 17 instructors and 265 students. In 1936, 80 students became UKC’s first graduating class.
Today, the university serves more than 16,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students.
The public is invited to celebrate Kansas City’s university by attending any or all of the following Founders’ Week events:
Saturday, Sept. 28
What: “The Planets: An HD Odyssey.” The Conservatory Wind Symphony, under the direction of Steven D. Davis, performs Gustav Holst’s The Planets, Op. 32. Holst called his work, based on astrological characteristics of Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, a “series of mood pictures.” A high definition film accompanies the performance. The film will showcase NASA solar system exploration, including stunning images from the Mars Rovers and past probe missions Magellan, Voyager, and Galileo.
When: 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28.
Where: Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for Performing Arts, 1601 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
Sunday, Sept. 29
What: Regalia Run/ Walk 5K and Kangaroo Hop. Proceeds from the Regalia Run will go to support student scholarships for UMKC students and are tax deductible to the extent allowed by the law.
When: 8 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 29
Where: The Quad, 5110 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
What: “Graduation” Block Party – an event that will be perfect for family and friends. At the block party, there will be bouncy houses and other fun activities for children and adults, the School of Nursing and Health Studies Alumni Association will be on hand to take blood pressure before and after the race, the UMKC Staff Council will kick off their special school supply drive for MPACT, and of course, there will be food.
When: 9 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 29
Where: The Quad, 5110 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
What: RooBot Tours. Take a tour of the library robot, a high-tech automated storage and retrieval system. Tours last approximately 15 minutes.
Where: Miller Nichols Library 800 E 51st St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., Sept. 29-Oct. 4.
Monday Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1
What: Campus tours. With the additions of the Student Union, two Residence Halls, the re-dedication of the University Center as the Student Success Center, the Miller Nichols Learning Center and the Bloch Executive Hall, there are plenty of new things to see. All tours will last approximately 60-75 minutes and will include a stop in the Miller Nichols Library to see the RooBot. If you are unable to participate on the walking tour and need a golf cart tour instead, please contact Maya Mapp at 816-235-1210.
When: Walking Tours will depart at 2, 3, and 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 30 and Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Where: Student Success Center, welcome desk (located on the ground floor, by the Cafeteria), 5000 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
Tuesday, Oct. 1.
What: Commemoration Day ceremony.
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1.
What: School of Education Graduate Programs Fair and Alumni Reception.
Where: School of Education, 615 E. 52nd St, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 4-7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1.
What: Master Class with UMKC graduate Cynthia Watson. Watson is the associate dean for Research & Outreach at the National War College. Her presentation is entitled, “Sino-U.S. Relations: Why is this so hard?” RSVP here.
Where: Diastole, 2501 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Wednesday, Oct. 2
What: Career Expo.
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, 5030 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 10-a.m. to 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2.
What: Master Class with UMKC graduate Jim Steele. Steele is a contributing editor for Vanity Fair. His presentation is entitled: “Who Will Be the Watchdog? The Future of Investigative Reporting in America.” RSVP here.
Where: Miller Nichols Library, Room 151, 800 E 51st St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Thursday, Oct. 3
What: A lecture by Steven Peterman, founder of the Sketchbook Project. His presentation is entitled “The Sketchbook Project: A Global Library Grows.”
Where: IX Theatre, Miller Nichols Library, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 10-11:15 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
What: Visit the Sketchbook Project’s mobile library. Learn more here.
Where: Playhouse Mall, north of 51 St. and Holmes, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 2 -8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
What: Union Programming Board presents: a Student Talent Show.
Where: The Student Union Theatre, 5100 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
What: Master Class with UMKC graduate Tim Buie. Buie is a pediatric gastroenterologist with the Lurie Center for Autism at Massachusetts General Hospital for Children. His presentation is entitled “Speechless: Lessons Learned from Caring for My Autism Patients” RSVP here.
Where: Henry W. Bloch Executive Hall, 5110 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
What: Master Class with UMKC graduate Donald Fehr. Fehr is the executive director for the National Hockey League Players Association. His presentation is entitled “Reflections on 38 years in Professional Sports.” RSVP here.
Where: Student Union, room 401, 5100 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
What: Chancellor’s Lunch. A catered lunch is provided for the university community. No RSVP required, but it is first-come, first-served.
Where: Health Sciences Building Courtyard on the Hospital Hill Campus.
When: 11 a.m.- 1p.m., Thursday, Oct. 3.
Friday, Oct. 4
What: Blood Drive.
Where: Swinney Recreation Center, north lobby, 5030 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.
What: Chancellor’s Lunch. A catered lunch is provided for the university community. No RSVP required, but it is first come first served.
Where: The Quad on the Volker Campus.
When: 11 a.m.- 1p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.
What: Golf cart decorating and parade.
Where: Volker Campus.
When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.
What: Women’s Soccer: UMKC Kangaroos vs. Grand Canyon.
Where: Durwood Soccer Stadium, Volker Campus.
When: 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4.
Saturday, Oct. 5.
What: UMKC Preview Day for Prospective Students. Register here.
When: 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5.
What: Berkley Child and Family Development Center’s 20th Birthday. Learn more here.
Where: White Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, 4949 Cherry Street, Kansas City, Mo.
When: 9:50 a.m. – 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5.
What: Athletics presents a free youth soccer clinic. Register here.
Where: Durwood Soccer Stadium, Volker Campus.
When: 3-5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5.
What: Men’s soccer: UMKC Kangaroos vs. Houston Baptist. A pregame pep rally starts at 5 p.m.
Where: Durwood Soccer Stadium, Volker Campus.
When: 7 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 5.
Ongoing
What: The UMKC Art Gallery presents “Anomalous.” This exhibition is inspired by the aesthetics of the science fiction genre, featuring local and national artists Matt Borruso, Jonah Criswell, Scott Dickson, Ari Fish and Colin Leipelt. The exhibition also includes a collection of vintage Philip K. Dick paperbacks, courtesy of Tim Fisher.
Where: UMKC Gallery of Art, Fine Arts Bldg. 203, 5015 Holmes St., Kansas City, Mo.
When: Exhibit runs Thursday, Aug. 29 – Friday, Oct. 4. Free, open-to-the-public film screenings will take place at 7 p.m., in the gallery. “2001: A Space Odyssey” will be shown Oct. 3.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
###
This information is available to people with speech or hearing impairments by calling Relay Missouri at (800) 735-2966 (TTY) or (800) 735-2466 (voice).