FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct 17, 2012 #133
Contact: John Martellaro
816-235-1592
High school soccer teams will compete in UMKC’s Durwood Stadium
The University of Missouri-Kansas City is doing some serious futbol recruiting.
UMKC and the Hispanic Advisory Board are bringing Cristo Rey and Alta Vista High School students and their families to campus for an Oct. 22 soccer game. The game will take place at 5 p.m. at the Stanley H. Durwood Soccer Stadium and Recreational Field.
It’s an effort to use the sport that is the world’s passion to boost efforts to recruit an even more diverse student body. The student population at both high schools is predominately Hispanic.
UMKC’s first strategic goal is “Place student success at the center.” And Goal No. 5, “Embrace Diversity,” has “recruit and retain a diverse campus community” as one of its primary strategies. With these in mind, bringing potential students to campus is a great way to ensure that the goals are achieved now, and well into the future.
Carlos Salazar, chairman of the advisory board and a UMKC alumnus, said a high school game in a beautiful, new Division I college stadium is a great way to reach out to members of the Hispanic community.
“This joint effort by the university and the board to host the soccer game on campus is the first step toward gaining parental buy-in and introducing both parents and potential students to this beautiful campus,” said Salazar. “This is a way of bringing students of tomorrow onto campus.”
Salazar said that in Hispanic families the choice to attend college, as well as which college to attend, is a family decision, and familiarizing them with UMKC can be beneficial. Next steps may include inviting additional schools on both sides of the state line to participate in games.
“We believe we have a lot to offer Hispanic families, and all families. This is one more way to get people here to see our campus, and then start thinking seriously about a UMKC education,” said Mel Tyler, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management.
UMKC is engaged in other partnerships with members of the Hispanic community, including the Division of Diversity, Access and Equity’s Educacion, a partnership between the university and Alta Vista High School to improve the number of Latina/o students completing high school and college readiness. Also, the Division of Diversity and Avanzando formed a partnership between UMKC and the Hispanic Development Fund. Avanzando supports the HDF Scholarship recipients in their academic and career pursuits through academic support, mentoring and enhanced access to the campus and community resources.
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. 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.
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