UMKC Alumni Association

The World Cup is just three weeks away, and UMKC alumni have been quietly working behind the scenes to help bring Kansas City’s biggest stage yet to life:

💙 UMKC alumna Esther George (MBA ’00) was a key member of the team that brought the World Cup to Kansas City. The former president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City served as treasurer for the 2026 World Cup host committee.
💛 Golazo, founded by UMKC alum Lesly Romo (BBA ’25), is a Regnier Venture Accelerator-backed fan engagement company. It offers mobile sports activations and inclusive, community-driven programming that creates welcoming spaces for players of all backgrounds and skill levels. During the tournament, Golazo will launch a citywide scavenger hunt to support local businesses.
💙 Major Abigail Martinez (B.A. ’02) is leading Kansas City’s public safety efforts for the World Cup. As events and special projects coordinator for the Kansas City Police Department, she is responsible for planning and coordinating the region’s safety strategy, which involves more than 50 agencies across local, county, state and federal levels.

Learn more about the UMKC alumni behind Kansas City’s World Cup moment: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/may/alumni-economics-and-global-reach-umkc-impact-on-the-2026-fifa-world-cup.html

Happy Commencement to all of our grads! It's our favorite day to celebrate our Roos 🎓

Learn more about Commencement: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/may/more-than-2,300-degrees-conferred-at-commencement.html

The Roos are heading back downtown! Joined by Mayor Quinton Lucas and City Manager Mario Vasquez (MSERE '14), we announced today that Kansas City Men's Basketball and Kansas City Women's Basketball will return for games to Municipal Auditorium. This partnership marks a new era for Kansas City Athletics and a defining moment for the city.

Plus, the KC Streetcar connects our campus to downtown, putting Municipal Auditorium just a short ride and walk away for our students and community!

Learn more about the Roos' return to downtown Kansas City: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/may/umkc-roos-basketball-returns-to-historic-municipal-auditorium-in-downtown-kansas-city.html

Join us in celebrating the Class of 2026 May 16 at the T-Mobile Center.

Kameron N. Saunders (BFA) will speak at the 10 a.m. ceremony. Saunders, the 2026 UMKC Conservatory Alumni Achievement Award winner, is an accomplished choreographer and dancer whose charisma, stage presence and joyful performance as a backup dancer on the Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour made him a viral fan favorite and led to worldwide popularity.

2026 UMKC Alumna of the Year, Amy Patel (BLA ’10/M.D. ’11), will speak at the 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. ceremonies. Patel is a nationally recognized advocate for breast health and equitable access to care. She is a medical director and clinical associate radiology professor, and has served as president or chair of numerous healthcare boards.

The 2026 Regnier Venture Creation Challenge reached new heights with the announcement of a $3 million investment in the Henry W. Bloch School of Management’s Regnier Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Bob Regnier (MBA ’76) of the Regnier Family Foundation and the Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, along with $180,000 awarded in total prizes! Congratulations to the student and community founders who showcased bold thinking, ambition and innovation throughout the competition.

Learn more about the $3 million gift that will create new opportunities for Bloch students and the Kansas City entrepreneurial community: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/april/umkc-regnier-institute-receives-3-million-to-expand-programs.html

Still looking for the perfect gift for your UMKC grad? Give them the gift of a Lifetime Membership to the UMKC Alumni Association!

It’s a meaningful way to celebrate their achievement while connecting them to career resources, alumni events, a powerful network of fellow Roos and additional alumni benefits long after graduation day: https://www.umkcalumni.com/s/1236/23/interior.aspx?sid=1236&gid=1&pgid=2260

We proudly celebrated our 2026 Alumni Award winners and their accomplishments last week! Congratulations to an incredible group of alumni who exemplify what it means to be a Roo.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Presenting sponsor: UMKC Foundation

Platinum sponsor: Jerry (H.A.) and Patty Reece (M.A. '71)

Gold sponsor: Bob D. Regnier (MBA '78) and Ann Regnier (M.A.)

Steven B. Miller (B.A. '82/M.D. '83) and Victoria Fraser, MD

Silver sponsor: Jim (BSCE '84) and Mary Kay Hogan (BSDH '82), BCLP, Central Bank of Kansas City, Kansas City Public Schools, McCownGordon Construction, Union Station Kansas City, UMKC Trustees

Individual sponsor: Elise (M.A. Education '99) and Robert Chapline, Chapline Family Foundation, Dr. Alex Garza (B.S. '90, M.D. '96) and Melissa Garza (BBA '92, J.D. '03), Dr. Amy K. Patel (BLA '10/M.D. '11) and Mr. Joseph Rathermel, Dr. W. Mark Roberts (B.A./M.D. '82) and Jennifer G. Gotto, MD, Dr. Joseph Spalitto (B.S. '68, DDS '72) and Liz Spalitto (BSDH '68), Garmin, Liberty Hospital, Simmons Bank, The UMKC Conservatory Dance Division, UMKC Dental Hygienists' Alumni Association, UMKC Law Foundation and Rinehart Foundation.

Meet the 2026 Alumni Awards awardees: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2025/october/umkc-recognizes-outstanding-alumni-for-the-2026-alumni-awards.html

New Parade of Hearts sculptures are popping up across Kansas City, and these UMKC artists are part of the lineup. Meet the creators behind these one-of-a-kind hearts! 💙 💛

UMKC launched the largest campaign in its history: Blue & Bold. The university is six months into this transformative effort, so we sat down with alumna Amanda Davis (MPA ’07), the university’s chief advancement officer and UMKC Foundation president to learn about milestones and momentum in the campaign so far. She shared her journey, her love for UMKC and her thoughts on what Blue & Bold means to students, employees, the Kansas City community and beyond.

Read the full Q&A with Amanda Davis: https://www.umkc.edu/news/posts/2026/april/a-q-a-on-leading-umkcs-most-ambitious-campaign-yet.html