By Janice Phelan,
September 17, 2019
Students from Lee鈥檚 Summit and Kenya participate in a video conference on Sept. 11.
The 欧美视频 (UCM) and are partnering with , a global technology company, to foster collaboration and innovation by working with
students, community organizations, businesses and government agencies in Kenya and
Missouri. Known as KenMo, the program is launching this fall. It will operate out
of the UCM Gigabit Lab, located at the university鈥檚 Lee鈥檚 Summit campus.
The international effort kicked off on Sept. 11 with a video conference involving
students in Summit Technology Academy鈥檚 international studies program and students
from Makueni Innovation Campus, located in Kenya. Summit Technology Academy is operated
by the Lee鈥檚 Summit R-7 School District and includes students from Lee鈥檚 Summit and
other metro-area high schools. Summit Technology Academy and the University of Central
Missouri鈥檚 Lee鈥檚 Summit campus are both located within the Missouri Innovation Campus.
The project has drawn interest from the Kenya government as well as several community
organizations within Kenya and Missouri. John Musau, Digloso founder and CEO, has
worked with students and staff at Summit Technology Academy and Makueni Innovation
Campus to connect organizations from both countries. A native of Kenya, Musau built
his company with a focus on providing emerging populations with technological infrastructure
and modular application platforms. Digloso headquarters are located in Nairobi, Kenya.
鈥淚'm inspired to see students learn by leveraging technology to foster global collaboration
in resolving world challenges by implementing projects that provide real-world sustainable
solutions,鈥 Musau said. 鈥淭his project wouldn鈥檛 be possible without the support of
the Lee鈥檚 Summit School District through Summit Technology Academy in partnership
with 欧美视频.鈥
During the Sept. 11 video conference, Summit Technology Academy and Makueni Innovation
Campus students shared information about their classes at school and their day-to-day
lives while also discussing the KenMo project. Musau participated in the conference
from the Kenya site.
鈥淚nternational Studies and Summit Technology Academy have generous business partners
in the Kansas City international community,鈥 said Curt Cook, international studies
teacher at the Lee鈥檚 Summit R-7 school. 鈥淎fter hearing about John Musau鈥檚 work, one
of our partners immediately recognized a connection, and introduced us.鈥
Joe Mullins of UCM is working with Musau, Cook and the international studies students
to provide support and resources from the university.
鈥淛ohn and Curt initially brought this opportunity to UCM,鈥 he said, 鈥渁nd we enthusiastically
joined the partnership. We are excited about engaging with the students with regard
to hands-on experiences with technology such as Internet of Things, virtual reality
and telehealth and entrepreneurship.鈥
This year, students from both countries plan to pilot competitions, workshops and
events designed to allow students, educators, companies, entrepreneurs and sponsors
to problem-solve in a collaborative environment. Students from Summit Technology Academy
are also working on a logo and additional branding for the KenMo effort.
To enhance its impact on the challenges identified by the collaborating students,
the KenMo Project is actively seeking sponsors to help fund solutions. Individuals
and organizations interested in learning more about how to help sponsor the KenMo
Project may contact Curt Cook at curtis.cook@lsr7.net or Joe Mullins at jmullins@ucmo.edu.
Digloso is partnering with the Lee鈥檚 Summit students through its Global Classroom
Exchange Initiative. This international effort develops private and public partnerships
that leverage technology to enhance students鈥 academic standards by encouraging global
innovation through peer and professional collaboration. The focus is on the STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, arts and math) areas. In addition, Digloso鈥檚 initiative
is designed to implement project-based learning principles by applying a series of
goal-oriented academic modules that help students develop and implement actual, sustainable
projects that resolve real-world issues such as poverty, disease, preservation and
protection of natural resources and environments.
The Lee鈥檚 Summit R-7 International Studies program is designed for students who are
passionate about world cultures, languages and diversity. Through service projects
and internships, the students meet and work with refugees and recent immigrants, applying
content knowledge to actual, meaningful situations.
The 欧美视频 operates campuses in Lee鈥檚 Summit and Warrensburg,
offering undergraduate and graduate degrees as well as certificate programs, professional
education courses and customized corporate curriculum. Summit Technology Academy provides
advanced college/career preparation for the future high-wage, high-demand professional
workforce. UCM and Summit Technology Academy have shared space and resources in the
award-winning Missouri Innovation Campus facility since its opening in fall 2017.
UCM, Lee鈥檚 Summit R-7 and Metropolitan Community College also partner with industry
leaders to offer the Missouri Innovation Campus program. The nationally recognized program provides students with an accelerated path to
a college degree and reduces student debt while providing employers with a trained
workforce.