By Mike Greife,
December 21, 2016
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥� Beth Tankersley-Bankhead, director of postsecondary initiatives
for the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City, has been named the keynote
speaker for the 欧美视频鈥檚 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Freedom Scholarship Dinner, planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017, in the Elliott
Union ballroom.
Tankersley-Bankhead served as the director of community engagement at UCM from 1997
to 2004, coordinating the university鈥檚 annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration
during that time.
In her current post, Tankersley-Bankhead works with grant- and non-grant-related postsecondary
initiatives, including Kauffman Scholars, Inc., and the development of a new Kansas
City Scholars program. Prior to joining the Kauffman Foundation, Tankersley-Bankhead
was the executive director of the Associated Students of the University of Missouri
and the Missouri College Advising Corps at the University of Missouri. She led the
successful growth of MCAC from seven high schools statewide to 41, including 14 in
Kansas City.
While at UCM, Tankersley-Bankhead also developed and oversaw the growth of a number
of diversity outreach and collaboration programs, including the Kansas City Task Force,
the Cesar Chavez Scholarship program, the Summer Bridge program, the Minority Scholars
program. She previously worked at Eastern Illinois University, University of Nebraska-Kearney
and Kappa Delta Pi.
Tankersley-Bankhead earned a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and
grades 7-12 English education from UCM, and a Master of Science degree in counseling
and guidance with an emphasis in college student personnel from Eastern Illinois University.
She received a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies with an emphasis
in higher and continuing education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Tickets for the Freedom Scholarship Dinner are from the UCM Office of Mentoring, Advocacy
and Peer Support, Dockery 212, or by calling 660-543-4156. Tickets also will be available
through the Warrensburg Chamber of Commerce, 100 South Holden St. Individual tickets
for the dinner may be purchased at the gold level for $100, the silver level for $75,
or the bronze level for $50. Sponsored tables of eight also are available for purchase
at the gold, silver and bronze levels.
The Freedom Scholarship Dinner has funded more than 190 scholarships totaling more
than $175,000 since its inception in 1998.
Additional events for the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration include Greater
Warrensburg Area Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award luncheon; the Community
Worship and Praise Service; the Issues Forum; the MLK Day of Service; and the Student
Volunteer Fair and Community Service Blood Drive.
