For the Awards Hall, we would like to recognize these broad categories and individuals.

2020 Statewide Afterschool Champions

Travis Kelce

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkxfZ0unwG8&t=17s

https://twitter.com/i/status/1210250599360581633

Although a newly crowned Super Bowl Champion back in February, Kansas City Chief Travis Kelce is more than just a Super Bowl champion to many children served by the afterschool program Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City. Kelce has supported Operation Breakthrough through his foundation 87 and Running since 2015 specifically introducing students to the world of STEM focused opportunities including a robotics program. In August, after getting a new contract extension and talking about his own personal growth, Kelce took his afterschool investment even further when he announced a new initiative to offer Kansas City’s inner-city teenagers the same opportunity for growth — in whatever careers they might choose. In a partnership with Operation Breakthrough, Kelce is purchasing a building with plans to turn it into a working space for teenagers in which they will have the opportunity to “explore careers in STEM, launch their own entrepreneurial ventures and gain real-world experience.” Kelce’s new venture will be called Ignition Lab powered by 87 and Running. Kelce truly exemplifies the word champion in every way-a champion for his city’s kids and a Missouri AfterSchool Network Statewide Afterschool Champion!

Senator-Elect Steven Roberts

Senator-Elect Roberts video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvA_XnWiHrc

Senator-Elect Roberts has served four years in the Missouri House of Representatives and was recently elected to the Missouri Senate to represent District 5 in the St. Louis region. He is a graduate of Pepperdine University School of Law and a commissioned officer in the Missouri Air and National Guard. After the events in Ferguson he gave up a corporate job to return to serve his community as a prosecutor for the City of St. Louis. But part of Robert’s journey to the Missouri Senate was the time he spent in the afterschool program that he attended throughout elementary school.

From attending afterschool to serving as a voice for afterschool in the Missouri House to sitting on the floor making slime with the youth at Bryan Hill Elementary afterschool program, afterschool is part of who Senator-Elect Roberts is and he plans to continue working to increase access to quality afterschool programs.

“As a resident of STL I know all too well the effects on underserved communities when such vital opportunities just aren’t available to them. That’s why I will always fight for afterschool programs for all Missouri children,” said Roberts.

Kayla Hahn

Kayla Hahn currently serves as the policy director for Missouri Governor Michael L. Parson. In that role, she assists in preparing the Governor’s legislative policy agenda and recommended budget, along with working with cabinet members and state agencies to advance the Governor’s administrative priorities. In addition to her role in the Governor’s office, Kayla serves as a commissioner on the Midwestern Higher Education Commission where she is a member of the executive committee and the Ad Hoc Committee on Governance. She is also a member of the Southern States Energy Board.

Through all the challenges of the pandemic, one of those rare benefits is that it has forged new relationships. During this time, Missouri AfterSchool Network has advocated for afterschool programs’ access to COVID relief funding and for regulatory licensing relief as programs fought to stay open during school closures. Kayla has been accessible, fielded our questions and advised us through multiple phone calls. Though not all of these challenges have been resolved, Kayla’s skills and leadership have helped to prevent closures of afterschool programs and have served the children of the state of Missouri. We appreciate her dedication, attentive listening, and decisive action to help bring together stakeholders and find solutions.

Kayla Hahn Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdU_syc92d4

Lifetime Achievement Award

Sherry Comer

Sherry’s video: 2020 Lifetime Achievement Sherry Comer

Sherry Comer has served as Director of Afterschool Services for the Camdenton R- III district for 20 years. As Director she is responsible for overseeing 8 before and after school sites. She was part of the original federal grant writing team to introduce 21st CCLC to Central Missouri. She also serves as an Ambassador Emeritus for the Afterschool Alliance out of Washington, DC. In 2003 the Alliance chose her as one of the twenty five individuals in our nation to work with local, state and national leaders to increase funding opportunities and to bring awareness to afterschool programs. In 2004 she was one of only six individuals in the nation asked to serve a second term. She continues to work to increase the number of programs, find new funding sources and improve program quality. She was a founding member of the Missouri Afterschool State Network serving as Policy Committee Chair and has since served as a member of both the Policy and STEM committees.

Remarks for the Field

Senator Blunt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBlnjOMnfIM