Kansas City Royals
A Major League Match
Our long-standing relationship with the Kansas City Royals graduated to the big leagues in March 2024 when UMKC became a higher education partner. This partnership enables us to offer unique learning experiences, mentorship and networking opportunities for our students while engaging with new generations of learners in the community we love.
Sliding Into a World of Opportunities
Our partnership with the Royals creates new opportunities for our students and university to work with the community to positively impact future generations.
Youth STEM initiative
As part of the Royals' "Bring Out the Bots" initiative, students from the UMKC School of Science and Engineering mentor and collaborate with area middle and high school students to design and build a robot to throw the first pitch at a Royals game. In 2024, the robot was created by students from WeCode KC, in collaboration with UMKC students. The bot threw out the first pitch at the Royals' annual School Day at The K game.
Real-life learning experiences
Journalism and media students from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences collaborate with Pine Tar Collective to concept and create a 30-second ad for UMKC, which airs every Friday home game. In 2024, the inaugural class toured the Kauffman and Pine Tar workspaces, pitched their concepts and finalized their plans. Over two days, they gained hands-on experience in production, culminating in a commercial that premiered at UMKC Night at The K.
Our Well-Played History
Our storied programs and traditions with the Royals have long-been hitting home runs within the Kansas City community.
Urban education programs
The Sherman Scholars program at the UMKC Institute for Urban Education (IUE) offers scholarships to aspiring teachers in exchange for commitments to teach in Kansas City-area districts. It's supported by the Sherman Family Foundation that's founded by Royals CEO John Sherman and wife, Marny. Additionally, IUE collaborates with Major League Baseball and the Royals to inspire local youth through the Urban Youth Academy, promoting a love of reading and baseball.
Kauffman game days
Each baseball season, UMKC Day at The K unites the UMKC community as students, alumni, faculty, staff and supporters gather at a game to enjoy comradery, networking and student-led entertainment. Additionally, we participate in School Day at The K to promote UMKC to future Roos. We also provide 50 tickets to a youth organization as part of our partnership with the Royals.
Commencement at The K
Our graduations celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students during their time at UMKC. They are often held at revered Kansas City sites to highlight the central and unique role our university plays in the community. After a year's hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we resumed ceremonies in 2021 and 2022 at the iconic Kauffman Stadium.
Alumni connections
UMKC celebrates extraordinary Kansas City women and their accomplishments through the Starr Women's Hall of Fame celebration. UMKC alumna Karen Daniel (M.S. ’81 accounting) was inducted into the 2023 Starr Women’s Hall of Fame and is honorary chair for the 2025 induction ceremony. She is the first African American woman to be a Major League Baseball owner since her addition to the Kansas City Royals ownership group in 2020.
Rounding the Bases on Year One
The first year of our three-year partnership with the Royals is going, going annnnd ... gone. Together with our students and the community, we hit it out of the park with successful initiatives and events.
A Partnership Worth Celebrating
To work with the Royals on this project was amazing. It felt like a dream come true. UMKC, whether it be equipment or the professors themselves, has really prepared us for this moment to be on a set with the Royals. It made us feel comfortable. It made us feel like we were able to really translate what we learned in the classroom to a professional set.
Cristian Martinez, journalism and film and media arts student
Crown Vision ad project participant
Kansas City is Our Classroom
The Royals aren't the only ones making plays and winning. UMKC students, faculty and graduates can be found across the city learning at and leading organizations in diverse areas of business, industry, research and study. Learn more about our other partnerships, alumni network and academic programs, and see how they're making an impact on "Crown Town."
Community partnerships
Explore our partnerships with other area organizations.
UMKC alumni
Our alumni can be found throughout the region and world. Discover our network of talented graduates.
Research
Roos conduct ground-breaking research in many impactful areas of study. Explore our research highlights.
Academics
UMKC offers diverse and highly regarded academic programs in more than 125 areas of study. Learn more about our offerings.