BeGreat Together and UMKC announce Campus Cruisers

Christine Glasgow, Grace United Early Childhood’s Preschool Teacher, sits with students as they enjoy a book read book our Campus Cruisers.

BeGreat Together and UMKC Launch Innovative Internship Program: Campus Cruisers

Kansas City, MO - BeGreat Together, in collaboration with three UMKC students, proudly announces the launch of an innovative internship program called Campus Cruisers, aimed at empowering students to become catalysts for positive change within local public schools.

Campus Cruisers, spearheaded by UMKC students and alumni,  Arianna Hirsch, Jenna Kiefer, and Regan Rudicel with support from professor Misty Campbell has been developed as part of BeGreat Together's DocuCourse Narrative Transformation and Community Impact class, taught at UMKC in fall 2023. This groundbreaking internship program offers unique opportunities for individuals to actively engage and volunteer in local public education institutions, providing invaluable service and support to both teachers and students.

Jenna Kiefer, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Criminology, shared her inspiration behind Campus Cruisers: “BeGreat's DocuCourse has inspired me to work with the community because of the positive social change that is promoted through local schools and builds meaningful impacts on individuals.”

Similarly, Regan Rudicel, also studying Criminal Justice and Criminology, expressed her motivation: “I was inspired last semester when we first learned about DocuCourse and everything they have done, specifically hearing about how it truly just started with an idea. It made me feel like I could do something for my community and like I had the power to make a difference.”

Arianna Hirsch, a Criminal Justice pre-law major who graduated in December 2023, shared her journey: “While taking my career development class at UMKC BeGreat's DocuCourse team came to teach us about the impact they have made and how we could do the same. They showed us the places they had been and the people they had helped. Giving a small amount of time and effort can greatly impact the community, and I wanted to do the same. BeGreat's DocuCourse team members were passionate and professional, and the way that they spoke about helping our community and people in general made me want to work with them. They showed me that I could take my ideas and passion for helping people and make it a reality with my peers. I have always loved working with kids and people who need help, and I was excited when they offered to help bring our idea to life.”

Founder and President of BeGreat Together, Avrell Stokes, expressed excitement about this groundbreaking initiative: "We believe in the power of young minds to drive positive change. This internship program is a testament to the commitment of students to make a real impact in the realm of education and community service."