BLOCH'S NEW FAST TRACK FOR SUCCESS
By Nicholas Vlasin
Nathaniel Hagedorn came to the University of Missouri-Kansas City for a medical degree but unexpectedly discovered a passion for business and graduated with a degree in finance. The UMKC alumnus’ career accelerated through an internship opportunity that led to real estate, a field in which he would later become an industry leader as founder and CEO of NorthPoint Development.
“I have a great appreciation for what UMKC did for me,” Hagedorn said. “It started me on a journey that ended up in a city that I care about.”
Hagedorn’s personal success story, entrepreneurial insight and commitment to Kansas City have driven him to spearhead UMKC’s newest accelerated degree program, More in 4, an initiative that allows students to complete both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree within four years at the Henry W. Bloch School of Management. By creating this experience-driven path to success, Hagedorn sees More in 4 as a catalyst for a new wave of business talent that will support and enhance the Kansas City community.
“I hope that through this program, we find one or two more entrepreneurs who go on to have a positive impact on Kansas City,” he said. “That would be worth it for sure.”
Brian Klaas, dean of the Bloch School, describes More in 4 as a comprehensive program that builds on UMKC’s foundational strengths: quality education, regional partnerships and Kansas City’s robust business community.
“Our goal is for More in 4 to be a signature program for the Bloch School,” Klaas said. “We want students across the region to say ‘UMKC is the place to be if you want hands-on learning experiences to jumpstart your career.’”
By offering students both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in four years, More in 4 accelerates students’ paths to the workforce, making them more competitive candidates. The formation of the program was influenced significantly by Hagedorn’s past experiences.
“A lot of the ideas we were thinking about crystallized after conversations with Nathaniel because he was part of a fast-track program in his college days,” Klaas said. “We’re in the middle of a thriving economic hub, so the idea is to package together the ability to complete both an undergraduate and graduate degree in four years and blend that with experiential learning.”
First class: Top Row (L-R): Cayla Johnson, Jeffrey Alex Overton Jr., Eli Vogt, Ethan Tolbert. Bottom Row (L-R): Erika Nunez, A’Mya Clifton, Elisha Baldwin.
To drive home that experiential learning, NorthPoint and other local firms provide internships that are more than the typical eight-week summer experience. They involve students in projects that create deep industry knowledge and challenge their skills.
“You’re not just getting a summer internship; you’re becoming part of an organization,” Klaas said.
This extended immersion benefits students by granting them exposure to dynamic work environments, in many cases leading to job offers after graduation.
Scott Ezzell, director of undergraduate admissions and recruitment for the Bloch School, describes the More in 4 program as an accelerated path for students who want to get ahead, and get ahead fast. Students in the program gain early access to Bloch Launchpad, a professional development and mentorship community that provides personalized guidance and connects students with Kansas City business leaders.
“More in 4 provides a bit of a level up within the Launchpad community, that allows our most ambitious Launchpad Scholars to accelerate their growth,” Ezzell said. Through Launchpad, students engage with peers, mentors and potential employers, all of which equip them with the skills and networks needed to succeed.
Another standout feature of More in 4 is the financial support it provides. Combined with other scholarships from the Launchpad program, students receive $5,000 annually for three years during their undergraduate studies, with an additional $10,000 awarded during their fourth year as they work toward their master’s degree. The structure allows students to complete their education with greatly reduced financial burden, allowing them to focus on making the most of the professional and academic resources available.
More in 4 also focuses on drawing top students from all types of backgrounds who meet academic excellence standards. By attracting high achievers and supporting them through scholarships and hands-on experiences, the program aims to retain talent here in Kansas City. Hagedorn hopes the program will attract students from across the Midwest and beyond, ensuring that Kansas City benefits from a continual flow of motivated business professionals.
Dean Klaas sees More in 4 as a testament to the power of strong alumni connections and the value of community involvement.
“It’s great to see alums like Nathaniel follow in the footsteps of Henry Bloch by giving back,” Klaas said. “By investing his time, expertise and resources, he is creating pathways for students who might not otherwise consider an accelerated degree or career in business.”
Hagedorn’s close ties to UMKC, as well as the support it provided him and his family, are significant motivators behind his investment in More in 4.
“My younger brother was still in high school when our mother passed away, and I wanted him close by. UMKC was instrumental in supporting him, too,” Hagedorn said.
His commitment to this program is also driven by a larger vision, one that places Kansas City and UMKC at the heart of his philanthropic and entrepreneurial efforts. As he puts it, “I don’t care if they come to work for NorthPoint. If they stay and build their business in Kansas City, that would be worth it.”
Hagedorn’s approach is not only about supporting UMKC but about fostering a culture of entrepreneurship in the community.
“If every year we attract one or more entrepreneurs who didn’t plan on staying in Kansas City, but they put their roots down here and build their business, that would be incredibly valuable,” he said.
Hagedorn’s connection to UMKC, forged through his own undergraduate experience, represents the possibilities that More in 4 opens.
With the first cohort already hard at work, there is optimism about the program’s impact. The four-year pathway to both a bachelor’s and master’s degree allows UMKC to offer students a compelling value proposition, combining accelerated education with substantial hands-on experience in a vibrant metropolitan area.
“We want word of mouth to build,” Klaas said. “When students come to More in 4, we want them to have outstanding experiences and to tell others in their home communities.”
As More in 4 establishes itself, the Bloch School and its partners plan to continue building alumni support to sustain and expand the program. For the Bloch School, More in 4 represents not just an academic offering but a partnership with the Kansas City business community to inspire, educate and retain the next generation of business leaders. By creating this unique pathway, UMKC and NorthPoint aim to support students on an accelerated path to success while ensuring Kansas City reaps the benefits of a thriving, locally grown business ecosystem.
Levitt Challenge Takes Aim at Systemic Poverty
By Bryan Terry
The Aaron L. Levitt Social Entrepreneurship challenge awarded two winners in Fall 2024. The challenge, which is part of a Bloch School experiential learning course, Social Impact in Urban America, examines problems facing the Kansas City community, and compels students to work with local agencies and community stakeholders to discover potential solutions.
For the 2024 challenge, students worked with the local nonprofit, Connections to Success, which helps families break the cycle of poverty through resources and plans for economic independence. Working as teams, and with the aid of “Levitt Fellows,” the students examined challenges facing the organization and developed strategies to overcome them.
This year’s first-place team developed an advocacy program designed to recognize and address barriers families face, including the so-called “benefits cliff,” fair chance hiring and more, while crafting compelling arguments for policy changes in Missouri.
The second-place group focused on employer outreach approaches to convey the benefits of working with individuals involved with Connections to SuccessThe second-place group focused on employer outreach approaches to convey the benefits of working with individuals involved with Connections to Success.