For students in the Institute for Urban Education, known as IUE, at UMKC, the path to becoming a teacher is more than a career choice, it is a calling. Thanks to a growing network of support, including generous donors like Dana and Nancy Reel (B.A. ’77), that path is becoming more accessible than ever.

The Reels have established a second scholarship endowment for IUE students, bringing their total to four endowed scholarships at UMKC, with two specifically supporting future urban educators. These scholarships help ease the financial burden for students committed to teaching in Kansas City’s urban schools.

This year, the IUE is celebrating its 20th anniversary. With more than two decades of impact, the program is designed with future educators at its core. The IUE provides not just coursework, but mentorship, classroom experience and cultural competency training that prepare graduates to lead from their first day in the classroom. The results speak for themselves: 100% job placement and 91% retention at five years, far above state and national averages.

IUE is a program the Reels specifically support because they are addressing problems that impact the education of Kansas City’s community and children. They expressed gratitude for their own education and wish to pay it forward.

Many IUE students are the first in their families to attend college. Many must juggle work and family responsibilities on top of academics. Scholarships like those funded by the Reel family provide crucial relief — allowing students to focus more on their training, their growth and the difference they want to make in the world.

With every new scholarship, the message is clear: students matter. Their dreams of becoming educators are worth investing in. And with the right support, they’re not just getting to graduation, they’re shaping the future of education in Kansas City.