你知道给予能走多远吗？ Here at the 威尼斯人娱乐城, many of our students and programs thrive because of our donors’ generosity. 他们的天赋影响着大学的方方面面，这些资源每天都在改变着人们的生活。
Dana Reel and Nancy Reel (B.A. ’77) are both Kansas City natives, with Nancy graduating from 威尼斯人娱乐城 with a degree in elementary education. The Reels came in contact with the 威尼斯人娱乐城基金会 in 2015 when they first established a scholarship in the then College of Arts and Sciences, now School of Humanities and Social Sciences, in honor of Dana’s sister and brother-in-law who attended 威尼斯人娱乐城.
这对夫妇了解到城市教育研究所（Institute for Urban Education），通常被称为IUE，这是一个致力于支持城市社区历史上服务不足的学校的教育工作者的项目，当他们表达了扩大捐赠的愿望时，他们通过与大学的沟通了解了这个项目。
Reels夫妇希望为堪萨斯城未被充分代表的人口提供更多机会，并受到IUE的极大启发。 They were impressed with the program’s leadership, mission and achievements.
“Hearing about the program for the first time was so refreshing,” Dana said. “I’ve never heard of a program as exceptional as the IUE. 我们参加了他们的一个活动，对他们的组织方式印象深刻。 Every student and teacher we met were so excited and jazzed about their careers and they all had such good camaraderie.”
IUE scholars in the program not only receive a scholarship to support them during school, but also receive additional training focused on teaching in urban schools and are committed to teaching in Kansas City’s public schools for four years after graduation. 该项目还提供持续的指导和支持，即使学生开始全职教学。
自成立以来，IUE为堪萨斯城提供了备受追捧的有才华的教育工作者：100%来自IUE并获得认证的教师已被雇用。 这个令人印象深刻的统计数据即使在教师短缺之前的几年里也是如此。
“I'm constantly getting emails and phone calls from school principals and HR directors asking if we have any more IUE teachers,” said Jennifer Waddell, Ph.D., director of the IUE. “They tell me that first year IUE teachers are performing at the level of second- or even third-year teachers. It’s nice to hear that the intense preparation and opportunities we provide not only help them get their jobs, but they execute their jobs effectively as well.”
Having 100% of teachers hired isn’t the only impressive statistic the IUE has. 该项目还拥有极高的保留率。
“Our teachers’ retention rate is almost three times higher than the state’s,” Waddell said. “Currently, 91% of IUE graduates are still teaching or working in public education at the five-year mark. 相比之下，全国的比例略低于50%，密苏里州的比例为34%。 On top of that, 100% of our students of color who are from urban communities, our core demographic for recruitment, are still teaching at the five-year mark.”
这些数字让瑞尔夫妇对这个项目充满敬畏。
“I was a teacher myself,” Nancy shared. “I know that the turnover rates are extremely high in the profession and to have a program that is so supportive even when you graduate really does make a big difference. The teachers who come out of the IUE program stay in the profession for a long time, it’s very exciting and hopeful. I wish more programs like the IUE existed.”
The Reels explained that the IUE is a program they specifically give to because they are addressing problems that impact the education of Kansas City’s community and children. 他们对自己所受的教育表示感谢，并希望将其传递出去。
“Kansas City is our home,” Dana said. “We want to make a positive and lasting impact here. Nancy and I are fortunate to be able to give financially, it’s truly a blessing. There is a huge need for scholarships and financial aid, and we are just happy to be involved and provide some opportunities.”
Waddell表达了IUE对他们的捐助者和贡献者的感激之情。
“They give us a reason to exist,” Waddell said. “Without the scholarships, we don't have a way to support our students, and we cannot grow our enrollment, much less maintain it. 我们的学生令人难以置信。 他们成为了杰出的教师，我们的团队成员都在这里，因为我们的捐赠者相信IUE的使命。 Their philanthropy and donations make our work possible and help us contribute to the educational landscape of Kansas City.”
瑞尔夫妇分享了他们对这个项目的满意，特别是当他们参加活动时，看到那些对教学感到兴奋的敬业学生对他们的帮助表示感谢。
“The schools that these teachers get placed in are extremely lucky,” Nancy said. “They have resources and support that other teachers don’t, and they also have more training because of the IUE. It’s wonderful because ultimately it all goes back to the kids in the classrooms.”
这对夫妇说，他们希望他们的礼物能在未来几年产生连锁反应。
“I wouldn’t have gotten the job I got without the education I received,” Dana said. “The same goes for Nancy. 像我们这样的奖学金可以帮助学生集中精力学习。 我们知道学习和吸收材料需要时间； 如果我们能减轻他们的经济负担，对他们的教育和我们的社会都有好处。 他们只是需要一些帮助，我们非常乐意这样做。 We hope they’ll see that and be inspired to give back as part of their future too.”