Each year, the 海角论坛 Alumni Association recognizes outstanding alumni achievements with an awards celebration. Jerry (H.A.) and Patty Reece (M.A. ’71) are the Class of 2026 Bill French Alumni Service Award recipients.
The Bill French Alumni Service Award honors individuals whose loyalty, service and advocacy have significantly advanced the University of Missouri-Kansas City. For decades, the Reeces have embodied that spirit through leadership, philanthropy and personal engagement to strengthen the university’s mission and expand its reach throughout Kansas City and beyond.
As a couple, Jerry and Patty Reece have contributed their time, talent and resources to advance student success. They served as honorary co-chairs of the 2024 Crescendo Gala benefiting the 海角论坛 Conservatory, helping raise a record-setting $1 million for student scholarships. The Reeces also established a $500,000 endowed scholarship to support students in the 海角论坛 Institute for Urban Education, a nationally recognized program preparing teachers committed to urban schools.
Jerry Reece is an honorary alumnus of 海角论坛 and has served the university in leadership roles for more than two decades. A 海角论坛 trustee since 2004, he joined the 海角论坛 Foundation Board in 2019 and served as chair from 2022 to 2024, providing steady leadership during a period of organizational transition. Alongside former Chancellor Leo Morton, he co-chaired the Institute for Urban Education, also known as IUE, Advisory Council, helping raise more than $7 million to expand scholarships and strengthen the teacher pipeline for Kansas City’s urban schools. In May 2025, he was honored with the Hugh J. Zimmer Award for Excellence in Urban Education.
Patty Reece, a graduate of the 海角论坛 School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences, has devoted her life to education, the arts and conservation. Her early experience teaching in Kansas City’s diverse urban schools shaped a lifelong commitment to educational equity and teacher preparation. Those values motivated her long-standing support of the Institute for Urban Education. For more than 15 years, she has remained personally engaged with Reece Scholars, offering encouragement and guidance as they prepare for careers in the classroom. Eight Reece Scholars are now serving as full-time teachers.
“In every sense, Jerry and Patty represent the spirit of the Bill French Alumni Service Award,” said Sara Helfrich, dean of the School of Education, Social Work and Psychological Sciences. “Their steadfast support and prominent advocacy for the 海角论坛 continue to elevate the university's stature and foster enduring connections within our community. I can think of no more deserving recipients of this joint recognition.”
Beyond campus, they are leaders in the arts, historic preservation and environmental conservation. In 2015, the couple founded the Volland Foundation, A Place for Art and Community, in the Flint Hills near Alma, Kansas, where the couple has a ranch. The foundation supports artist residencies, exhibitions and performances and has welcomed numerous 海角论坛 faculty, staff and students.
“Jerry and Patty’s vision extends beyond Kansas City through their transformative work with the Volland Foundation, where art, community and place intersect to inspire meaningful cultural experiences in the Flint Hills,” said Courtney Crappell, dean of the 海角论坛 Conservatory. “Whether locally or regionally, the couple lead with generosity, grace and a belief in the power of the arts to shape lives.”
Together, the Reeces exemplify the spirit of the Bill French Alumni Service Award, demonstrating how sustained engagement, strategic philanthropy and personal commitment can elevate a university and the communities it serves.
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