UCM Joins Veterans Voices Professional Development for K-12 Educators

Faculty and students from the University of Central Missouri (UCM) joined partners to participate in professional development sessions for K-12 educators at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, and the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri, on June 17-18.

On June 17, nineteen educators who teach grades 7-12 in the areas surrounding the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery attended a professional development seminar on uncovering and documenting the life stories of World War II era veterans interred at the cemetery. The teachers continued their research using the extensive resources available at the Midwest Genealogy Center.

This opportunity was made possible by funding from the Veterans Legacy Memorial Grant Program.

During the first day, participants toured the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery and learned research techniques to uncover the personal histories of these veterans. They also explored how to teach their students these research skills and how to upload veteran biographies to the Veterans Legacy Memorial platform.

On the second day, the teachers utilized the Midwest Genealogy Center's resources to deepen their research and provided feedback on a draft handbook developed by the UCM team. This handbook is designed specifically for 7-12 grade teachers and aligns with state standards.

The Veterans Legacy Memorial grant, received in August 2023 by UCM and its partners, funded this professional development event as part of the Veterans Voices from the Heartland grant.

UCM faculty members who presented at the event included Lauren Hays, associate professor of education technology; Sara Sundberg, professor emerita of history; and Jon Taylor, professor of history. Tina Ellsworth, assistant professor of education at Northwest Missouri State University, served as an outside consultant for the grant. UCM History graduate student Joey Lake and undergraduate student Truman Harrow, who conducted preliminary research about the World War II veterans interred in Higginsville for the sessions, also participated. UCM’s Office of Sponsored Programs and Research Integrity provided support and oversight for the project.

Other partners included Katie Kline, director of the Greater Kansas City Writing Project, and Katie Smith and Kim Alberg from the Midwest Genealogy Center.

For more information, contact Dr. Jon Taylor at jtaylor01@ucmo.edu.

Cutline: Veteran Voices from the Heartland MA student Joey Lake and undergraduate student Truman Harrow of UCM attend the session at the Midwest Genealogy Center in Independence, Missouri.

About the University of Central Missouri

With its main campus in Warrensburg, in addition to academic opportunities at the UCM Lee's Summit at Missouri Innovation Campus, the University of Central Missouri is a comprehensive state institution that serves more than 13,000 students, many of them from out-of-state and across the globe. Helping students to “redefine what’s possible,” UCM offers affordable tuition, prestigious and varied academic programs, and faculty members who are dedicated to their success. While benefiting from a support team of mentors, advisors, counselors, classmates, friends and professors, students not only leave UCM well prepared for the job market, but for life, having access to hundreds of opportunities beyond the classroom. Learn more at ucmo.edu.