by Kelly Rogge, KCKCC
The Kansas City Kansas Community College’s Childcare Center celebrated Cinco de Mayo and graduation in one event, bringing together families, students and the KCKCC community.
The Cinco de Mayo-Pre-K Graduation was May 4 in Upper Jewell. It featured presentations from Sarah Manriquez, bilingual clinical program manager at the Family Conservancy in Kansas City, Kan., and Chris Munoz.
“Everyone talks about the click. Well studying abroad did it for me,” said about her six months living in Costa Rica. “I started dreaming in Spanish, thinking in Spanish and could feel my Latina alter ego surface.”
Manriquez received a bachelor of arts in Spanish and a bachelor of social work from the University of Kansas and a master’s of social work from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
She has worked for the Kansas City Free Health Clinic, as a Women’s Center case manager for Synergy Services and a PRN social worker at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has been at the Family Conservancy since 2006.
Munoz is originally from Topeka, Kan. and is one of nine children. His father emigrated from Mexico at the age of 16 and began working in the farms upon his arrival.
Munoz is a graduate of the University of Kansas majoring in both sociology and Latin American studies, and he studied a semester in Veracruz, Mexico, studying pre-Hispanic civilizations. He has visited historical Mexican sites such as Teotihaucan, home of the Sun and Moon Pyramids and Chichen Itza, home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. He continues to explore Mexico’s vast history and culture.
“I started increasing my circle of friends and began noticing there were Latinos everywhere,” she said. “Throughout all my jobs, I have been intertwined with the Spanish community. I connected my experiences with studying abroad to those of my immigrant clients. I have been an immigrant in a foreign country and understand a little of what they are going through. It gave me a different level of appreciation of immigrants trying to navigate our complicated U.S. social service system.”
Following Manriquez’s remarks, the graduation portion of the event began with a processional to “Pomp and Circumstance,” played by Spencer Huston, professor of music at KCKCC and one of the parents.
Dressed in blue caps and gowns, the children received their diplomas in front of family and friends. Jaelle Harvey, one of the graduates, performed “Let it Go.” In addition, each graduate received a gift bag, presented by the childcare center.
“The Pre-K Children from the KCKCC Campus Child Care Center were anxious and excited to have their own graduation,” said Janet Chastain, one of the pre-kindergarten teachers at the KCKCC Childcare Center. “Each graduate expressed what they wanted to be when they grew up, and it was shown in a slideshow to all in attendance.”
Doris Holleman, director of the childcare center, said she knows that each of the graduates are ready for kindergarten this fall.
“Our children have grown by leaps and bounds. Thank you for sharing your children with us and trusting us with their learning,” she said. “These kids have worked hard in every aspect to get them ready for kindergarten. They are really truly the leaders of tomorrow.”
Kelly Rogge is the public information supervisor at Kansas City Kansas Community College.