kckcc Student-created film project
Beyond Scholarships: How Valor Partners Creates Opportunities for the Entire Community
At Valor Partners Foundation, we believe that our mission extends far beyond providing scholarships. Our innovative partnership model not only supports military-affiliated students but also creates ripple effects that enrich the entire collegiate community. A perfect example of this came to life last year through a collaboration with students from a Media Communications class at Kansas City Kansas Community College (KCKCC), one of our valued partner schools.
During our annual Heroes Classic golf tournament, these students, led by Michael Rollen, KCKCC Multimedia/Video Production instructor, took on an important role—capturing the heart of the event through photography and videography. Armed with cameras and a call to “tell the story”, they interviewed a diverse group of individuals, including foundation supporters, representatives from partner colleges and universities, Valor Scholars, and even two World War II veterans, our honored guests that day.
The experience was more than an assignment; it was an opportunity for these students to apply their skills in a real-world setting while contributing to a meaningful cause. Before the event, Valor Partners Executive Director, Kelli Campbell-Goodnow, visited their class on campus at KCKCC to share the foundation’s mission and challenge them to think about how they could use their media expertise to make an impact. The students took that challenge to heart, approaching the event in a professional capacity and working diligently to document stories of service, sacrifice, and opportunity.
Following the tournament, they compiled their footage into short films designed to highlight the mission of Valor Partners and the transformative power of education for children and spouses of disabled veterans. The students gained hands-on experience and Valor Partners gained help in raising awareness of our cause.
This collaboration exemplifies what makes Valor Partners Foundation unique. We are not just funding scholarships—we are fostering connections. Through partnerships like this, we see firsthand how investing in education doesn’t just change the lives of military families—it strengthens entire communities. And that’s what Valor Partners is all about: building a future where opportunity is shared, service is honored, and the impact lasts for generations to come.