"Fringe Benefits of Education" reaches out to young males

Young men were challenged to make “no more excuses” and take firm hold on their lives at the first “Fringe Benefits of Education” meeting of 2012-13 at Kansas City Kansas Community College Thursday night.

Founded in 2008, the FBOE offers a circle of support for males between the ages of 17 and 24 to overcome barriers that cause hopelessness and disconnect from their dreams.

Dr. Denise McDowell, FBOE Administrator and KCKCC Dean of Enrollment Management and Registrar, said participation is open to young men who are on the fringe of dropping out, losing hope of being successful, seeking employable skills, having a hard time transitioning, looking for ways to connect with community resources and wanting a better chance of beating the odds.

Keith Jones of Blue Valley Northwest High School delivered the keynote address.

Meetings featuring dynamic, inspirational and motivational speakers are held the first Thursday of each month with follow-up Thursdays to position participants to do what is required to compete.

All sessions are held from 6-8:30 p.m. in the Jewell Center on the KCKCC campus and participants do not have to be students at KCKCC.

Dr. McDowell said benefits of the program include having a mentor or life skills coach, open opportunities, community level support and the opportunity to rebuild swag and position themselves to compete.

“No more excuses is the tag line for FBOE and every effort is made to eliminate the excuses used to derail dreams such as no more excuses for not being in college, poor grades and not being accountable, employable or dependable,” said Dr. McDowell.

Additional information on FBOE is available by contacting Dr. McDowell at 913-288-7694 or dmcdowell@kckcc.edu or FBOE Community Liaison Roger Suggs at 913-288-7482 or rsuggs@kckcc.edu.

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RIGHT: Dr. Denise McDowell, KCKCC Dean of Enrollment Management and Registrar, enjoys a light moment with Keith Jones who delivered the keynote address at the first 2012-13 meeting of the “Fringe Benefits of Education” at KCKCC Thursday. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)

TOP: Males between the ages of 17 and 24 were challenged to “make no excuses” by KCKCC Dean of Enrollment Management and Registrar Dr. Denise McDowell at meeting of the FBOE (Fringe Benefits of Education) at KCKCC Thursday night. (KCKCC Photo by Alan Hoskins)