KUPD officer creates program for students

For a few hundred kids in the Rosedale neighborhood of Kansas City, Kan., George Kemper Sr., a member of the KU Police Department for 22 years, is making school a very rewarding experience.

Kemper, who patrols the community around the KU Medical Center campus, founded “Excellence in Education,” a program that rewards students in two Rosedale schools for making the honor roll, having perfect attendance, practicing good citizenship and respecting school officials.

When Kemper transferred to community policing within his department three years ago, he heard a recurring theme from people in the neighborhood.

“They said there were many intervention programs for kids not doing well, but there weren’t enough kudos for kids for doing good,” Kemper told the Kansas City Star.

Kemper met with school officials at Frank Rushton Elementary in Rosedale and found out that a Kansas City, Kan., School District program recognized outstanding students who made the honor roll, achieved perfect attendance and received citizenship awards, but there was nothing that brought the community together for a recognition program.
Deciding to organize this, Kemper and his community policing partner, Jess Brizendine, talked to area businesses, which agreed to donate food and to supply trophies at cost for a quarterly ceremony.

The “Excellence in Education” awards program began at Rushton during the 2000-01 school year. The first time students achieve all three of the benchmarks, they win a T-shirt and trophy. Each subsequent time they qualify, they get another trophy. They also are treated to a pizza party, and their family members are invited for a cake and punch reception. Kemper said students strive to achieve the award each quarter.

To date, the program has awarded 250 trophies to Rushton students. This year, Kemper expanded the program to Holy Name Catholic School. He plans to extend it to the Rosedale Middle School next year.