Workforce readiness, industry engagement and student support to come under one roof

For Sanaa Walker, the summer bridge programs offered by Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Classroom to Career Hub smoothed her path from high school to college and gave the Cherry Creek High School senior the tools she needed to navigate college.

Eliza Kemper Roometua understands how critical it is for students to have that kind of guidance, confidence and real-world preparation.

In June, Roometua, an art advisor and development consultant with Ann Benson Reidy + Associates and a trustee of the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, announced a $3 million commitment to the C2 Hub from the UMB Bank and its charitable giving program, which includes the Kemper Family Foundation. The gift elevates the impact of the $500,000 transformational gift the Kempers made in 2023. The announcement came at the closing ceremony for the University’s Roadrunners Rise campaign.

In recognition of the foundations’ generosity and commitment to student success, the C2 Hub has been renamed the Kemper Classroom to Career Hub.

“The Kemper Classroom to Career Hub will help bridge that gap, giving students the resources and support they need to take their next steps with clarity and purpose,” Roometua said. “I’m excited to be part of something that will have such a meaningful impact.”

Heather Miller, MSU Denver Foundation Board of Directors member and retired UMB Financial Corp. executive vice president and chief marketing officer, praised the University’s ability to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for learners from all backgrounds and for Colorado.

“We’re honored to help expand access to opportunities that will shape their futures,” Miller said.

The gift will help centralize the C2 Hub on the second floor of the 12-story facility that will include Summit House, the University’s first student residence, scheduled to open in 2027. The new Kemper C2 Hub space will be able to serve all 18,000-plus MSU Denver students and 11,000 Community College of Denver students annually. At the same time, it will advance the mission to connect students, faculty members and more than 5,000 industry partners; deliver career-readiness programs and services; and develop the skilled talent Colorado employers need.

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Longtime philanthropic partner Mariner Kemper, president and CEO of UMB Financial Corp., views the Kemper Classroom to Career Hub as a heartfelt investment in both today’s students and the long-term strength of communities, creating a path between learning and doing.

“Giving back to causes we are passionate about has been a defining value for our family across generations, and access to education is a priority for all of us,” Kemper said. “We’re proud to support MSU Denver in preparing the next generation of leaders and strengthening the communities they will serve, while cultivating the next generation of philanthropists in our own family.”

That next generation of leaders includes two of Walker’s nine brothers, who have joined her at MSU Denver, going through the College Works program and getting on-campus jobs.

The C2 Hub introduced Walker to College Works and other summer bridge programs that provided opportunities like taking a summer class, learning about financial aid and working an on-campus job.

“Working as a Denver Scholarship Peer Advocate in the C2 Hub pushed me straight into the fall semester,” said Walker, who is majoring in Event and Meeting Management, minoring in Psychology and earning a certificate in Culinary Arts. “You get connected to people who really care about your success.”

Scott Bergman, assistant director of scholarship support and Walker’s first point of contact with the University, is thrilled that all C2 Hub resources will be housed under one roof for the first time, allowing students to access advising, career preparation, employer engagement, internships and student success resources in one location, eliminating barriers and making it easier to navigate college and career preparation, and connect with employers.

“One of the most rewarding things about working in the C2Hub is connecting students with opportunities to reach their goals despite the bumps in the road and seeing them flourish, graduate and find a fulfilling career,” Bergman said.

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Walker has taken full advantage of the C2 Hub’s offerings, including talking with advisors who helped her craft an undergraduate degree plan embracing her many interests, graduate school advising, resume reviews and interview preparation. The last one helped her secure a student internship at MSU Denver’s CAVEA Theater.

As event support for an early C2 Hub planning meeting, she saw some of the project’s first mockups and floor plans. “I thought it was fantastic.”

She is looking forward to taking advantage of the new facility before graduating in 2028, and she thinks having a dedicated, highly visible landmark will mean more students will do likewise.

“Many students don’t know about the C2 Hub, and it’s sad,” Walker said. “With the new building, we’ll be able to push it to the forefront and say, ‘Hey, we’re here.

‘We have the resources you’re looking for — you just don’t know it yet.’”