Jacob Halpern – Class of ’09

Jacob Halpern, Class of 2009
Degrees: MCC – Penn Valley, A.A. (2009 – 2012); UMKC, B.B.A. – Marketing (2012 – 2015)
Current Profession: Customer Service Specialist, 311 Action Call Center

My name is Jacob Halpern and I graduated from University Academy in 2009. Upon graduating high school, I went to Metropolitan Community College – Penn Valley and then to University of Missouri – Kansas City for my degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.  I stayed active on campus and became one of the founding members for a business fraternity called Alpha Kappa Psi. While at UMKC, I took an opportunity at University Academy as an Enrollment Outreach Intern while also working at the Kansas City Zoo. Following my time at the Zoo, I worked with Literacy KC as an Outreach Specialist – AmeriCorps VISTA. My year contract as an AmeriCorps VISTA gave me the opportunity to learn about poverty and how non-profits are vital to the Kansas City area. I learned the importance of just giving people a chance and shared the message of how critical literacy and education is to our community. I also discovered I had a passion for working in the Public Sector. With my experience and through my journey, I am now working for the City of Kansas City Missouri at the 311 call center as a Customer Service Specialist.

University Academy has given me great inspiration and encouraged me to never give up my dreams. One particularly inspirational person who directly impacted my career path is Barnett Helzberg. Mr. Helzberg spoke at a University Academy graduation and he told one of the graduation classes “There will be times you will fall, but that’s okay. I see all of you are strong and you will rise back up.” This gave me the motivation and inspiration to never give up and be the person who I am. University Academy had a great impact on my life. From being given the awesome opportunity to go to Costa Rica through the Experiment in International Living, to having an internship at my high school, UA has been a great support system.