MRIGlobal Tops Kansas City Corporate Challenge… Again
Each spring in Kansas City, we run, spike, and fling off our winter chill by doing what we do best (aside from scientific research and engineering) – we take gold in our division of the Kansas City Corporate Challenge. This Olympic-style series of events – including basketball, track & field, pickleball, cornhole, swimming, and many others – is hosted at locations across the city. And in four of the past five years, and each of the past three, the team from MRIGlobal has come out on top.
Coordinated by our MRIGlobal KCCC Committee, teams of competitors are fielded from across the Kansas City office, including athletes from support staff, research scientists and engineers, and executive leadership. Such broad participation challenges bodies and minds, while boosting institute-wide camaraderie.
“This year’s competition was tough, as other companies really brought their best and competed at a high level,” said Janel Lopez, Capability Manager in Physical Sciences and KCCC Committee member. “Broad participation across age groups, especially in individual events like running and swimming, was key, because even when we didn’t place it really racked up points for the team. This year’s scoring was a little closer than recent years, but we won because of our strong participation.”
More than 70 athletes participated in various events, helping the MRIGlobal team top competitors from across the city like Swiss Re, NorthPoint Development, MilliporeSigma, Helzberg Diamonds, and our neighbor Russell Stover Chocolates.
“I participated in a lot of different events this year, so I met people from across the institute whom I wouldn’t normally work with. It was a great opportunity to make connections and build camaraderie,” said Alec Jorns, Staff Engineer and participant in at least eight events. “Too, competing against long-standing rival teams is fun. We’ve made some good friends and enjoy the friendly competition against them each year.”
Another competitor is former MRIGlobal employee Hope Green, who is age 80 and still competes in some events. She was presented the Kansas City Corporate Challenge’s Alex George Award for Excellence in 2014, which recognizes an outstanding KCCC participant that goes above and beyond to make their team and/or KCCC as a whole better.
When asked about her interest in competing, Hope said, “I was my father’s tomboy and played basketball in high school and college. Corporate Challenge provides an amazing venue for women to continue competing in sports once they have graduated.” Employed by MRIGlobal for 50 years from Dec. 1965 through Dec. 2015, Hope earned gold in three events this year. This included wins in the 100m, 400m, and mile running races. “My husband was so supportive that he was always cheering for me at KCCC track meets which always corresponded to the week of our wedding anniversary,” she said, dedicating her medals to her late husband.
During an awards ceremony in late July, the team will be recognized for doing what we do best – winning our division.
Interested in joining the team?
To learn more about our team and how you can grow a career doing work that matters, visit our Careers page. While there, you can view our current staff openings and learn more about joining our team of world-class talent who are dedicated to delivering scientific and technical solutions to some of the most important challenges in the world.
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