Blue KC Sporting Samaritans winners

Since 2016, each season Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) partners with Sporting Kansas City to honor Blue KC Sporting Samaritans—students and teachers who go above and beyond to make our community a better place to live, work, and play.

Nominated by fans and recognized during home matches at Children’s Mercy Park, honorees enjoy VIP experiences and special perks, highlighting their invaluable contributions to our community.

“It’s been a privilege to be part of the Blue KC Sporting Samaritan program. I had a number of outstanding teachers who helped me get to where I am today, and it’s great to be able to celebrate those who are making a difference in the classroom and helping students realize their potential, while being an example to their peers.”

– Matt Besler, Blue KC Sporting Samaritan ambassador.

“Being recognized in general as an educator is something that comes few and far between, and when you receive recognition it can completely change things. This recognition in particular completely shifted my perspective… If someone else were to get nominated and I had to tell them how good it was going to be, I don’t think I could put it into words.” 

Juan Ocon, Blue Valley North HS – Physical Science Teacher
June 2025 Sporting Samaritan

2024 Samaritans

March 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Inger Lillis, Boone Elementary School – 2nd Grade

April 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Kari Rowe, Line Creek Elementary School – 2nd Grade

May 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Mat Vleisides, Pleasant Lea Middle School – 6-8th Grade

June 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Nicole Robson, Valley Park Elementary School – 2nd Grade – Chinese Immersion

July 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Daniela Torres, Crossroads Academy Quality Hill – 1st Grade

August 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Ryan Schliem, Harrisonville Elementary School- Paraprofessional and Coach

September 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Adam Shirley, Shawnee Mission Northwest High School – Science

October 2024 Sporting Samaritan

Kyra Martiny, Stony Point North Elementary School – Speech Language Pathologist

2023 Samaritans

March 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Maddie Remijio, Pleasant Ridge Elementary School – 2nd Grade

April 2023 Sporting Samaritans

Mohamed Abdalla & Baradin Ahmed, Rockhurst High School students

May 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Beth Matz, Kellybrook Elementary School – Special Ed K-5

June 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Robin Kingeter, Harmony Middle School – 6-8th Visual Arts

July 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Kevin Bair, East High School Vice Principal

August 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Helen Harrelson, St. James Academy Band Teacher

September 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Dominic Jacobs, Athletics Director; Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Grade School

October 2023 Sporting Samaritan

Richie Shust, Athletics Director; Clifford Nowlin Middle School – Independence School District

2022 Samaritans

March 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Dorothy Drake, Trailridge Elementary

April 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Davin Leed – Davidson Elementary

May 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Maddy Shackelford, (Milburn) – Turner Elementary (KC, KS)

June 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Taylor Woodward – Spring Hill Middle School

July 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Tyler Schmidt – Grain Valley South Middle School

August 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Lauren Weeks – Kansas City International Academy

September 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Therese Restituto – Allen Village Charter School

October 2022 Sporting Samaritan

Tyler Whaley – Piper Early Childhood Center

2021 Samaritans

May 2021 Sporting Samaritan

Jennifer Thomas – Turner High School (KC, KS)

June 2021 Sporting Samaritan

Gavin Morris – Excelsior Springs High School and Middle School (Director of Bands)

July 2021 Sporting Samaritan

Shfeo Lar – Northeast High School student / soccer player

October 2021 Sporting Samaritan

Amber Nieznajko, Eastwood Hills Elementary School

October 2021 Sporting Samaritan

Michelle Langton – Broken Arrow Elementary School

No 2020 honorees due to COVID-19 pandemic

2019 Samaritans

March 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Cynthia Gerdes – Raytown Middle School (6th-8th grade; Counselor; XC Coach)

April 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Dr. Dustin Springer – Gray Hawk Elementary Principal (current); Merriam Park Elementary School (K-6th grade; Instructional Coach)

May 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Alexandra Paulson – Blue Valley High School Special Education GEAR Program

July 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Kelsey Stimatze – Earl Lawson Elementary School (Kindergarten)

August 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Cara Martin – Wolf Springs Elementary School (Gifted teacher)

September 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Tiffany Peeler – Walden Middle School (6th grade speech/publications)

October 2019 Sporting Samaritan

Preston Hickert – Heritage Middle School (6th grade Language Arts; XC coach)

2018 Samaritans

March 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Brooke Wiens – Crestview Elementary School (K – 5th grade; English Language Learner teacher)

April 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Lisa Painter – Kansas City Christian School (2nd grade; PE and track coach)

May 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Isabella Line – Student at Mill Valley High School

June 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Kara Schoff – Truman High School (Social Education; Special Olympics)

July 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Brian Beach – Student at Olathe North High School (11th grade; XC and track athlete)

August 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Mark Messner – Westview Elementary School (6th grade)

September 2018 Sporting Samaritan

Edward Franco – Schlagle High School

2017 Samaritans

March 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Mindy Beashore, St. Patrick School

April 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Rick Pribyl – Blue Valley Northwest High School (Boy’s Soccer coach)

May 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Larry Benson – Trailridge Middle School (7th-8th grade; teacher, soccer and wrestling coach)

June 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Victoria Dunn – Hogan Prep (11th grade biology, girl’s basketball coach)

July 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Derek Wiggins, Carver

August 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Kristi Rivera – Delaware Ridge Elementary (3rd grade)

October 2017 Sporting Samaritan

Robin Bryson – Shawnee Mission West student

2016 Samaritans

March 2016 Sporting Sporting

Bhavish Dinakar – Shawnee Mission East High School (Senior, Debate Team)

April 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Emily Szczuka – Liberty High School (Senior, Link Crew and Key Club)

May 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Carolina Perez-Lozano – Quindaro Elementary School (5th grader)

June 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Melisa Robinson – Maple Park Middle School (6th grade English Language Arts teacher)

July 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Teresa Hamilton – Executive Director of Giving the Basics

August 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Amy Thacker – Eugene Ware Elementary School (First grade teacher)

September 2016 Sporting Samaritan

Sarah Gonzalez – Shawnee Mission West High School (Math Teacher, Head Girl’s Soccer Coach)

Nominate a Blue KC Sporting Samaritan