20 Who Count: Robert and Kim Sigrist

By Kirsten Stokes

In the eyes of Robert and Kim Sigrist, educating youth and motivating them to serve is the reason they’ve dedicated so much of their lives to education.

Robert has dedicated 31 years to education, holding positions like assistant principal at Central for 13 years, science teacher at Cameron and currently assistant superintendent of business and operations for the St. Joseph school District.

Robert said the success of past students and staying in contact with them through the years has motivated him.

“We have those tough days in education, but when you run into one of those kids you had in class years later at the grocery store or something like that, and it’s like, ‘Yeah, I remember this is why we do this,’” Robert said.

Kim is the director of the Center of Service at Missouri Western State University and leads by example showing students how to serve and put others first.

“As we talk, we find that students have volunteered and I help them connect that dot and find how they can give back in a way that’s important to them and passionate for them and that’s what its all about for me,” Kim said.

Kim can often be found cheering on her beloved Missouri Western students and helping at nursing homes, the Bartlett Center and Mount Mora Cemetery among other things.

“Robert is passionate,” Kim said. “He’s passionate about his career and his family and everything he does.”

“Compassionate would be my word for Kim,” Robert said. “There’s not a more empathetic human being in the world and she makes me a better human being.

Robert has lived by his goal to “leave it better than I found it”, a standard he believes can be used in any situation in life.

Kim continues to lead by example, teaching students at Missouri Western to give their time and energy to those who need it.

“A big part of our story is that we’re just a couple of small town kids,” Kim said. “We are high school sweethearts from Troy, Kansas, and we have made St. Joseph our home and this community has been a huge part of our lives.”