Called to make a difference

I wish I had the privilege of knowing Tiffany Mogenson, who grew up in Blue Springs and owned a dance studio there.

She lived a remarkable life, full of joy and passion. Right up until the day it ended suddenly at a stop light in Prairie Village.

I know this about her because I did have the privilege of working with Jennifer Bhargava, a writer who beautifully describes Tiffany in this week’s 816. She was a dancer. An entrepreneuer. A wife. And a loving stepmother.

And after she died last fall at age 30, the people who loved her vowed to continue her life work. That’s why young dancers still take instruction at The Pointe, the dance studio that Tiffany founded in Blue Springs. And it’s why, later this spring, a dancer somewhere in America will accept a scholarship created in her name.

And from Star staffer Dugan Arnett, you will learn just how animated Tiffany was. He lost a close friend when she died.

Tragedies like the one that befell Tiffany happen often in Kansas City. Every week, families across the metro have new reasons to grieve. We at 816 chose to tell Tiffany’s story because of all she had accomplished by the time she turned 30 and the extraordinary effort her family has made to preserve what she built.

I know you will be touched by Jennifer’s cover story and Dugan’s essay. They are reminders that we

This story was originally published March 18, 2014 at 6:17 PM with the headline "Called to make a difference."