KC Scholars Dear KC Scholars: Right now, we are reading and hearing hundreds of statements and individually and collectively wrestling with our words and emotions. Scholars – I decided to write my statement directly to you. I write to say that you are on our minds and hearts and to shout that Black Lives Matter! […]
KC Scholars KC Scholars Announces Newly Elected Board of Directors Members: KC Scholars provides scholarships to local high school students and adult learners to make college a reality and positively impact the Kansas City region’s economy and workforce KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 17, 2020) — KC Scholars announced the election of Michael Roane and Beto
KC Scholars Jeff Simon Elected to KC Scholars Board of Directors KC Scholars is excited to announce the election of Jeff Simon to the board of directors, starting a three-year term on July 1, 2021. Jeff Simon is the Office Managing Partner at Husch Blackwell in Kansas City. Jeff is a known and respected leader
KC Scholars Not only is the MO Scholarship & Loan Foundation a donor to KC Scholars, it provides needed support to college students statewide. The Foundation increased funding awards to assist students impacted by COVID-19. Director’s Choice Emergency Grant Program This emergency grant was created to help students persist to completion through an urgent situation.
KC Scholars Each Scholar’s financial aid package is unique, and we encourage Scholars to connect early with their institution’s financial aid office to understand their financial aid package and the institution’s process for distributing scholarship funds. Your insitution may have a qualified education expenses guide they can provide to you. Scholars should contact KC Scholars
KC Scholars At this juncture in the program’s lifespan – based on lessons learned through practice and our annual external third-party evaluation – KC Scholars is modifying some program components. Starting with the May 2021 award cycle, KC Scholars will award 250 College Savings Match & Incentive awards and all 250 will be eligible for
Incentives Matter: Modification to College Savings Account Program Read More »
KC Scholars We are pleased to announce that KC Scholars has hired its inaugural Director of Workforce and Alumni Engagement, Sharmelle Winsett. Sharmelle will start her role with KC Scholars on November 2, 2020. Sharmelle brings 20+ years of professional and entrepreneurial experience with expertise in business and brand development, marketing and sales. Winsett most
Announcing Inaugural Director of Workforce & Alumni Engagement Read More »
KC Scholars KC Scholars Makes a Game-on Commitment to Connecting Scholars to the Regional Workforce Intentional Focus and New Appointment Speaks to Commitment (Oct 12, 2020) – KC Scholars is reaching for their ultimate goal to connect their Scholars to regional workforce opportunities and that decisive game-on goal is 80% of Scholar graduates stay in
KC Scholars A Donor Reflection on Why They Support KC Scholars We are thrilled to participate in KC Scholars. Mr. Kauffman would be thrilled to see how his generous legacy to our city is being spent for the benefit of needy students, as he envisioned many years ago. Many lives are being highly impacted for
KC Scholars Key Findings and 13 Actionable Steps to Improve Experiences for Adult Learners The Urban Education Research Center (UMKC) and CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning), in partnership with KC Scholars and with funding support by The DeBruce Foundation, recently released a report and practice guide. The guide contains actionable steps for higher
Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.
Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.
Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.
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As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships.
Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.
Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country. Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.
