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Five graduates in caps and gowns celebrate under the text "Congratulations Scholars! 778 Scholarships Awarded, $38.9 Million Invested in KC’s Future—empowering the class of 2026 and every adult learner.

$38.9M invested in the Future of KC! 778 scholars on a path to their dreams.

A geometric design for the 2026 adult learner, featuring a navy blue section on the top left, a yellow diagonal band in the center, and an olive green area on the bottom right.

Would you like to give a SHOUT OUT  to one of our newest KC Scholars or drop a CONGRATULATIONS comment?

Visit our story on Facebook or Instagram and leave a comment, let’s celebrate together!

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Table of Contents

Graphic with "BIG NEWS!" above the Patterson Family Foundation logo, featuring a windmill and text: "Est. 2007, Rural USA." Exciting announcement for 2026 adult learner opportunities!.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Patterson Family Foundation starting in April 2026, our skills training program will be available in Ford County, Kansas, and Nodaway County, Missouri. We are honored to serve even more Scholars across our bi-state region.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

A man with a shaved head and beard, wearing a black shirt and vest, smiles confidently with arms crossed against a blurred indoor background.

Today, I find myself stopping to let a number sink in.

 

778

Seven hundred and seventy-eight 11th-grade students across Kansas City have been awarded scholarships through our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, representing a $38.9 million investment in their futures. That’s not a statistic. That’s 778 young people who learned that this community believed in them enough to bet on what comes next.

These are students who navigated high school through uncertainty and tough circumstances who showed up anyway, kept their grades, and did the work to earn it. We celebrate them today. But what happens next isn’t just their story. It’s Kansas City’s story.

Think about what 778 skilled, motivated, and ethical future leaders will mean for this region. Our healthcare systems, infrastructure, schools, and businesses are growing, and for years, employers have told us the same thing: the talent is here, we just need pathways to connect it. These 778 Scholars are that talent. The future cardiac technician at KU Med. The educator shaping the next generation in KCPS classrooms. The entrepreneur who opens a business on Troost Avenue and employs 20 of their neighbors. When we invest in one young person’s education, we change every family they’ll support, every team they’ll strengthen, every community they’ll help build. The return on $38.9 million isn’t just personal, it’s civic.

To our donors, partners, and supporters: you made this possible. Your generosity has 778 faces, names, and ambitions that this city desperately needs, and its impact will ripple across Kansas City for decades. And we need you to stay with us. The need is not shrinking. Thousands more students, just as capable and deserving, are waiting to see if this community will show up for them, too. Great Jobs KC is ready to support their success, but we need continued partnerships to foster success across our community.

To our 778 Scholars: we see you. We believe in you. Now go show this city what you’re made of.

And to everyone reading this — thank you. Let’s keep going.

Earl

The word "FIRST" in bold blue font, flanked by three vertical blue bars on both the left and right sides, symbolizes access to scholarships and opportunities.

From MU to umkc law

It’s graduation season, our favorite time of year!

“I will graduate May 16th with a degree in Political Science (pre-law), and minors in Korean Studies, Criminology, and Sociology. I am graduating Summa Cum Laude! I am going to attend UMKC Law this fall as a Juris Doctorate candidate. KC Scholars is easily the only way I would’ve been able to get through undergrad both debt-free and without stressing about how I would pay, letting me focus on my schooling! The KC Scholars’ staff makes it a lot easier as well, having someone to go to who has your back. I am always thankful I applied and got accepted as a Scholar in 2021!” – Cadence, KC Scholar and MU Grad

A 2026 adult learner in a graduation gown and medal stands outside a university building, facing the camera and smiling slightly.
A 2026 adult learner in graduation attire leans against a stone railing outside a red-brick academic building, proudly wearing sashes labeled "KC Scholars" and "Great Jobs KC.
A 2026 adult learner in a blue "UMKC School of Law" shirt stands in front of large black "MIZ" letters outdoors.

To learn more about our Scholars and their success, please visit our Scholar Success page.

 

ARE YOU A SCHOLAR LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES?

Our partners at Women’s Employment Network are hosting a Career Fair Wednesday, May 20th 1-4PM at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. Click the logo to sign up. 

Women's Employment Network logo featuring a blue and green abstract figure to the left, symbolizing growth for the 2026 adult learner, alongside the organization name in blue and green text on a white background.
Two sets of gray vertical bars with colored arrow-like shapes, symbolizing scholarships and opportunities, are positioned on the left and right sides of a white background, facing inward.

 

 

 

April was National Volunteer Month. We want to say thank you to our dedicated volunteers for the heart and tireless energy you pour into our scholarship program. Your commitment to reviewing applications and supporting our students is vital to our success. Thank you for partnering with us to open doors of opportunity and for being a vital part of our mission.

Thank you" in large green letters with "volunteers" written vertically in blue on a white background—a perfect way to recognize a 2026 adult learner’s contribution.

Our partnerships

ARE CREATING IMPACT

Great Jobs, our program in Ford County, Kansas, recently hosted a Lunch and Learn bringing together local employers, community members, and training partners to learn more about the program and its impact. The session was led by Darlin Rayo, Career Resources Manager, and Mariana Landa, Scholar Advocate, who provided an overview of the organization and highlighted opportunities for collaboration. 

Attendees included potential employer partners such as Cargill Meat Solutions, the City of Dodge City, Sunflower Bank, and Innovate Med, a direct primary care clinic focused on providing affordable and personalized healthcare to the community. Participants gained insight into how Great Jobs can support their workforce needs while strengthening local talent pipelines. 

Current education partners, Dodge City Public Schools and Dodge City Community College, were also in attendance. Their continued partnership plays a vital role in expanding outreach and helping share the mission of Great Jobs throughout the community.

The event concluded with a call to action, inviting employers, community organizations, and training partners to get involved and support the initiative as it continues to build connections and create opportunities across Ford County.

People, including 2026 adult learners, sit at long tables in a conference room—some eating, others listening—with windows and closed blinds in the background.
A blue and light blue badge-shaped graphic with the bold white text "Great Jobs" in the center, perfect for highlighting 2026 adult learner achievements.

In the Media

KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City logo with “Powered by Diversity” slogan, a badge marking 35 years from 1988 to 2023, and a commitment to independent news.

WANTO grant from the federal government helps support more women in non-traditional careers

Logo of the Kansas City Business Journal with diagonal lines on a blue background.

COO, Natalie Lewis featured on Kansas City Business journals "20 to know in education" List

KKFI 90.1 FM Kansas City logo with “Powered by Diversity” slogan, a badge marking 35 years from 1988 to 2023, and a commitment to independent news.

NSF Grant provides incredible paid opportunity for local high school graduates

Logo featuring the words "STARTLAND NEWS"—"START" and "NEWS" in blue, "LAND" in green—set against a black background, emphasizing a fresh take on news.

$3.9M patterson family foundation grant allows great jobs kc to expand in to rural areas

To see other stories featuring Great Jobs KC on both local and national media outlets CLICK HERE.

Great Jobs KC logo with the text "Workforce and Employer Network" in bold blue letters underneath, highlighting our commitment to Building a Stronger KC.

New opportunities to expand your workforce

With support from the Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Great Jobs KC and UMKC are partnering to offer employers early access to candidates for roles in manufacturing, trades, and construction. 

New employer partners

Logo for Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company; "heartland" in bold red letters with a Coke bottle silhouette inside the "h," designed to appeal to the 2026 adult learner, and "Coca-Cola Bottling Company" below in black script and caps.

Heartland Coca-Cola is one of our latest employer partners offering a variety of opportunities ranging from manufacturing, warehouse, CDL, business support, merchandising, and more.

Mazuma Credit Union logo with "mazuma" in blue, a red curved line under the "z," and "Credit Union" in gray below—an inviting symbol for the 2026 adult learner seeking financial empowerment.

Mazuma Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution serving Kansas City since 1948 and have teller and personal banking job opportunities.

Logo for Kansas Manufacturing Solutions, featuring overlapping square outlines and the tagline "Trusted Advisors for Growth" on a light background—ideal for supporting the 2026 adult learner’s professional journey.

Kansas Manufacturing Solutions is a trusted manufacturing consultant and is helping us better understand and connect to employers in the industry.

SHOUT OUT!

This spring, Great Jobs KC participated in the United Way’s “United to Help Our Neighbors State-Wide” (UHONS) distribution of TANF funds from the State of Missouri. This was our first year as a UHONS partner, and our Scholar Support Services team worked to create the internal structures necessary to accept submissions and successfully apply for funding to help Scholars in crisis. We are grateful to the staff of the United Way of Greater Kansas City for providing this opportunity, and for their unwavering support of our efforts to remove barriers to Scholars pursuing higher education.

Our KC Scholars

Scholarship team

Eight people, including a 2026 adult learner, stand in a row in front of a large purple letter "A" and a black-and-white collage wall, posing for a group photo indoors.
A group of people, including a 2026 adult learner, walk along a curved sidewalk in a park-like area on a sunny day, with trees, grass, and houses visible in the background.

SCHOLAR CAMPUS TOUR

We had twelve Scholars and fourteen family members visit Avila University on our campus tour last month. During the visit, Avila provided a campus tour and a presentation on their student services, including a tuition discount available to KC Scholars who choose to attend.

This visit offered a great opportunity for prospective Scholars who are still making their college decisions to learn more about what Avila University has to offer.

Our Great Jobs KC

Community engagement team

Waitlist to working 

Our Waitlist to Working event was a strong success, bringing together Scholars, employer partners, community organizations, and multiple internal teams to move scholars on our waitlist toward employment.

Thanks to our community engagement team, who worked behind the scenes to bring this vision to life.

At a Glance

  • 200+ Scholars actively engaged
  • 12 employer partners on-site
  • 5 community organizations provided wraparound support
  • Cross team collaboration

What Made This Event Stand Out

  • Seamless collaboration across internal teams created a smooth, welcoming experience
  • Employers connected directly with Scholars, leading to real-time opportunities and strong hiring potential
  • Community partners provided critical support services, addressing needs beyond employment
  • Scholars received hands-on support with resumes, interviews, and applications

Impact

  • Strengthened employer relationships and created new partnerships
  • Increased employer confidence in Scholar readiness
  • Bridged the gap between training and employment
A group of people, including a 2026 adult learner, pose together on marble steps in an indoor space with a domed purple ceiling and a large digital sign in the background.
A 2026 adult learner signs a form at a booth staffed by two people, with promotional items, snacks, and informational materials arranged on the table in a public indoor setting.
Four people stand together indoors at an event, holding gift bags and a certificate recognizing a 2026 adult learner. A display table and banners are visible in the background.
Blue and white graphic with the text "Great Jobs KC" and "GREAT JOB" in bold, uppercase letters on overlapping shapes, designed to inspire the 2026 adult learner.

Our own Kellie Jones and Ebony Rivera were recognized by the Board of Directors, the leadership and team of Pathway Financial Education, for the meaningful role they have played in advancing financial empowerment in our community.

We celebrate the impact they have made by making financial education more accessible to our Scholars. 

They were recognized during the 2026 Pathway to Possibility: Celebrating 5 Years of Financial Empowerment event, which brought together community leaders, partners, volunteers, and supporters to reflect on the progress made over the past five years and to highlight those who have helped make this work possible.

A blue shield-shaped logo with the words "Great Jobs KC Scholars" in large white letters, celebrating 2000 Scholars.

Scholars on the path to SUCCESS

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TOTAL SCHOLARS ON A PATH TO THEIR FUTURE

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SCHOLARS CURRENTLY ENROLLED

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SCHOLARS WORKING IN A GREAT JOB

Young person in a hoodie stands beside a blue background with text encouraging survey participation for the 2000 Scholars of Great Jobs KC.

Throughout the Great Jobs KC experience, we will request that you complete a few short surveys to collect data that allows us to:

  • Show our impact to our donors and partners to secure more funds to continue our programs
  • Improve our program process so it works for everyone
  • Tailor our support services to Scholars’ needs
  • Share stories of Scholar success to inspire others to change their lives

We want to build a stronger Kansas City, one life at a time, and we need your help and input to do it.

Select survey participants will be entered into ongoing drawings for high-end tech prizes including laptops, headphones, and tablets.

Keep an eye on your email and texts, take a few moments to PAY IT FORWARD by helping to provide access to opportunities for others.

We want to hear about your success - UPDATE US TODAY

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The text "Great Jobs KC Scholars" features "KC" inside a shield-like icon between "Jobs" and "Scholars," highlighting Kansas City education impact in this newsletter design.

Check out our BLOG and support our mission

Find out more about our programs and support!

A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

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.

 

 

 

Adult Learner College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle.

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

GET STARTED

Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

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.

Great Jobs KC
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