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MidAmerica Nazarene University Joins Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars College Network in Regional Effort to Boost College Access

MNU and Great Jobs KC are partnering to provide even more scholarships to eligible students residing in the greater Kansas City area. MNU is joining Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars College Network, a network of higher education institutions, in offering additional opportunities to those who may not have previously had access to them.

Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars Scholarship Program is a regional scholarship and support program dedicated to helping low- to moderate-income students access, persist in, and complete college or career credentials. College scholarships provide up to $50,000 per student. Great Jobs KC also provides the ongoing support many of their Scholars need to complete their college degree. A Scholar Advocate who provides one-to-one support of the Scholar, including access to support services that remove barriers to success, such as transportation, technology, tutoring, and career services. They award 250 Traditional scholarships each year to high school juniors, where the recipient can select from any of the schools in the KC Scholars College Network, 150 adult learner scholarships, and a nearly unlimited number of opportunities for those students willing to commit to a specific school in the network with one of the College-Specific Scholarships the program offers. 

As a partner institution, MNU will offer two types of College-Specific scholarships to students who were eligible for but did not receive a KC Scholars Traditional Scholarship.

  • MNU-Specific 50: Up to $50,000 over 5 years
  • MNU-Specific 70: Up to $70,000 over 5 years (requires a 3.5+ GPA)

Speaking on the significance this partnership will have on the Kansas City community, Great Jobs KC COO, Natalie Lewis said, “It is through partnerships with post-secondary institutions within our region that we can create opportunities for first-generation students to achieve their dreams of a college degree and start the cascading effect that generational wealth has on an entire community. We are so very proud to partner with MNU to provide these opportunities that will create lasting impact on both individuals and Kansas City.”

MNU’s Vice President for Strategic Expansion, Lisa Hood, says the focus on a student’s persistence to completion of a degree is a point of pride at MNU. “Our students have access to student success coaches who help them generate a student success plan (SSP) guiding them toward college success and achievement,” Hood says. “This aids students in defining their academic and personal goals, identifying and connecting with relevant campus resources, developing college success skills such as time management, organization, and note taking, along with the accountability that is needed at times to follow through. Both traditional and adult students choose to lean into these resources in addition to the support from their academic advisors.”

Additionally, Hood says that MNU will be ready to serve recipients seeking a traditional university experience or an accelerated option allowing them to balance work and other responsibilities.

Hood added, “We want to be good partners with the community by influencing regional workforce development and equity in education.”

Learn more about the university’s programs at mnu.edu.

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About MidAmerica Nazarene University
MidAmerica Nazarene University, located in Olathe, Kansas, is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Church of the Nazarene. Since its founding in 1966, MNU has been committed to providing a transformative education that fosters academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a passion for service. The university offers over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs and certificates, equipping students to lead and serve in their communities and beyond.

About Great Jobs KC:

Great Jobs KC (www.greatjobskc.org) is a 501(c)(3) college scholarship and tuition-free job training program. Its goal is to support persistence and increase the college completion rate for low- and modest-income students across the six-county, bi-state service region and secure family-sustaining careers. The organization was designed to change thousands of individual lives and transform the region by preparing the local future workforce and contributing to the regional economy.

The KC Scholars Scholarship Program awards traditional college scholarships to high school juniors and adult learner scholarships to adults 24 years and older.

The Great Jobs KC program provides tuition assistance to approved career training programs in high-demand industries such as construction, healthcare, information technology, logistics/warehousing, manufacturing, and service careers. With the support of Great Jobs KC, adults 17+ and older can learn the skills needed in one year or less to secure a career making at least $45,000 per year.

Great Jobs KC supports all its Scholars throughout their college or job training, with employment assistance, and into their first year of employment.

 

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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

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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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