Ottawa University and Great Jobs KC’s KC Scholars Scholarship Program announce their partnership as Ottawa University joins the KC Scholars College Network. The KC Scholars Program is designed to eliminate financial barriers to higher education for low to modest-income individuals seeking a college degree. Joining the KC Scholars College Network puts Ottawa in the company of 25 other regional institutions working alongside Great Jobs KC to increase opportunities for many who might otherwise not have the chance to pursue a college degree. Many of those who apply for the KC Scholars Scholarship are first-generation college students who are not only realizing their own dreams of a more financially secure future but also those of their families.

With this financial commitment, eligible low- and modest-income students and adults across the six-county Kansas City metro region can now select Ottawa University as the institution to attend to utilize their KC Scholars Scholarship. Annually, KC Scholars awards over 800 scholarships to qualified applicants in the Kansas City area valued at up to $50,000 each.

For high school juniors who qualify for but do not receive a traditional KC Scholars Scholarship, they will have the opportunity to designate Ottawa University as their preferred institution during their scholarship application process. If selected, they may receive a separate scholarship generously funded by Ottawa University. This KC Scholars Ottawa-Specific Scholarship is valued at up to $115,000 and can only be used at Ottawa University’s Ottawa or Kansas City Campus (located in Overland Park).

“Our partnership with KC Scholars is a powerful extension of Ottawa University’s mission to prepare liberal arts graduates for lives of significance and service in a Christ-inspired caring community of grace and open inquiry. KC Scholars helps us reach students with the talent and drive to make a difference, and together we’re creating pathways for them to pursue their purpose and professional goals through education, faith, and service.” Bambi Burgard, President, Ottawa University. 

The collaboration will leverage Ottawa University’s robust institutional aid to supplement the substantial financial support from the KC Scholars awards. The KC Scholars Program provides 1:1 Scholar Advocate support for each student awarded, helping remove barriers to success and providing the necessary support for Scholars in this program to succeed. This holistic approach ensures that Scholars awarded these generous scholarships can focus entirely on their studies without the burden of tuition costs, thereby driving degree completion and long-term career success in the region.

Natalie Lewis, Great Jobs KC COO, commented, “We have every faith that Ottawa University will be an outstanding partner, and this commitment of nearly unlimited opportunities is truly transformative. Ottawa University is setting a powerful example for educational access. This guarantees that more of our Scholars, whether they are high schoolers looking for a traditional university experience or adults seeking career advancement, can secure a degree and contribute to the economic growth of Kansas City.”

Interested students and adult learners must first apply to and be accepted into the KC Scholars program during their respective application windows to use their scholarship at Ottawa University.