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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Data-Driven Career Access Model

Access Creates Opportunity

A regional system that turns education and training into measurable career outcomes.

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Their guidance, encouragement, and belief in me made all the difference, and I’ll always be grateful for the role they played in helping me achieve my goals.

Tim
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It’s more than just scholarships and support; it’s about building a future you didn’t think was possible.

Hajra
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This journey has meant more to me than I can easily put into words, and I am thankful to have been part of a community that believes in access, effort, and possibility.

Shapree
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ScholarshipS Awarded
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Skills Training Scholars
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Lives Impacted
Flowchart showing KC Scholars and Great Jobs KC programs, featured in our press kit, both helping adults secure jobs through degrees or certifications with access to coaching and support services.

Access, training, economic independence.

Our North Star

Mission

The mission of Great Jobs KC is to provide access to college scholarships and tuition-free skills training, along with employment assistance to secure family-sustaining jobs for low- to modest-income individuals.

Vision

To ensure that a training pathway and access to economic independence is possible for everyone, regardless of income, age, race or ethnicity.

I am beyond thrilled to have you in my corner while I study for my RN. This is not the end of my story; this is just the beginning!

Aaliyah
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Where the mission began

Mr. K's Uncommon Impact

The origins of KC Scholars are deeply rooted in the legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist, Ewing Marion Kauffman. In 1988, Kauffman launched Project Choice, a bold social experiment that promised low-income students at Kansas City’s Westport High School full college tuition.

While Project Choice evolved over the decades, its core mission; removing financial barriers to higher education for those who need it most remained the “North Star” for the region.

KC Scholars was established in 2016 as the modern, large-scale realization of that vision. It transitioned the singular focus of Project Choice into a community-wide, collaborative, scalable effort.

In 2022, KC Scholars expanded its model to launch Great Jobs KC, adding tuition-free career training, credential programs, and job-readiness pathways for adults and young adults. In 2024, employer partnerships were formally integrated to directly connect trained Scholars to open positions in high-demand industries.

Today, known as Great Jobs KC, the organization operates in eight counties across Kansas and Missouri, partnering with colleges, training providers, community organizations, and employers to remove barriers and accelerate career placement. The organization’s long-term vision is to help 50,000 adults secure careers that pay $45,000 or more, with benefits.

 

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We were born with the freedom to pursue an education and a worthwhile occupation. With your high school graduation, you now have the power to choose what you will make of your lives. Choose well. Choose well.
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Mr. Ewing Marion Kauffman
1988-2001

1988 – 2001 PROJECT CHOICE

Launched when Mr. Kauffman offers to pay for the college education of a group of students from Westport High School in Kansas City.

2003-2022

2003 – 2022 KAUFFMAN SCHOLARS

Building on Project Choice this program offered full scholarships and comprehensive support services to low-income students across KC. The program sunsetted in 2022 with all Scholars being supported now by KC Scholars/Great Jobs KC.

2016-2022

2016-2022 KC Scholars

Inspired by Ewing Kauffman's vision and the work of Kauffman Scholars, the nonprofit organization KC Scholars was founded to expand the mission of providing college scholarships and support to low to modest-income students and adults across the Kansas City region. 

2022-Present

2022-Present

KC Scholars expanded to become Great Jobs KC, adding tuition-free skills training and providing access to career credentials in high-demand careers. Incorporating resources such as life skills workshops, employer partners, and a career resources team has created a program that has exceeded all expectations, according to a third-party evaluation conducted by Mathematica.

Access funded. Futures built.

Our Programs

11th-Grade College Scholarship

KC Scholars Scholarship for either a 2 or 4-year degree program that pays up to $50,000, paid directly to the student's college of choice from the KC Scholars College Network.
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11th-Grade College-Specific Scholarship

KC Scholars Scholarship for either a 2 or 4-year degree program that pays up to $50,000, paid directly to a specific college in the KC Scholars College Network selected by the student.
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Adult Learner Scholarship

KC Scholars Scholarship for adults 24+ who want to pursue a 2 or 4-year degree program that pays up to $25,000, paid directly to the college.
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Great Jobs KC

Short-term training and job skills workshops that are tuition-free, if you qualify, for adults 17+.
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GREAT JOBS KC SUCCESS STORIES

Scholar Malcolm was making $15 an hour when he began the Great Jobs KC Program. After completing his commercial drivers license (CDL) training and passing his driving test, he has accepted a position making $62,400 a year!

A chance to learn. The power to earn.

Read More Success Stories

You have shown me what true support looks like. I found a community that I never thought I would find.

Ronette
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Performance you can see

Building a stronger KC one life at a time

This last year, we not only impacted individual lives, but we also continued to build partnerships across Kansas City and beyond, collaborating to support the Scholars we serve.

Read the full annual report

Program outcomes and impact have been independently evaluated by Mathematica, a leading national research organization specializing in evidence-based program analysis.

CLICK HERE FOR A SUMMARY

To read the full report, click here.

Total Partners Across Kansas City
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Persistence Rate for Skills Training Scholars
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Check out the full list of employer partners
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In The Media

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PRess releases

Independent coverage and feature stories

In the News

Browse recent press coverage and official stories highlighting our programs, Scholars, and measurable impact.

I am proud of who I am today. Given the right resources, support, drive, and commitment it's amazing what one year can do in a person's life. I want to say thank you with my whole heart for Great Jobs KC.

Karla
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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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