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Chinecherem: A KC Scholar's Story of Leadership and Learning

Great Jobs KC

Chinecherem is a current Scholar and Scholar Ambassador attending the University of Missouri – Kansas City in our KC Scholars Traditional Scholarship Program. Growing up, she always knew she wanted to go to college no matter what, as she knew her education was something no one could take away from her. With soaring dreams to continue her education, Chinecherem started searching for resources to help her make this dream come true. One primary motivator when searching for different scholarship opportunities was attending college without accumulating debt while having a support system that would continuously cheer her on and support her throughout her college experience. Her high school soon directed her toward the opportunities Great Jobs KC offers.

Preparing Early

Education has always been a top priority for Chinecherem. As a freshman at Raytown South High School, she was first introduced to Great Jobs KC’s scholarship programs and was quickly awarded our 9th grader College Savings Match to start saving for her college journey. Since then, Chinecherem has been awarded the $50,000 Traditional Scholarship in the KC Scholars Program to attend one of our 25 university partners. Chinecherem shares how being part of these programs has continuously fueled her ambitions and pursuit of a college education. Having a space in the KC Scholars Program makes her proud to have the opportunity to relieve some of the financial burden from her family and even helped her understand how hard her parents have worked to help set herself and her siblings up for success.

University Partners Continued Resources

While Great Jobs KC has helped bridge the gap to be able to attend college, our university partner, the University of Missouri – Kansas City, offered her further support and scholarship opportunities to make her finances and campus living even more affordable. Currently a junior, Chinecherem has been able to do more than she had ever imagined, including attending a study abroad program in Senegal with her honors program. This opportunity was life-impacting for Chinecherem as she immersed herself in the culture and honed her language skills. She describes this as a once-in-a-lifetime experience that helped her improve her communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Advocate Support

Chinecherem shares how having a Scholar Advocate has been incredibly helpful. There is someone constantly in her corner cheering her on, just as she hoped for when first searching for scholarship opportunities. Moreover, her Advocate is attending graduate school, which has been an extra resource to her as she has expressed an interest in attending a graduate program. Having consistent check-ins to ensure her grades are in good standing and that she can access her resources has been phenomenal in her experience.

“I always open myself to learning from those around me, and I am not afraid to ask for help from [my] Scholar Advocate or other people at Great Jobs KC because I know they have my best intentions at heart… He is always willing to listen and offer his best advice, and when he doesn’t know something, he never hesitates to connect me with someone who does. That support is comforting as I continue my education journey.”

Chinecherem

Giving Back

While education is her top priority, Chinecherem knew she wanted to be able to give back to those starting the program and provide the support she received as a new Scholar. She was encouraged to apply for the KC Scholars Ambassador Program, where current Scholars can become more involved with the organization, create a culture of belonging among Scholars on their college campuses, and further develop their leadership skills. Having the opportunity to be a Scholar Ambassador at her school, she is highly grateful for the opportunity to give back to the program through her engagement and collaboration with other ambassadors to grow engagement among her fellow Scholars.

If you are a current Scholar and are interested in learning more about the Ambassador Program, check out the requirements and application deadlines here!

About Great Jobs KC

Great Jobs KC is a Kansas City-based nonprofit that provides access to college scholarships and tuition-free job training, along with job placement assistance for young people from low- and modest-income families in the metropolitan area, providing a pipeline of talent for a strong regional workforce. Please join us on our mission for economic independence for all. For more information, visit www.greatjobskc.org.

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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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