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SCHOLAR PORTAL

College Savings Match

College Savings Match Scholarship

Students with 529 College Savings Plans are four times more likely to complete college. Saving and planning for college is the first step on the path to a more financially secure future.

The Great Jobs KC – KC Scholars College Savings Match and Incentive Program provides awarded students with a 1:1 match and incentives up to $1,400 to use toward college. It is a one-time scholarship match. We are no longer offering this program to new applicants. Anyone awarded a College Savings Match Scholarship before 2026 is still eligible to complete the program and receive their matching funds.

Match and incentive participants must enroll in college full-time following high school graduation to receive Great Jobs KC 529 matching grant funds. 

A person wearing a black KC Scholars t-shirt, full of enthusiasm for the College Savings Match program, stands smiling with their hands in their pockets.

529 College Savings Account Information

Missouri MOST – Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan

Learning Quest – 529 Education Savings program established by the State of Kansas

UPromise – A free cashback earnings program that allows you to contribute earned savings to a 529 account

Ugift – A free service that lets friends and family contribute to a student’s 529 account

FAQ

Yes, if you meet the minimum eligibility requirements in 11th grade, you can also apply for the Traditional Scholarship.

A 529 college savings plan is an investment account that is used for savings for college. We work with the Missouri MOST and Kansas Learning Quest programs.

You may ask if $50 in a college savings account matters. Yes, it does!

Research demonstrates that having a college savings account produces positive results no matter what the value of the initial contribution to the account.
Positive results include:

  • creating a college-intending mindset in the student and the parent(s) – the student builds assurance that college is possible
  • parents of children with a college savings account acts in ways that support the child planning for and going to college
  • students with college savings accounts are four times more likely to go to college and six times more likely to complete. Further, knowledge learned about savings and financial literacy are transferrable to all areas of life, even beyond attending and completing college. And, students in the this program have a college adviser throughout high school to help them prepare for college.

Every 529 college savings account must have a designated account owner that is 18 years or older and a U.S Citizen or permanent resident with a valid Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number. The account owner can be a parent, grandparent, other relative, or friend. If awarded, the recipient must have identified an account holder before June orientation, and the student and the account owner must attend orientation in June.

College savings accounts are seeded with $50.

All 250 9th graders selected will be eligible for a 1:1 match of up to $1,000 and an additional $400 of incentives.

To earn the $400 in incentives, a student must complete the minimum number of college-ready activities identified for each grade (9-12). More details will be shared after awarded and at orientation.

Yes. To receive the match and incentive paid by this program, you must plan to attend one of our Postecondary Network institutions. To see the full list of partner institutions, click here.

No, the College Savings Match Program will not pay for dual credit or any other classes taken while still in high school.

Yes! We want to ensure you are successful getting to college, completing your degree, and earning a great paying job. Great Jobs KC pairs its awardees with a Scholar Advocate to support each awardee every step of the way. Great Jobs KC, its partner school districts and its college and universities partners provide assistance such as one-on-one and group advising, assistance with college admissions and scholarship applications, FAFSA completion assistance, advice for parents and families and campus tours. Click here to see other Resources.

You must graduate from a public, charter, private high school, or a home-school in the six-county service area to receive this College Savings Match and Incentive.

All questions should be directed to applicationhelp@greatjobskc.org. Please allow up to two business days for a reply. Please review the Program Guidelines carefully for any additional questions.
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

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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