Kansas City Mayor Proclaims May 5th KC Scholars Day; Union Station to Light Up in Celebration
KANSAS CITY — Great Jobs KC is proud to announce the 2026 awarding class of its flagship KC Scholars 11th-Grade Scholarship Program. In its 10th anniversary year, 778 high school juniors across the six-county Kansas City region have been selected to receive scholarships of up to $50,000 each, representing a staggering total community investment of $38.9 million.
The milestone announcement has been met with citywide recognition. The Mayor of Kansas City has officially proclaimed May 5th, 2026 as KC Scholars Day in Kansas City, a testament to the program’s decade-long impact on the region’s students, families, and workforce. In celebration, Kansas City’s iconic Union Station will be lit up in honor of the 778 scholars and the communities that have rallied behind them. Together, these civic tributes reflect what this program has always represented: a city that believes in its young people and is willing to show up for them.
“Today isn’t just about financial aid; it’s about a promise to 778 students that their zip code and financial circumstances will not define their destiny,” said Jimmy Swift, Chief Operating Officer at Great Jobs KC. “By awarding nearly $39 million today, we are ensuring that the next generation of Kansas City’s workforce is educated, empowered, and ready to lead.”
This program reflects a decade of community support and a dedication to bridging the gap between high school and family-sustaining careers. Each scholarship provides up to $5,000 per semester for up to six years, paid directly to one of the 26 partner colleges and universities in the KC Scholars College Network.
Key Highlights of the 2026 Awarding Class:
The 11th-Grade Scholarship is unique because it is awarded a full year before high school graduation. This early intervention provides students and their families with the financial certainty needed to focus on academic excellence rather than the stress of college affordability — a structural innovation that sets KC Scholars apart from nearly every comparable program in the country.
As Great Jobs KC marks its 10th anniversary, the 2026 awarding class stands as the most powerful proof of what is possible when a community invests in its people. From a mayor’s proclamation to a landmark lit in their honor, Kansas City is saying clearly and collectively: these 778 scholars matter, and their futures matter to all of us.
Great Jobs KC, a 501(c)(3) organization, drives regional economic stability and mobility by ensuring low- and modest-income individuals achieve family-sustaining careers. Our programs prepare the future workforce through two core pathways: college scholarships (up to $50,000) and tuition-free training in high-demand fields. We ensure success by providing one-to-one support for every participant, from enrollment through their first year of employment. greatjobskc.org
The Kauffman Foundation’s generous grant helps Great Jobs KC get closer to its $100M goal, supporting 50,000 Kansas City residents with job training and education.
The Kauffman Foundation’s generous grant helps Great Jobs KC get closer to its $100M goal, supporting 50,000 Kansas City residents with job training and education.
Great Jobs KC Great Jobs KC, the KC Scholars program which launched in Fall 2022,
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.
Program offers:
Eligibility Requirements:
If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE
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.
