GET STARTED
BE A DONOR
SCHOLAR PORTAL

paid Summer stem program for manufacturing and construction

Great Jobs KC

Three people in safety vests and hard hats stand talking in front of an orange background with text about a Summer STEM Program for Manufacturing and Construction.

Great Jobs KC x UMKC Launch Summer Tech Program for Manufacturing and Construction with Federal NSF Grant

 

Great Jobs KC is expanding its impact alongside some incredible partners, providing one-of-a-kind education experiences for the KC community. The National Science Foundation has recently awarded our organization a prestigious Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies grant. Through collaborative efforts with one of our KC Scholars College Network partners, the University of Missouri – Kansas City, we will fund an eight-week summer STEM program. For the first four weeks, Scholars will be on-site at UMKC learning relevant skills for advanced manufacturing and construction careers. The last four weeks will provide Scholars the opportunity for a paid internship, experiential learning experience, or even full-time employment. This hybrid-style experience allows Scholars to earn money while exploring a career path before making a long-term commitment to work or school.

This program will welcome 30 local high school graduates per summer over the next three summers to learn skills for high-tech career paths, preparing them for their next step and helping them better understand the technology shaping the future of our city. With increasing demand for skilled technical workers, the aim of this program is to clarify modern industries through hands-on exploratory learning. During the Employer Exposure portion of the program, Scholars will hear from employer partners of Great Jobs KC about jobs within our community in manufacturing and construction. 

Through this grant, local construction and manufacturing companies will benefit, as the program will cover the cost of 4-week internships or experiential learning opportunities at no cost to employers while providing their organizations with quality, skill-trained Scholars ready to advance their careers. If you are a local employer in this space who needs this kind of skilled labor, reach out to Michael Chavez at michael.chavez@greatjobskc.org to learn more about this incredible opportunity for your company.

“Today’s manufacturing and construction sectors revolve around robotics and digital design,” said Karolyn Dreiling, Associate Vice President of Development at Great Jobs KC. “Thanks to the National Science Foundation, Kansas City students can now access hands-on training and a direct route to advanced certifications in these high-demand industries. We are empowering them to gain technical mastery and high-wage stability through a program that prioritizes both real-world experience and continuous professional growth.” 

– Karolyn Dreiling, Associate Vice President of Development at Great Jobs KC

 

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.

Related Articles

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.
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

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

GET STARTED

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
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.