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I Once Said ‘No’ to The Adventure of a Lifetime: How KC Scholars’ Adult Scholarship Helped Me Say ‘Yes’ to Myself after 20 Years

Great Jobs KC

A woman sits on a brick ledge of a historic building, lost in reflection as she gazes over a cityscape of modern buildings and greenery beneath a partly cloudy sky.

This past summer, I spent six weeks in Málaga, Spain living with a host family, taking Spanish classes at a local university, and soaking up sun and culture in the beach front neighborhood of El Palo — something I’m shocked to be able to say out loud after silencing the thought when it first came to me at the age of sixteen.

However, from June 15th through July 29th this year, I took nine of my required credit hours in another country: one course led by UMKC faculty and six units through the International Centre for Spanish at the University of Málaga (CIE-UMA). I walked about 7-10 minutes daily to and from class each day and anything else I needed; food, shopping, sightseeing, were all reachable by bus or metro service that ran well into the night.

Three months back home in KC and I’m still downloading new insights from all that I saw and experienced while there — reflections about history, growth, and my overall sense of self.

I became a KC Scholars Adult Scholarship awardee in 2020 during one of the most turbulent times of my life. Still learning to navigate my new life in the Midwest, on impulse I attended a workforce-development conference hosted by the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC). A presentation by the DeBruce Foundation caught my attention and within a week I was meeting with one of their counselors to plan what would be my 3rd attempt to obtain a four-year degree. She urged me to apply and to my astonishment I was selected.

Over the last five years, as a single working mother, this program has afforded me a great deal of flexibility to work through personal challenges that without their assistance would have kept me from finishing. Several times I feared losing my place in the program but my Adult Scholar Advocate Carrie Barnes, assured me that would not be the case. Being able to tackle major disruptions and return without penalty is what truly kept me focused on at least making it to graduation – study abroad was something I’d fully conceded was reserved for younger traditional students.

Until one conversation last December changed everything…

At a holiday party hosted by the Foreign Languages Department at the University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC). I listened to several people sharing stories about their experiences learning in other countries and how it affected them. I spoke briefly with the department director about what it might take to participate in the upcoming trip to Spain and before I could make it home, I got an email from him commending my commitment to

my studies to other staff and declaring “She’s going to Spain!” I sat there speechless trying to absorb that this was even real.

More confirmation came when I shared the news with Carrie who then informed me that KC Scholars had just changed their program to provide summer funding that could be used for study abroad. Like magic, doors that I had shut in my own mind more than 20 years ago were being pushed open for me.

People sit on wooden pews inside a grand cathedral with ornate architecture and high arched ceilings, finding moments of resilience and reflection beneath intricate carvings and a beautifully decorated altar at the front.Life on the coast of the Mediterranean

We hit the ground running, meeting host families, sharing a meal and getting set up in our rooms on day one. Day two kicked off two weeks of instruction and full day excursions starting with a 20-minute bus ride downtown to the Alcazaba – an 11th century fortress seated behind the present day Ayuntamiento de Malaga (city hall). From the Castillo de Gibralfaro – a 14th century castle built to protect the fortress, we appreciated incredible views of the modern city below, but not before taking a group photo in front of a 1st century Roman theatre, perfectly preserved at the base of the Alcazaba entrance.

Other historic sites we visited include:

  • Museo Picasso and Catedral de Málaga in El Centro (the city’s downtown)
  • The grand Mesquita, Jewish Quarter, and more at Córdoba
  • Plaza de España, and Alcázar in Sevilla
  • The Alhambra palace and fortress that served as the last Muslim stronghold in Granada where Columbus famously met with the Catholic Monarchs

Our classes at CIE-UMA deepened the experience — grammar, conversation, and culture wrapped into long, laughter-filled mornings with classmates from around the world. At first, I was self-conscious about being older than most of our travel group, but beyond our group, there were students of all ages from late teens to mid-sixties, all in pursuit of the same goal.

Though our schedule was packed, I was lucky enough to squeeze in a few mini explorations on my own:

  • Sipping Moroccan Mint Tea on a rooftop terrace in Marrakesh before wandering the plaza markets in the old Medina, getting my hair done at a local braid shop while shifting between chats in Spanish, English and French with the locals
  • Made friends with the Cuban and Argentinian owners of a local coffee shop in Málaga, Centro
  • In Paris I drove a golf cart around the garden at Palace of Versailles (like they do in the movies), marveled at the Arc de Triophe fell in love with some amazing food!
  • Spotted an ad on a city bus and booked an impromptu weekend trip to Marbella to see Will Smith perform at their Starlight Theatre
A person in a brown robe stands on stone steps, pausing for reflection before an ornate arched doorway with intricate patterns and gold-colored doors, embodying resilience in every detail.

Resilience, Recovery and Reflection

I’d arrived in Spain with a slow healing ankle injury that made walking very difficult, but by the end of the trip I caught myself running on it. A10pm sunset meant longer days affording me time to focus on myself in ways I don’t always get to back home, thus, I returned home stronger than before I left. When our final came up, our group pulled together to share notes and encouragement in a way that made me feel supported as a student.

KC Scholars didn’t just make a summer trip possible; they helped to facilitate a full – circle journey into myself. Having the grace to pause and regroup when I needed it is what got me to the point where I could even accept that such an experience was possible.

As I prepare for graduation this December, I can’t help but recall that shy high-school junior, overwhelmed, flipping pages in a huge scholarship catalog who closed the book on her own dreams, believing them to be completely out of reach.

If you’re reading this and wonder whether your dream has passed you by, it hasn’t. Some dreams just wait for the right season — and the right people — to help bring them to life.

Sharae N. Shaheed

Sharae N. Shaheed is a Foreign Languages and Cultures major at the University of Missouri–Kansas City, graduating December 2025. She is a KC Scholars / Great Jobs KC Adult Scholar Award recipient (2020); affording her the opportunity to attend school part-time while caring for her family.

Your dream is just waiting for you to be ready to say yes.

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.

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