GET STARTED
BE A DONOR
SCHOLAR PORTAL

scholar success Stories

Great Jobs KC is removing barriers, opening up high-demand career paths and impacting the financial future of Kansas City. Check out Scholar Success Stories below and watch Scholars share how the Great Jobs and KC Scholars programs have supported their success.

IN THEIR WORDS: Scholars Share Their Stories

Playlist

5 Videos

GET INSPIRED: READ REAL SUCCESS STORIES

A woman stands in front of a backdrop decorated with pink and white balloons, proudly holding a scholarship certificate, while wearing a light-colored top and black pants.

Dedicated to Her Dream – Lisa Wanjiru

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Lisa Wanjiru completed her Certified Nursing Assistant (CAN) training with Great Jobs KC this past summer and is nothing but grateful for ...
Read More →
A smiling woman with curly hair wearing a white dress stands in front of a wall covered with various dried flowers, celebrating her recent scholarship achievement.

Transforming Her Career – Mia Ray

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Mia Ray worked a typical office job after graduation, but it didn’t feel like the career she hoped to build. While working ...
Read More →
A man in a plaid shirt and cap sits in the driver's seat of a truck, smiling at the camera.

Working Towards a Better Life – Willis Reed

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC In 2020, Willis Reed was determined to start his business. He began working on his box truck as an Owner-operator with Amazon ...
Read More →
A young man with curly hair and a beard smiles at the camera against a blurred blue background. He is wearing a white collared shirt, perhaps excited about new career opportunities or having recently secured a scholarship.

Finding His Path with KC Scholars Scholarship Program – Talha Agha

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Talha Agha first heard about KC Scholars through one of his teachers, Mr. Reys. Talha mentions how Mr. Reys impacted his decision ...
Read More →
A person holds a large frame that reads "#KCScholars" at a backdrop with the KC Scholars logos, celebrating their scholarship achievement and future career aspirations.

Hard Work Pays Off – Chavez Nelson

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Chavez Nelson first heard about KC Scholars through his school counselor and decided to see if it were something he would be ...
Read More →
A man in a blue suit and red tie poses with outstretched arms in front of a black and white historical photograph displayed on a curved wall in the gallery, embodying the essence of diverse careers.

Making an Impact, One Dish at a Time – Michael Mugisha

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Growing up in Congo, Michael Mugisha learned early on how to cook. Because food was scarce, he was forced to make something ...
Read More →
Smiling person with long, dark hair wearing a light-colored top, posing in front of a yellow background, ready for job opportunities.

Moving Up in IT – Taelor Barrett

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Taelor Barrett Jones found her passion in the IT field but was ready to move her career to the next level. Taelor ...
Read More →
A young man is standing outdoors in casual attire, clasping his hands together with a slight smile, contemplating his future career. The blurred background suggests a residential area with trees and buildings.

Slam Dunk with KC Scholars Scholarship Program – David Cobin

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC David Cobin shares how being a KC Scholar has given him hope, knowing that the possibility to achieve his dreams in life ...
Read More →
A black and white photo of a person with long, curly hair, smiling at the camera. Heart-shaped effects are overlaid on the image, capturing a moment of joy in their thriving career.

Starting Her New Adventure – Rachel Reardon

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Rachel Reardon is making her childhood dreams come to life with Great Jobs KC. Rachel’s mother told her about Great Job KC ...
Read More →
A person in a black sweatshirt stands in front of a colorful mural with plant designs, one hand on the wall and the other pointing forward, smiling confidently as if ready to take on new jobs.

Third Times a Charm – Tina Downey

November 10, 2023 No Comments
Great Jobs KC Tina Downey is a KC Scholar Adult Learner who has returned to school more ready than ever. While Tina was a senior ...
Read More →
Four people pose behind a sign for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on a sunny day.

KC Scholar Success Story- John Law

January 16, 2023 No Comments
KC Scholars John Law’s story started in 2017 when his daughter was a part of the KC Scholars Program College Savings Match for 9th graders. ...
Read More →
A person with long curly hair and braces smiles, wearing a colorful jacket and a beaded necklace.

ADULT LEARNER JENAYA ROBBS

November 24, 2022 No Comments
KC Scholars One down, 2-3 to go‼️ Eleven years ago, I started school at KU, excited for the journey ahead. Almost immediately after beginning my ...
Read More →
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.