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SCHOLAR PORTAL

Match Scholars

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Welcome to KC Scholars!

The first step in supporting you is a required Orientation Session. During orientation, you will: 

  • Learn about the KC Scholars program, scholarship requirements and renewal process
  • Learn how to open a 529 account and what you need to do to remain eligible for the award
  • Hear about college advisement and completion supports
  • Meet KC Scholars staff and fellow scholarship recipients

**Note that the account owner (usually a parent or guardian) is required to attend the orientation. Please see the FAQ “Who can be an Account Owner” for more information**

In person and Zoom sessions available. If you attend the in-person orientation on June 3rd, we will assist you in opening a 529 account on the same day.

You only need to attend one orientation session, please choose a date below and register at the link. Once you register, you will receive a confirmation email. If you register for a virtual session, you will receive a Zoom link.

In-Person Sessions

Saturday, June 3 10:00 am to 1:00 PM – In Person presentation and drop-in hours. Our team will help you open a 529 account. Spanish translation will be available. We will conduct the presentation twice. Please arrive at either 10:00 am or at 11:30 am for the full presentation and assistance with opening an account.

Virtual sessions

Tuesday June 6, 5:30-7:00 pm – Spanish Translation Available for MO residents

Wednesday June 21, 5:30 pm-7:00pm – Spanish Translation Available for KS residents

REGISTER HERE for the in-person orientation

Metropolitan Community College–Maple Woods at 2601 NE Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64156

(Once you register, you will receive an email with the building and room number).

REGISTER HERE for a virtual

Please select one date from the drop-down menu on the registration page

You MUST attend one session to continue with the KC Scholars program.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions regarding orientation:

Yes, you must attend a KC Scholars orientation to remain in the KC Scholars program. If you do not attend a scheduled orientation session, you will be dismissed from KC Scholars and no longer eligible for the KC Scholars College Savings Match & Incentives Award.

We will share all the details during your orientation session. More to come!

Yes, please register for another session. KC Scholars will not be offering one on one sessions, you must attend one of the sessions offered.

Students must identify an account owner in whose name the account is opened and considered the property of. The account owner selects investments, assigns the beneficiary (the student awarded), and determines how the account funds are used.

Your account owner can be a parent, guardian, or any individual over the age of 18. Your account owner must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with a valid social security number and permanent U.S. address.

The Account Owner MUST be present at KC Scholars orientation.

The student who has been awarded by KC Scholars, the person the account owner has opened the account for. The beneficiary must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien with a valid Social Security number or other taxpayer identification number.

No. After your orientation session, you will enroll in the Missouri MOST or Kansas Learning Quest Savings Plan online. Step-by-step instructions will be provided during and after the orientation session. Your account owner must be present for you to do so.

Yes, please sign up and attend one of the virtual orientations and send an email to scholarships@kcscholars.org to let us know that you already have a 529 account

Parents are not required to attend your orientation session UNLESS they are the Account Owner. If they are NOT the Account Owner, they are still highly encouraged to learn more about KC Scholars and the College Savings Match Program.

The Account Owner MUST be present at KC Scholars orientation.

Please call Naila Sherman 816-398-7662 or email nsherman@kcscholars.org

You can email Naila Sherman at nsherman@kcscholars.org

KC Scholars Contact

Hello scholars! My name is Bryan Woodson, and I am your KC Scholars Program Coordinator and your go-to for all things College Savings Match or anything KC Scholars related! I will help you with your 529 College Savings accounts and reaching your Milestones from the time you are awarded up to when you enter college. In my free time, I love to listen to music and collect vinyl records. I also like to play a little PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Welcome to KC Scholars! I love helping students get to college and I am excited to work with you!

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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

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.

Great Jobs KC
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