Happy birthday Mr. K!
his is a mission that lasts beyond a lifetime

How has the legacy of Mr. Kauffman touched your life? 

Share your story on our social media, and let’s celebrate together!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR leadership

Black and white photo of an older man in a suit smiling, with a faded version of his face in the background on a blue backdrop. Text reads: “We Celebrate! An Uncommon Man... Mr. K”—a true advocate for college scholarships and skills training, inspiring generations to pursue their dreams.

Dear Great Jobs KC Community,

As autumn begins, I want to reflect on our foundation, celebrate our progress, and share important updates about our future.

First, last month marked the birthday of Ewing Marion Kauffman, the visionary whose commitment to education and empowerment continues to guide our mission. We are honored to carry forward his legacy across our region.

Through our tuition-free skills training and postsecondary support, we help community members access high-paying, in-demand careers. We especially encourage:

  • Adults 24+ looking to earn their associate or bachelor’s degree
  • Veterans and military spouses seeking new career pathways
  • Women pursuing trade, technical, and nontraditional fields
  • Residents in rural communities, including Ford County, KS, and Northwest Missouri

Whether upskilling, earning a college degree, or changing careers, Great Jobs KC provides tuition assistance, coaching, and resources at zero cost.

We are also preparing for an important transition. At the end of this calendar year, Earl Martin Phalen will step down as CEO. Under Earl’s leadership, Great Jobs KC has transformed thousands of lives through education and skills training opportunities. Kansas City holds a special place in Earl’s heart, and his passion has left an indelible mark on our community. Thank you Earl for all that you’ve done for this organization and the future of Kansas City.

We are excited to welcome Aaron North as our new CEO in early December as we begin this next chapter. In the coming months, we’ll hear from Aaron about his vision for the future of Great Jobs KC.

Please watch for our Adult Learner Scholarship launch later this month and help us spread the word about that and our skills training programs.

With gratitude,

Great Jobs KC Leadership Team

Text reading "Scholars First" in bold and script fonts, over a blue and green gradient background with right-pointing arrows, designed to inspire the 2026 adult learner.

Our programs supporting veterans & their spouses

Thanks to a generous grant from the Veterans Administration, we have funding to support veterans and their spouses in high-demand careers. 

Last month, we were able to share the story of Sandy. Sandy’s husband served in the Air Force, and she was looking for her next career. Through our Veterans Grant, we supported her CDL training and helped her get a job with Amazon Freight. 

Her goal is to learn the business from the ground up and one day work as a broker with her own company. We believe in you, Sandy, and know you’ll hit the ground running and build the future of your dreams. 

You can watch the feature HERE. 

Four people sit on couches in a TV studio set with a “KCTV” sign above them, engaged in conversation about back to school topics such as college scholarships and skills training. Shelves and decor are visible in the background.
Logo with "myKC LIVE" in bold white and orange letters on a gradient yellow and orange background, celebrating Kansas City Celebrates Our Scholars.
Four people stand and smile together on a TV studio set with “KCTV” displayed in large letters behind them. The set, featuring a couch, chairs, and decorative pillows, creates a welcoming backdrop as the group discusses back to school tips and opportunities for college scholarships and skills training.

To learn more about our Scholars and their success, please visit our SCHOLAR SUCCESS page.

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staff spotlight

“If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go TOGETHER.”

Get to know our team, and what motivates us to support our Scholars.

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volunteer opportunity

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Adult learner & 11th-Grade scholarships

It’s nearly time to apply

Don’t miss your opportunity for up to $50k for college!

Application Dates

  • Adult Learner $25k Scholarship: October 20 – November 20, 2026
  • 11th-Grade $50k College Scholarship: January 7 – February 26, 2027.
  • Early eligibility for BOTH scholarships is already open! Applicants can create their account early and confirm if they are eligible for the scholarship by clicking HERE.

Application Resources

great jobs kc

development news

Graphic reading: “October 8th is DAF Day. Do you have a Donor Advised Fund? As students head back to school, we hope you’ll consider supporting Great Jobs KC in your giving—helping us provide college scholarships and skills training!” Blue gradient background.
Questions? Contact Laura Cooke at laura.cooke@greatjobskc.org

FUEL THEIR FINALS!

150 KITS FOR 150 FRESHMEN

We’re putting together 150 Finals Survival Kits for Great Jobs KC college freshmen to remind our Scholars that they’re not in this alone. Each kit will be filled with supplies and essentials to help students get through the stress of finals and finish their first semester strong.

Each kit costs just $30!

Your $30 gift can put one complete Finals Survival Kit into the hands of a freshman who is working hard to build a brighter future.

SUPPORT OUR SCHOLARS

 

great jobs kc

employer network

New employer partners

Staffmark logo with the word “staffmark” in black lowercase letters and a large red asterisk above the letter “k,” representing opportunities such as back to school, college scholarships, and skills training.

Staffmark has a strong presence in the Kansas City (and in other areas of KS) workforce and its focus on connecting job seekers with opportunities across manufacturing, logistics, warehouse, and other entry-level career pathways.

Logo for Conant Construction LLC featuring stylized red roof shapes and text reading “25 years of quality”—a proud symbol of building success stories, from back to school beginnings to college scholarships and skills training.

Conant Construction, based in Dodge City, KS, has many years of experience in every phase of design, build, and remodeling and have opportunities for craftsman, project managers, and more.

MoDOT logo with the outline of Missouri, “MoDOT” text, and blue curved lines beneath representing roads or movement—highlighting opportunities for college scholarships and skills training as students head back to school.

We are partnering with the Missouri Department of Transportation to connect Scholars with their opportunities in various trades, maintenance, technician, administrative, and other roles.

great jobs kc

Professional development

NASWA 2026 Summit

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) 2026 Summit took place September 16–17, 2026, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Purpose: Bring state workforce agency leaders together to collaborate, share promising practices, and discuss key issues shaping the public workforce system.

Overall theme: The summit focused on helping states modernize and strengthen workforce and systems by sharing practical approaches that can be applied across states.

The summit was a national convening for state workforce leaders focused on modernizing workforce services, improving UI, using data and technology more effectively, and strengthening state-federal collaboration.

Breakout sessions attended by the Great Jobs KC Team

  • State Initiatives for Upskilling the Nation’s Workforce for AI
  • ⁠Elevate Impact: Modernizing Workforce Systems for the Future
  • Data-Driven and Evidence-Based: Smarter Decision-Making for a Stronger Workforce
  • Improving on Youth Programs
  • Elevating Workforce Interoperability: Building the Technical Backbone for ETPL and Workforce Pell
  • Is Your Data Telling the Right Story? Communicating Labor Market Information to Non-Technical Audiences
  • Elevating Employer Communications: Strategies That Inform, Engage, and Drive Action
  • Full Throttle: Accelerating Data Sharing Across Sectors and State Lines
  • Building Stronger Business Partnerships: State Strategies in Action

The summit showed the need to connect workforce programs and use data and technology to better support workers. For Great Jobs KC, this means strengthening partnerships, using data and AI strategically, and finding new ways to better serve program scholars while aligning workforce strategies with the evolving needs of employers.

 

Four women stand beside a sign for the 90th Annual Membership Meeting in a conference hall, where other attendees gather to discuss important topics like back to school initiatives, college scholarships, and skills training programs visible in the background.
Pictured above: (Left to Right) Te'Keyah Smith - Scholar Support Specialist, Kaydee Anderson - Scholar Advocate, Dee Burns - Senior Manager of Admissions and Macy Warburton - Scholar Support Strategy Manager

KC SCHOLARS

AMBASSADORS

Five people sit around a conference table, listening to a woman presenting slides on a screen about college scholarships and skills training. Laptops, notebooks, and water bottles are visible on the table, adding to the focused atmosphere as participants prepare for the back to school season.

Own your influence

A few of our ambassadors attended a leadership development event where they learned about personal branding and marketing through social media from our own Social Media Manager, Emma Cruciani, and Senior Marketing Project Manager, Chris Lara. They learned how to use their LinkedIn profile to set the tone for their careers and brainstormed social media trends they could join to help us spread the word about our scholarships. 

KC Scholars ambassadors kick off the semester

  • University of Central Missouri Ambassadors kicked off their first year in the KC Scholars Ambassador Program with a high-turnout “Games and Giveaways” fall semester event, bringing Scholars together through games, snacks, and community building.
  • Rockhurst University Ambassadors kicked off the fall semester with “Stress Less with Slime”! Students connected over lunch while making custom slime creations.
  • Kansas University Ambassadors hosted “Grab and Gather” to start the semester strong. Students grabbed breakfast sandwiches and school supplies while connecting over shared majors, dorms, and experiences.
  • Kansas City Kansas Community College Ambassadors hosted a Back to School Meet and Greet! Scholars were stocked up on school supplies, fueled with a delicious brunch, and had the opportunity to connect with fellow KC Scholars as they kicked off a successful semester.
  • Avila University Ambassadors hosted their first event, Paint and Plant. They had the perfect fall day to hang out on the Quad, and Scholars picked out a plant pot to decorate and a succulent to go with it. Many spent time using their creativity and making new connections while enjoying lunch. There was a palpable energy and excitement as 50 KC Scholars attended, and many expressed how they are already looking forward to the next event!

great jobs kc

in the media

Scholars on the path to SUCCESS

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TOTAL SCHOLARS ON A PATH TO THEIR FUTURE

0

SCHOLARS CURRENTLY ENROLLED

0

SCHOLARS WORKING IN A GREAT JOB

Young person in a hoodie stands beside a blue background with text encouraging survey participation for the 2000 Scholars of Great Jobs KC.

Throughout the Great Jobs KC experience, we will request that you complete a few short surveys to collect data that allows us to:

  • Show our impact to our donors and partners to secure more funds to continue our programs
  • Improve our program process so it works for everyone
  • Tailor our support services to Scholars’ needs
  • Share stories of Scholar success to inspire others to change their lives

We want to build a stronger Kansas City, one life at a time, and we need your help and input to do it.

Select survey participants will be entered into ongoing drawings for high-end tech prizes including laptops, headphones, and tablets.

Keep an eye on your email and texts, take a few moments to PAY IT FORWARD by helping to provide access to opportunities for others.

If you’ve received this newsletter as a share and would like to be added to our distribution list, please enter your email address here.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

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Check out our BLOG and support our mission

Find out more about our programs and support!

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

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

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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