Our IMPACT is getting noticed!

Our goal is never recognition, but being recognized helps us shine a spotlight on what we do and highlight the amazing accomplishments of our Scholars!

Recently, we were honored to receive not only the Nonprofit Connect EXCELLENCE IN IMPACT AWARD, but also to be selected for the UNITED WAY IMPACT 100 LIST.

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Logo with gray text "Southwest Service Administrators" and yellow text "Benefit Solutions for Labor Organizations," featured in the Kansas City education impact newsletter.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

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With immense pride and joy, we extend our warmest congratulations to our KC Scholars college graduates. Your unwavering commitment, perseverance, and extraordinary achievements inspire every one of us. You represent the very best of what is possible when determination meets opportunity.

When we founded Great Jobs KC – KC Scholars eight years ago, we dared to dream of a future where deserving students would not only access higher education but also thrive, lead, and transform their communities. Today, that dream is a powerful reality. Watching you cross the stage as college graduates is a profound reminder of why we do this work.

Your journey was never meant to be walked alone, and it wasn’t. From your KC Scholars Advocates to your families, educators, and peers, a community has rallied behind you. Now, as you step boldly into this next chapter, know that the same community continues to stand with you, cheering you on every step of the way.

And our support doesn’t stop here. As you transition from college to career, our Career Resources team and Alumni team are ready to help you launch with confidence. Whether it’s career coaching, networking opportunities, resume help, or ongoing mentorship, we are here to ensure that your path forward is as strong and supported as your path to graduation.

Graduation marks not an end, but a new beginning. You are equipped with knowledge, empowered by experience, and fueled by purpose. Use your education to lift others, speak the truth, and lead with compassion. The world doesn’t just need more graduates—it needs leaders like you. Success is more than what you achieve, it’s how you serve. We believe in your ability to shape a better future not only for yourselves, but for generations to come.

Congratulations, Class of 2025! We are proud of you, inspired by you, and excited for all the great things ahead.

With pride and belief in your boundless potential,

Earl

 

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Nursing a Brighter Future

A graduate in cap and gown holds a diploma folder while smiling at an outdoor graduation ceremony, surrounded by people.

Great Jobs KC, the KC Scholars Program, and the Ambassador Program have completely transformed my life. They not only made college possible financially, but also gave me the confidence, community, and resources I needed to succeed. I’m now a new graduate nurse from UMKC, and this journey wouldn’t have been possible without their support.

My education journey hasn’t always been easy—I faced doubts, setbacks, and moments where I almost gave up. But because of the encouragement and backing of KC Scholars, I pushed through. My future goal is to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, and right now, I’ve taken my first big step by accepting a pediatric mental health nursing position at The University of Kansas Health System. I recommend this program to anyone with a dream and the determination to chase it. You won’t be alone; this program will walk with you, push you, and celebrate you every step of the way. It’s more than just scholarships and support; it’s about building a future you didn’t think was possible.

– Hajra Asi, a recent graduate from the University of Missouri–Kansas City with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing

To learn more about our Scholars and their success, please visit our Scholar Success page.

We are excited to announce we’ve supported over 2,000 Scholars into GREAT JOBS!

It's that time of year!

Graduation day!

*If you have photos of your graduation, please send them along with your name, school, degree earned, and any future plans to kcsmarketing@greatjobskc.org for featuring in future newsletters.

This month, we are highlighting several graduating Scholars, including Anna Kasindi and Miranda Jimenez, who are 2025 graduates from the University of Central Missouri. 

Anna studied political science with a minor in international studies. She wants to work in local government or pursue a master’s degree. 

Miranda was a Public Relations major with a focus on strategic communication. Her career plans are to start her own agency. “Please share my photos with the organization.  I want everyone to know their contribution to my scholarship was never in vain! Thank you, KC Scholars, so much!

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NEW EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS!

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A generation of Kansas Citians has grown up with Community Blood Center (CBC). They know if they, or someone they love, needs blood in an emergency, CBC makes sure it’s available. Great Jobs KC is partnering with them to connect our Scholars to their phlebotomy and CDL jobs.

Habitat for Humanity of Kansas City logo with three stylized figures under a roof next to the organization's name in bold, black text.

A generation of Kansas Citians has grown up with Community Blood Center (CBC). They know if they, or someone they love, needs blood in an emergency, CBC makes sure it’s available. Great Jobs KC is partnering with them to connect our Scholars to their phlebotomy and CDL jobs.

Our partners recognize our Scholar Advocates for their incredible support of our Scholars’ success.

Kyndall Williams, one of our Great Jobs KC Scholar Advocates, was recognized with a Certificate of Appreciation from our partner, Warehouse Training Inc. Congrats Kyndall!

OUR CAREER RESOURCE TEAM MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!

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During your job search, persistence pays off.

“When I started this journey, I promised myself to prepare for any obstacles that might arise. It won’t always be as smooth as we hope, but it’s about perseverance, effort, determination, and motivation. How badly do you really want it?” – Dakota Fields, Great Jobs KC Job Training Scholar

Dakota Fields aspired to become a sterile processing technician. She enrolled in the Sterile Processing Technician program at the University of Central Missouri and completed it on July 25, 2024. After completing her training, Dakota was ready to begin her job search. She was paired with Judith Simmons, a Career Resources Manager at Great Jobs KC. Judith was incredible! Judith revised Dakota’s resume to meet industry standards, kept her informed weekly, and provided job leads. Judith made the application process easier by sharing direct links to job applications.

Dakota did have moments of frustration during the job search process.  She wondered if she would ever land an interview, but when she finally did, Judith was very hands-on with interview preparation, ensuring Dakota put in her best effort.

After eight months of searching, Dakota finally secured a job! This process taught her patience, resilience, and a deeper faith in her journey. Despite moments of doubt—asking herself if she was on the right path—she reminded herself to keep pushing forward. She now works as a sterile processing technician for Swope Health, one of Great Jobs KC’s partner employers.

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Our Scholar Advocates

set us apart.

What does having a Scholar Advocate mean to you?

“Someone to rely on, especially when I have questions, I am able to email him and he responds quickly every time. Having someone to lean on when I need help. They are there to help and to lift me up when I need it.” – Chinecherem Ihenacho, Junior UMKC

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KC Scholars

Adult Learner Orientation

The Scholarship Program team hosted an Adult Learner Orientation on the evening of March 12, welcoming a fantastic turnout of newly awarded Scholars. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with their dedicated Scholar Advocate, learn more about their scholarship and program expectations, and navigate the KC Scholars portal. It was also a great chance for Scholars to meet and engage with one another, fostering a strong sense of community and excitement for the journey ahead. We are thrilled to welcome them into the KC Scholars family and look forward to seeing them achieve great things! 

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A group of people sit and talk in pairs at an indoor Support Our Scholars event; most are smiling and wearing name tags.
A group of people seated at round tables engage in conversation during a large indoor Support Our Scholars event or workshop.
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KC Scholars Visit

Northwest Missouri State University

On March 22nd, KC Scholars had an exciting visit to Northwest Missouri State University! Students had the chance to meet with faculty from various academic areas, gain insights into the admissions process and available scholarships, and tour the beautiful campus. The visit also included a session with the Financial Assistance Office.

During the tour, attendees heard from a current student and connected with other visiting families in a group setting. To top it off, all students received a free t-shirt. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore the university and learn more about what it has to offer!

KC Scholars Ambassador Team logo with "KC Scholars" in black text and "AMBASSADOR TEAM" in green and teal block letters below, representing scholarships and opportunities for student success.

2024-25 Ambassador Program

Year in Review

This academic year marked the launch of the KC Scholars Ambassador Program — and what a year it was! The KC Scholars Ambassador Program was established to foster a strong sense of community among Scholars, enabling them to build lasting connections while developing essential leadership skills. From hosting creative and community-building events, supporting new Scholars, and assisting with key projects and initiatives, ambassadors exemplified what it means to put Scholars First. 

This year was just the beginning — we can’t wait to see how future ambassadors continue to lead, inspire, and grow.

Campus Envoys

33 ambassadors served in the first cohort, representing Kansas City Kansas Community College, Rockhurst University, the University of Kansas, and the University of Missouri- Kansas City. 

Creative Connections

250+ Scholars were engaged through 13 campus engagement events featuring connection-building activities like pumpkin painting, plant pot decorating and tie-dying t-shirts.

Real Talk

Ambassadors offered real talk and real support as panelists at our College Transition Workshops, guiding high school graduates preparing to start college.

Voices that Inspire

Ambassadors inspired peers and community members by speaking at large-scale events such as Make Your Mark and Lucky to Have You.

Story Amplifiers

Ambassadors amplified Scholar stories through marketing campaigns, participating in photo and video shoots that celebrated the Scholar journey and promoted the mission of Great Jobs KC.

END OF YEAR

AMBASSADOR CELEBRATION

To celebrate the incredible accomplishments of the Ambassadors during the 2024–25 academic year, we hosted an end-of-year celebration at BRKTHROUGH on May 20. The evening kicked off with a dinner where ambassadors reflected on their achievements, followed by exciting, team-based challenge rooms where they worked together to solve puzzles, tackle obstacles, and have a great time. It was a fun and meaningful way to show our appreciation for all the hard work, dedication, and leadership the Ambassadors demonstrated throughout the year.

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Powering progess

With united way

We are honored to have been selected as one of United Way’s IMPACT 100 partners.

The United Way of Greater Kansas City announced our selection as part of this year’s Impact 100 partners. This annual list comprises 100 vital health and human service organizations that United Way and our community consider to be meeting community needs and creating positive changes in our region.

Organizations selected for this year’s Impact 100 submitted applications, which were reviewed by a diverse community advisory group. Organizations must meet a high standard of financial responsibility and actively work to address the critical challenges facing the Kansas City region today. Impact 100 organizations will receive unrestricted funding from United Way to address their individual nonprofits’ most pressing needs.

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support

our scholars

Looking for a way to support our mission and Scholars, we are in search of sponsors for some upcoming programs to celebrate our Scholars and their incredible achievements. If you’re interested, reach out to Kristin Crites, Director of Corporate & Individual Development at Kristin.crites@greatjobskc.org

Illustration divided into three scenes: a classroom discussion, a graduation ceremony, and two people enjoying a baseball game in a stadium—highlighting moments shaped by the Support Our Scholars program.
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Evergy logo featuring three angled bars in blue, green, and gray to the left of the word "evergy" in dark blue lowercase letters, as seen in the Kansas City education impact newsletter.

Great Jobs KC came together with other community organizations at Evergy’s LIHEAP event. Our organization, along with many others, was able to provide assistance, valuable information, and/or support for the great people of Kansas City. We saw potential future Scholars and current Scholars who are eager to get started! We were proud to partner with Evergy and other organizations to provide a comprehensive event. This was a great way to show what happens when our community comes together.

Don’t let a language barrier get in the way of your success!

Congrats to our scholars!

9 Scholars just completed their joint English as a Second Language (ESL) + Certified Nursing Program (CNA) at Johnson County Community College.

If you want to get started on the path to your future but don’t have a GED or need ESL courses, don’t let that stop you, our support programs are here to put you on the path to success.

Need more info? Visit our Foundational Skills page to get more info.

PLANTING SEEDS

That will grow

Our Great Jobs KC staff spends every day planting the seeds of education in our community. The team came together for a little bit of fun during our April Showers Bring May Flowers event. We stepped away from the usual hustle to get a little creative. We painted flower pots and enjoyed lunch together. A big thanks to Global One Urban Farming for donating some fantastic freebies for everyone to take home. It was a fun way to recharge and connect.

our team

in the community

Our Community Engagement Team supported our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week by delivering goody bags to area schools and directly to the teachers who support our Scholars every day!   They visited Fort Osage, Northeast, Grandview, and Ray-Pec

Pictured: Ashley Ginger at Fort Osage, Briona Taylor and Ayana Castenada at Northeast, Megan Speer at Ray-Pec, Angela Brown at Grandview

Text graphic with the words "Training Programs & Partners" in a blue, white, and green gradient, highlighting scholarships and opportunities for growth.

great jobs ahead!

Looking for area adults 17+ who want to change their future through training in one of these careers. Great job outlook and salary!

Tell us about your job

We want to hear about your SUCCESS!

Your success is incredibly important to us, and we are committed to supporting you even beyond the completion of the program.

In order to better understand the impact of our training programs and to continue building a program that better meets the needs of our Scholars, we kindly request your assistance in providing us with some updated information regarding your current employment status.

Could you please take a moment to provide us with the following details:

  1. Where are you currently employed?
  2. What is your current job title?
  3. What is your current salary?

    (A range is sufficient if you do not feel comfortable providing the exact salary)

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great jobs kc job training

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Total Scholars On A Path To Their Future Through Our Great Jobs KC Program

0

Scholars Currently in a Job Training Program or professional skills workshop

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Scholars Working in a GREAT JOB

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Check out our BLOG and support our mission

Find out more about our programs and support!

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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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