GET STARTED
BE A DONOR
SCHOLAR PORTAL

Great Jobs KC

Slam Dunk with KC Scholars Scholarship Program – David Cobin

David Cobin shares how being a KC Scholar has given him hope, knowing that the possibility to achieve his dreams in life through education is closer than ever before. After hearing about a family friend’s experience going through the program, David’s mother encouraged him to look into it. David started looking through the website and decided this was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. To ensure he was taking the right steps, David had his family friend, a current Scholar, help him, and he soon was on track to be the newest KC Scholar.

Currently attending De Soto High School, David has started thinking about the next steps in his education. After being a part of his High Schools Tech Club, Wild Side, he has grown a strong interest in marketing and business. This club allowed David to try different marketing elements, such as Advertising, which he has enjoyed. He shares how this club has given him experience by advertising various events for the school to encourage the students to get involved. Because of this positive experience, he is interested in looking at similar clubs in college as he would like to pursue this as a career. David loves to take pictures and feels he has a real knack for connecting to people, which he believes are attributes that will set him apart in the advertising industry.

David’s current dream would be to find an advertising job within the sports realm. While he hasn’t chosen which school he will attend, he has received some offers to play basketball. Sports advertising is the highest on his radar since sports are a big part of his life. David would love to advertise for a sports team to help with tasks such as brand development or advertising merchandise. He sees himself working for a minor sports team to begin his career, as they usually don’t receive as much recognition, and then would love to work his way up to the basketball realm.  

Continuing his education as a first-generation college student means a lot to David. He prides himself on being different as he wants to take on the challenge and complete his degree. KC Scholars has allowed him to step outside his comfort zone to be himself. David lives with his mother and shares how this experience takes the stress off his mother’s back since she won’t have to spend nearly as much on tuition to get him to school. Additionally, David mentions how his mother loves contributing to the process by looking into the different schools and steps for his college journey.

Having received this scholarship, David reflects on how much joy this opportunity has brought him and his family. David would advise incoming Scholars or people interested in the program to always put their best efforts in, never give up, and “always believe that no one will judge you, so make sure you put your whole life into it”.

Related Articles

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.